Oh dwellers of al-Andalus, what bless-

ings you enjoy, water, shade, rivers and

trees!

The Garden of Eternal Happiness is not to

be found abroad but here in your lands:

could I but choose, this place would be my

choice.

Believe not that tomorrow you shall enter

hell. One does not enter hell after having

enjoyed Paradise!

Ibn Jafaya (11th-12th centuries)

“

”

1. Introduction.The Islamic Culture Foundation, in collaboration with other cultural organizations, has

launched the cultural project “Gardens of al-Andalus”, based on previously unpublished re-

search.

The Hispano-Muslim garden was a meeting-place, a place for rest, contemplation and creativ-

ity, and a melting-pot of cultures which consolidated its own style of landscaping, and accli-

matised many botanical species that were hitherto unknown.

Typical of al-Andalus was the courtyard with its crossing channels and sunken paths around a

central pond or reservoir. Such gardens, of Koranic inspiration, are also related to the hortus

conclusus of the Semitic tradition. There were also splendid garden areas in country estates,

with extensive terraced views to stress the concept of power, large orchards and acclimatisa-

tion gardens for the cultivation of new species brought in from other parts of the world.

This is an itinerant exhibition intended to be displayed inside those botanical gardens that

have adequate facilities, as well as historical or contemporary buildings. It will explain the dif-

ferent types and morphology of the Hispano-Muslim garden, the function and the plants that

grew in it.

This exhibition will be simple to install and easy to transport, and its decidedly contemporary

design will contribute to reflects the concept of the Orchard Garden, the Scientific Garden, the

Mystic Garden, and the Poetry Garden in a visually relevant way for modern audiences.

2. General Description.The “Gardens of al-Andalus” exhibition contains many texts, photographs, scale models and

olfactory displays enabling visitors to smell the many botanical species, as well as virtual mod-

els of historical gardens. It consists of the following elements:

- Panels: In the four areas, called the Orchard Garden, the Scientific Garden, the Mystic Gar-

den, and the Poetry Garden, there are six panels in each. These panels are created using rich

text and graphic design, and are arranged to evoke the shape of the Hispanic Muslim garden.

Iln these panels topics are developed with numerous photographs, botanical illustrations and

representations of examples of Hispano-Muslim art.

In total there are 24 panels, 1,20 m x 2,4 m (width x height), see (1, next page)

Olfactory apparatuses: which reproduce various botanical flavours and products from the

Hispanic-Islamic world. (2)

- A central module, shaped in the form of an artificial palm tree, with fibre optic cables as

leaves, which allow It to change colour. This palm tree symbolizes the famous “Tree of Tuba” pre-

sent in the seventh heaven of Islamic paradise.

In this module there are three computers for the display of interactive software about Islamic-

Spanish gardens. Along with the computers, there are various showcases where it is possible to

see seeds of many species of plants.

- A showcase with ethnographic objects related to agriculture and gardening.

- A showcase with books on botany and medicine (facsimiles of originals from the Middle Ages).(3)

- Models of hydraulic engines from al-Andalus, which draw inspiration from the main hy-

draulic devices used at that time. Here you can view a current water wheel, a dam, a reservoir,

water mills, canals, ponds, and even a royal palace with a small pond and a botanical garden. (4)

- Multimedia interactive devices, which complete and widen the exhibition audiovisual

contents

1

2 3 4

3. Botanical itinerary.When this exhibition is displayed in botanic gardens and at monumental locations, it goes to-

gether with a real-life, real-time itinerary pointing out the plants that were most characteristic

during the Islamic era in Spain.

It is possible to conduct a number of routes in a garden near the exhibition’s site. The aim is

that visitors, in addition to the information received inside the exhibition, will also have the

chance to see some of the plants growing in the gardens of al-Andalus.

The route is marked with appropriate signage, consisting of a series of fact sheets that ac-

company each plant. They explain the features of these species during the Hispanic Muslim

period, in addition to their various uses and other historical aspects. The visit can be followed

in a leaflet, distributed as a companion to the exhibition, which comments on the route.

4. The Virtual Garden.The Cervantes Virtual Center, part of the Cervantes Institute, has also designed an Internet-based

virtual exhibition on the Islamic Hispanic garden. It has a didactic and practical structure and is

organized by technical charts where it develops essentially the same issues contained in the exhi-

bition, albeit developing further the content and research.

http://cvc.cervantes.es/actcult/jardin_andalusi/

5. Requirements and for installation.5.1. Area and height required for the installation.The exhibition Room is estimated to be at least 400 m2, and properly equipped. The modular

nature of the exhibition allows for different settings, giving it a great amount of flexibility.

Also, the exhibition needs a height of at least 4,5 meters where the central module (Tuba’s

tree) is located and 3 meters for the rest of the exhibition.

Figure 1 shows a standard distribution floor plan of the initial design for the exhibition (single

language), highlighting the following:

Panels (l); Showcases with scale models of hydraulic engines from al-Andalus (2,3); Showcase

with ethnographic elements (4). Showcase with books on botany and medicine (5). Olfactory

apparatuses (6). Central module (7).

Note that some elements might not appear and others might get added at a later stage, as

they might be borrowed from sponsors and/or local partners of the exhibition during its tour.

5.2. Operators. Assembly and disassembly times.In general, the time of installation, removal and the number of operators depends on the lo-

cation of the panels and the difficulty to move them and the showcases into the main hall. In

general, the following estimates are deemed to be correct in most cases:

For the assembly and disassembly: 3-4 operators.

The assembly time is approximately: 3-5 days.

Disassembly of exhibition: 2 days.

5.3. Printing équipement.The Islamic Culture Foundation carries out specifically branding for the itinerancies. It consists

of a poster (5), flyers and invitations to the opening, all of them with the names and logos of

local sponsors. A catalogue and a book for teachers used for school visits are also published.

5

7. Application Procedure.For a formal request, interested entities may submit an application Letter addressed to the

President of the Islamic Culture Foundation.

The exhibition will be requested in advance with sufficient time to adapt it to the proposed

travelling schedule and to organize parallel activities in each location.

The Foundation will respond to the request to confirm available dates, according to the sched-

ule of the travelling exhibition, and the detailed cost budget.

For more information contact with the FUNCI’s Secretariat:

Telephone: + 34 91-543 46 73 e-mail: info@funci.org

6. Operational performance.The exhibition Is open to the general public, while visits to the schools will be scheduled in ad-

vance. The organization hosting the exhibition shall bear the expenses of the following items:

Transportation of exhibition material from Madrid (Spain) to destination and return to Madrid.

Assembly and disassembly, including remuneration and allowances of the exhibition’s Coor-

dinator (FUNCI) and hired staff.

Possible damage that might occurr during the exhibition period.

Insurance contract for the exhibition.

Maintenance, security and cleaning.

Print materials: posters, flyers, catalogue and invitations to the opening.

Opening: invitations and cocktail.

Replacement of cartridges (for olfactive modules).

Press handling and releases.

8. On tour“Gardens of al-Andalus” has toured with great success across several countries. These include, among others:Spain: Alhambra of Granada, Alcázar of Seville, Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid Interpretation Centre of Toledo, Santo Domingo Convent in Ronda, House of Sciences in LogroñoMorocco: Villa des Arts in Rabat, Casablanca, Salon lnternational de l’Agriculture in Meknes, Villa des Arts in Casablanca, Marrakech, TangierSaudi Arabia: National Museum in Riyadh

Syria: Main Public Park of Aleppo

9. Participants and Collaborators Director of the project:Cherif Abderrahman Jan - President of the Islamic Culture Foundation

Creation and Organization: Islamic Culture Foundation

Scientific CommitteeSusana Calvo, Inès Eléxpuru, Yolanda Guardione, Javier Guillen, Encarna Gutierrez, Esteban

Hernandez, Alfonso Jimenez y Margarita Lopez.

Exhibition design:Miguel Ripoll (www.miguelripoll.com)

Ministerio de Cultura (Spain)

Ministerio de Fomento (Spain)

Ambassade d’Espagne. Rabat (Spain)

Ayuntamiento de Córdoba (Spain)

Córdoba 2016 (Spain)

Jardín Botánico de Córdoba (Spain)

Centro virtual Cervantes (Spain)

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain)

Acciona Transmediterránea (Spain)

Moleiro Editor (Spain)

Commune Urbaine d’ALep (Syrie)

ONEP (Maroc)

Salon International de l’Agriculture de Mekhnès (Maroc)

Conseil Régional de Fès (Maroc)

Commune Urbaine de lëtouan (Maroc)

Agence pour la promotion et le développement du Nord (Maroc)

Casa de España (lëtouan- Maroc)

Commune Urbaine d’Essaouira (Maroc)

GMF. Au Service de l’Environnement (Maroc)

Commune Urbaine d’El Jadida (Maroc)

Office Chérifienne des Phosphates (Maroc)

Wilaya de Rabat (Maroc)

Fondation ONA (Maroc)

Instituto Cervantes de Casablanca (Spain)

Atelier Vert (Maroc)

Axati Flaires (Spain)

Instituto Cervantes de Marrakech (Spain)

MOB Marrakech (Maroc)

Commune Urbaine de Marrakech (Maroc)

Wilaya de Marrakech (Maroc)

Fondation Diwan al Koutoubia (Maroc)

Commune Urbaine de langer (Maroc)

Instituto Cervantes de Tanger (Spain)

langer Région Action Culturelle (Maroc)

Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga (Spain)

Embajada de España en Riyadh (Spain)

The National Museum (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (Saudi Arabia)

Sponsors and Collaborators:

PHOTOS & PANELS