Ceiling arab room cardiff castle.jpg by Wikimedia Commons
When Gothic Revival architect William Burges traveled the world throughout the 1880’s, he was particularly struck by the design beauty of Moorish architecture. Wanting to recapture the artistry, Burges chose a large room in Cardiff Castle for his project. While the castle itself is a worthy attraction, the Arab Room is the crowning glory of the structure. To create the high vaulted ceilings Burges desired, he had to break through the two floors above him, transforming the three stacked rooms into one large, open space. Next, burgess set to work on the exquisite design, creating a honeycomb pattern on the high ceiling and plating it with gold. Finally, intricate carvings were set into the cornice, fireplace mantle, and backs of the chairs.