Gothic Architecture

The Gothic style takes us back at the time between the 1100's and 1200's. Studying the architecture of the great medieval Gothic large scaled architecture, one could see how important and significant the Religious and Catholic value was in the buildings and structures all around Europe.

The Gothic style has seven characteristics, if one approaches a church or a place that is Gothic, one can easily recognize it from one of the elements listed down below.  

These are the famous startling grotesque gargoyles that we see on the Gothic cathedrals and churches. There are different types of gargoyles, some are water spouts, others have heraldic meaning and then there are the winged and fanged beasts designed to scare the evil spirits. 

Gargoyles

There are three dimensional detailed engraved sculptures in the triangular space of the pediment over the porch, that depicts Christ in glory surrounded by saints and angels. The Gothic architecture is highlighted as the first time that beauty and aesthetic values are incorporated into the building design.

Pointed Gothic Portal porch

If one can observe the interior of the cathedral, one can see the amount of light coming in from the two large stained glass rose windows specifically made and put in the north and south walls of transepts and between west front towers. These are filled with tracery and complex of stone, positioned to catch the best of the suns's rays, these create a kind of medieval magic lantern show with told bible stories.    

Lights and airy interior

Here we can spot another element of the pointed arches Gothic design. looking at the top one can see a tracery window that has been designed by Thomas and Regnault de Cormont and Robert de Luzarches, that illustrated the division of window arches in two. Looking further down, we find large pointed arches that strengthen and compliment the whole structure of the interior. In between one arch and another we can see these windows that were designed purposely to have three figures that represent religious beliefs.  

Pointed Arches

Looking at the vaulted ceiling of the Cologne cathedral found in Germany, which was in progress since 1248 and halted in 1743. To exceed the ornament of the cathedral the ceiling was designed to be vaulted, as it is utilised to spread force of the weight from the upper floors. This also gives an impression of a higher ceiling.

The vaulted ceiling

The vaulted ceiling style of the cologne cathedral has been influenced from the Basilica of saint Denis cathedral, which is found in France. The cathedral is considered to be the first Gothic church that has begun in 1144.  

St. Denis cathedral, France c.1130 

The flying buttresses were of an external support to the building and additionally, effectively it spreads the weight of the building structure, taking the weight off the walls and transfers the weight directly to the ground. The buttresses also define the extreme Gothic decorative design.

Flying Buttress, St Vitrus cathedral in Prague castle

One of the Gothic characteristics was its height, thanks to the buttresses use of technique they could build higher and taller, thus allowing the weight of the architecture to spread for a steady structure. This gave them more potential to reach up their beliefs to heaven.

Grand, tall Gothic Architecture

References:

Exploring-castles.com, 2016. The Seven Key Characteristics of Gothic Architecture: From the Gargoyle to the Flying Buttress. [online] Available at: <http://www.exploring-castles.com/characteristics_of_gothic_architecture.html> [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Encyclopedia.com, 2016. Robert de Luzarches Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Robert de Luzarches. [online] Available at: <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Robert_de_Luzarches.aspx> [Accessed 2 Jun. 2016]

Glancey, J. 2006. Architecture. London: DK