Gothic Architecture and Style. The Era of Cathedrals. Dr. Khaled Mohamed Dewidar The final phase of Medieval Architecture is considered to be the Gothic Era. This term was first applied in the 17 th Century to denote architectural designs that was not based on precedent forms from the Classical Period (Egyptian, Greek and Roman Cultures) 1
A) Components of the Gothic Style: 1) Pointed Arches and not circular ones as in Greek and Roman Cultures. 2) Ribbed Vaults 3) Flying Buttresses 4) Rose and Stained Glass windows 5) Piers for structural stability 6) Axiality 7) Symmetry 8) Structural based architecture, a purely structural style 9) Lightness versus darkness 10) Vertical perception of Space 11) Huge and scale 2
12) The Human body is not the basis for any architectural designs opposed to Roman and Greek cultures. This will lead to a new architectural and structural concept: Architecture of Silence 1) Pointed arches with less exerted thrust, where steeper angles will generate less thrust. 2) Ribbed vaults. The ribs were used as scaffoldings for erecting the vaults in the site. The ribs also decreased the weight of the vault, thus ensuring more verticality of the cathedral. 3) Flying buttresses for load distribution. They were used to transfer the loads from the arches to the piers. B) Components of the Gothic Cathedral are: 1) Main entrance 2) Aisles 3) Nave 3
4) An interior Chapel for prayers 5) Clear storey windows and the use of stained glass. 1) Reduced Building Mass 2) Enhance the quality of space 3) Light as a design medium 4) God is light. The Gothic Architecture Classifications and Styles 1) Early Gothic architecture. St Denis, Notre Dame Cathedral Paris 2) High Gothic architecture. Charters Cathedral in France 3) English Gothic architecture. Salisbury and Kings College Cathedral 4) German Gothic architecture. Strasburg Cathedral 5) Italian Gothic architecture. Milan Cathedral. 4
1) Early Gothic Architecture. The Twelve Century A) St. Denis Cathedral Paris. This style first appeared in Paris. It was the home of a very important and innovative patron of Arts. Abbot Suger. He was a major French monk and was the most powerful church figure of his time. Abbot Suger Image on a Stained Glass In St. Dennis Cathedral. Paris St. Denis is the first example of early Gothic cathedrals that was followed by Notre Dame Cathedral. St. Denis was considered to be the French Royal Church where all the kings were buried in it. 5
Abbot Suger wanted to rebuild the church based on the Biblical descriptions of the Temple of Soliman. 6
He was the first Bishop of Paris. Legend says that he was decapitated on the Hill of Montmartre and subsequently carried his head to the site of the current church, indicating where he wanted to be buried. He wanted to exceed the height of Haja Sofoia as a major Christian Church. Like Brunelleschi who wanted to exceed the Pantheon in Rome and to dominate the Sky line of Italy with the Christian Church overcoming the pagan temple of the Pantheon. He started the construction of St. Dennis by adding a new façade in the west orientation with two twin towers and rose windows in the crossing of the corridors of the cathedral. He implemented the Ribbed vault structural system to cover the whole of the interior space of the cathedral. 7
The Interior of St. Dennis Cathedral Colored Light was introduced to the cathedral via 7 (holly number) to the church choir. The irregular window shape and heights was mainly for optical correction and visual impact. He utilized flying buttresses and piers for the stability of the whole structure system. Flying Buttress to direct the loads to the Foundations 8
It is great example of architecture of light, where the light of God is introduced to the interior of the cathedral. The seven windows in St, Dennis Choir and the Rose windows at the crossing. God is Light B) Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris 9
Suger s triad ornamentation, technical accomplishment, and, above all, light would come to define Gothic as it spread and developed. Here, in Notre Dame in Paris Suger expressed the correspondence between the physical space of the church and its spiritual aim to conduct the soul towards the contemplation of the divine. As Gothic architecture was mainly connected to Virgin Mary who suffered great sorrow, many of the great and influential cathedrals were dedicated to her soul. 10
Early Gothic qualities are still in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It remains an important monument of this period. It is a double height cathedral. The power of the wall and wall bearing structure systems that commands its attention. It has a 3 portal entry doors with 28 sculptured biblical kings over the doors representing the Old Testament. Also Radiant rose windows form a halo backdrop for the sculptured of Virgin Mary and the Christ. 11
Types of Ribbed Vaults in the Gothic Cathedral Four Partite Vault Six Partite Vault. Fan Shaped Vault Multi Partite Ault 12
2) High Gothic Architecture. The Thirteenth Century A) Chartres Cathedral Paris. This is the era for the construction of churches with increasingly refined details and structural features. It is the first example for a high Gothic architectural style, itb is characterized by: 1) Tri Partite division of the interior, nave, aisle and triforium passage. 2) Clear storey windows 3) Quadripartite division of the interior as opposed to the Six partite vault in Early Gothic ** Six Partite Vaults Early Gothic ** Four Partite Vaults High Gothic 4) Soaring Interior Heights 13
5) The use of Iron Tie rods within the masonry structures. This innovative system was called the Reinforced Brick Structural System. 3) English Gothic Style Although the style originated in France, it spread to other parts in Europe like England, Germany and Italy. It became the predominant style of all Europe by the 15 th Century. The English people started to form their own their own language and vocabulary that was completely different from the French Gothic Style. Historian Categorized the English style: 1) Early English Style. 2) Decorated Style 3) Perpendicular Style. 1) Early English Style * From 1175-1265 * Corresponds to High Gothic Style in France 14
* Four partite vaulting System * Large Window panels and a Lancet shaped windows. * Canterbury Cathedral * Salisbury Cathedral 2) Decorated Style * From 1265 to 1370 * Elaborated Vaults with ribs called Liernes. * Cusped shaped windows * Intersecting lines and planes * Flowing curvilinear shapes and forms. * King s College CAthedral 3) Perpendicular Style * From 1370 to 1540. * Very delicate and refined style * Fan shaped Vaulting system 15
* Medium Height cathedrals * West Minster Abbey. Thank You Dr. Khaled Dewidar 16
St. Verena Statue 17
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