Comparative study of the restoration of eight ‘Battery Towers for two cannons’, built in the former Kingdom of Granada from 1764 onwards

• Antonio Orihuela Uzal ^[1] ; Luis José García-Pulido ^[1]
  1. [1] Escuela de Estudios Árabes (EEA)
• Localización: FORTMED 2026. Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean Vol XXIII / Michele Russo (ed. lit.), Marta Acierno (ed. lit.), 2026, ISBN 978-84-1396-412-6, págs. 249-256
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • During the reign of Charles III, the Regulations of 1764 were passed to improve the coastal defence of the former Kingdom of Granada with new fortifications. One of the four types designed by engineer José Crame was the ‘Battery Towers for two cannons’, of which twelve were built, but only eight have survived to the present day: three in the province of Almería, two in Granada and three in Málaga. As the origin al standard design has been preserved, it is possible to observe the differences in materials, construction techniques and design details employed by the various promoters awarded the construction contracts and the different master builders. Four other towers were built but have disappeared for various reasons: two were blown up by the British during the War of Independence (1810-1812) against the Napoleonic invasion, one was buried by the flooding of the Albuñol riverbed and another was demolished due to real estate pressure. After losing their military effectiveness in the mid-19th century, some were used by the customs police and, since 1940, by the Civil Guard, or were converted into private homes. In recent decades, most have been restored, with varying criteria, uses and results, in projects carried out by different teams. The aim is to compare the criteria applied in the recovery of their original values (spatial, defensive, constructive, documentary, etc.), the reconstruction of missing elements, the compatibility of the buildings to adapt to new uses, the difficulty in preserving the patina of their walls, etc. One of the first options proposed is the new use of the building, since the original military activity cannot be maintained. The most assigned uses to the restored towers have been for the exhibition of the monument itself, or for cultural or museum purposes, with the exception of two intended for housing, which might be less appropriate because they require new spaces, leading to more intensive interventions.