Santa Catalina de Siena (II)

This article is part of the Hidden Architecture Series “Tentative d’Épuisement” , where we explore the practice of an architectural criticism without rhetoric and based mainly on the physical experience of the work itself. Este artículo forma parte de la serie “Tentativa de Agotamiento” , comisariada por Hidden Architecture, donde exploramos la práctica de una crítica arquitectónica ausente de retórica y fundamentada sobre todo en la experiencia física de la propia obra. The scent of unripe citrus fruits, that hurtful acidity in the nose, permeates every corner of the Claustro de los Naranjos. Overhead, the sky is an intense blue that makes you forget the freshness of dawn. At eye level, arches and whitewashed walls are dressed in indigo, about to merge into a single surface with the celestial vault; an attempt frustrated at the last minute by the white mouldings and reliefs that keep each element in its place. The sunlight is extinguished in them in the same way as in the deep reds of the previous courtyards. In plan, this courtyard is considerably larger than the previous rooms, which also seems to indicate a higher function in the daily life of the convent. Of square proportion, it is defined by five arches in each of its four bays, arches with rough supports that seem to be anchored to an earth that is always prone to impertinent movement of seismic origin. El aroma a cítricos sin madurar plenamente, esa acidez hiriente en el olfato, impregna cada rincón del Claustro de los Naranjos. En lo alto, el cielo muestra sin complejos un intenso azul que hace olvidar por completo la frescura del alba. Al nivel de los ojos, arcos y muros encalados con dedicación se visten de índigo a punto de fundirse en una sola superficie con la bóveda celeste; intento frustrado a última hora por las molduras y relieves blancos que mantienen cada elemento en su sitio. La luz del sol se apaga en ellos de igual manera que en los profundos rojos de los patios anteriores.