the cathedral at aix-la-chapelle (aachen) a discussion of the “masterpiece” of carolingian...
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The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
A discussion of the “masterpiece” of Carolingian architecture.
Presented by: Kevin Bohnstedt
Architecture 170 - Architecture History I
29 November 2004
Instructor: Rolando Gonzalez, M. Arch., Architect, A. I. A.
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
• OVERVIEW– Last Roman Emperor
deposed in AD 493• Over 300 years of
darkness – Charlemagne (742-814)
• King of the Franks 768-814
• Holy Roman Emperor 800-814
• Wished to establish link to the great rulers of the past
– Patronage of the Arts• revival of classical
learning and culture key to this link
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
• THE PALACE– Why a Palace?
• To centralize the functions of the empire
– Why Aachen?• Link to Rome• Central Location
– Specifics on the Palace• Structures• Locations• Fortifications• “Chapel”
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
• IMPORTANT DATES– 798 earliest reference– 805 consecrated– 813 Louis the Pious crowned– 814 Charlemagne interred– 936 Otto I crowned
• For 600 years, 32 HRE crowned here
– 1414 Choir reconstructed in Gothic style
– 15th Century several subsidiary chapels and vestibules added• Changed designation to Cathedral
– 1978 First German Cultural landmark added to the UNESCO world heritage site list
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
• Specifics on Chapel– Architect Otto von Metz– Dedicated to the Virgin
Mary– Sizes have importance– Intricacies of the royal
throne– Why was this plan
chosen?– Influences in design
• San Vitale?• Hagia Sophia?• Others?
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
San Vitale
Aachen
•Similarities•Octagonal overall shape
•3 levels in the main chapel
•Arched main floor, galleries
•Great height in small area
•Classically Byzantine mosaic and bronze work
•Differences•16 sides vice 8
•Central space flows up to niches with less fluidity
•Simplified groin vaults
•Towers add Westwerk
•Atrium vice Transept
•Emphasis on strongly defined spatial units vice “floating quality”
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
The Cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
Questions?