gothic architecture.pptx

8/10/2019 GOTHIC Architecture.pptx

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Gothic Architecture


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Gothic Architecture

- is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medievalperiod. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeededby Renaissance architecture.


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Originating in 12th century France and lasting into the 16th century,

Gothic architecture was known during the period as "the French Style"(Opus Francigenum), with the term Gothic first appearing during thelatter part of the Renaissance. Its characteristic features includethe pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress.


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Westminster Abbey: The arcades, pointed

arches of supporting the triforum and

clerestory windows dividing the nave from thenorth aisle.


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The multiple flying buttresses supportingthe lofty nave of Westminster Abbey


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The architecture of Uppsala Cathedral (1435) isclassified in art history as Baltic International

Gothic style (started around late 1300's). You can see-


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Gothic architecture is most familiar as thearchitecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeysand churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of

many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls,universities and to a less prominent extent, privatedwellings.


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It is in the great churches and cathedrals and in a

number of civic buildings that the Gothic style was

expressed most powerfully, its characteristics lending

themselves to appeal to the emotions. A great

number of ecclesiastical buildings remain from this

period, of which even the smallest are often structuresof architectural distinction while many of the larger

churches are considered priceless works of art and

are listed with UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. For this

reason a study of Gothic architecture is largely a study

of cathedrals and churches.


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Structure: The Pointed Arch

One of the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture is the pointedor ogival arch.

Functions:

The Gothic vault, unlike the semi-circular vault of Roman and

Romanesque buildings, can be used to roof rectangular andirregularly shaped plans such as trapezoids.

The other structural advantage is that the pointed arch channels theweight onto the bearing piers or columns at a steep angle. Thisenabled architects to raise vaults much higher than was possible in

Romanesque architecture.While, structurally, use of the pointed arch gave a greater flexibility to

architectural form, it also gave Gothic architecture a very differentand more vertical visual character than Romanesque.


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Height

A characteristic of Gothic churcharchitecture is its height, bothabsolute and in proportion to its width,the verticality suggesting an aspirationto Heaven. A section of the main

body of a Gothic church usuallyshows the nave as considerably tallerthan it is wide.

Salisbury Cathedral has the

tallest spire in England.


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Vertical emphasis

The pointed arch lends itself to asuggestion of height. This appearanceis characteristically further enhancedby both the architectural features andthe decoration of the building.

The Gothic east end of CologneCathedral represents the extreme of

verticality. (nave, dating to the 19th


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Light

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Gothicarchitecture is the expansive area of the windows asat Sainte Chapelle and the very large size of many

individual windows, as at York Minster, GloucesterCathedral and Milan Cathedral. The increase in sizebetween windows of the Romanesque and Gothicperiods is related to the use of the ribbed vault, and inparticular, the pointed ribbed vault which channeled theweight to a supporting shaft with less outward thrust than

a semicircular vault. Walls did not need to be so weighty.


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Majesty

The faade of a large church or cathedral,often referred to as the West Front, isgenerally designed to create a powerfulimpression on the approaching worshipper,demonstrating both the might of God andthe might of the institution that it represents.

One of the best known and most typical ofsuch faades is that of Notre Dame deParis.

Notre Dame de

Paris.


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Basic shapes of Gothic arch and stylisticcharacter

Lancet Arch

Equilateral Arch

Flamboyant Arch

Depressed Arch


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The faade of RiponCathedralpresents acomposition inuntraceried pointedarches.

Windows in the ChapterHouse at YorkMinster show theequilateral arch withtypical circular motifs in

the tracery.

Flamboyant traceryat Limoges Cathedral.

The depressed archsupported byfan vaulting at King'sCollege Chapel,


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BASIC A- The nave

B-Rib vaulting (Sort of like a groin vault, only

creased with ridges)

C- Pier (The main supports that hold up the

nave vaulting)

D- The Aisle

E- Clerestory windows (Small, upper

story window that flank the aisles)

F-Triforium (A small walkway usually reserved

for nuns and women......in the "old" days)


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Here's a comparison between a regular groin vault and a rib vault.The rib vault's only difference is that there is a rib going across the topof each vault. While the difference is slight, the look is totally differentgiving the structure a lighter feel.


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A-ARCHIVOLTS-concentric

arches that expand out from the

tympanum.

B- JAMB FIGURES-high reliefsculpture that protrudes outfrom the doors.C- TYMPANUM-symmetrical,high relief sculpture above the

main entrance way.D- PINNACLES-usually thespiked tips of buttresses.E- ROSETTE WINDOW-a large,round window located directlyin the front-middle of the

facade.F- BUTTRESSES-structures thatsupport and hold up the wallsof the building often verydecorative in Gothic structures.


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Buttresses are support columns that helpcarry the weight of the structure'svaulting.

Cathedrals standard buttresses andflying buttresses. The difference is merelythat standard buttresses hug thestructure by butting directly up theexterior walls.

Flying buttresses, on the other hand,stand detached from the exterior walls,and are connected by only an arch.Flying buttresses give cathedrals an "airy"and weightless feeling, while standard

buttresses look and feel more heavy anddense. The drawing and the photobelow are labeled to show you thedifference between, (A) flying buttressesand (B) standard buttresses


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Constructive system

Flying

uttresses


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Rib and panel vaulting


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Pointed archs

In Gothic Architecture the pointed arch is used in every locationwhere there is a vaulted shape.

It can be seen at doorways, windows, arcades and galleries.


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Pointed archs


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Stained Colored glass

The windows had stained colored glass containingbrilliant transparent pictures.

Colored glass could be given full scope as the chiefinternal decoration, admitting more light to theinteriors of the hall.

Rose windows are significant.


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gothic architecture.pptx

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