Gothic architecture

Gothic cathedrals and churches

Architecture Dep. – 3rd Year

8/6/2021

By: 1-Faiz Kamel Razaq Supervised by: A.L Sarah M. AlSaadi

2-Hasan Ali Mohammed
 Report Elements

1-Introduction 4-Gothic Plans

Gothic
2-Characteristics 5-Materials & Examples
Architecture

3-Architectural Elements 6-Conclusion

1 Gothic Architecture
 Introduction

Gothic architecture began mainly in France, where architects

were inspired by Romanesque architecture and the pointed
Gothic
arches of Spanish Moorish architecture. Its easy to recognize Architecture
Gothic buildings because of their arches, ribbed vaulting,
flying buttresses, elaborate sculptures (like gargoyles) and
stained glass windows. Gothic architecture was originally
known as “French Style".
During the period of Renaissance it fell out of fashion and it
was not respected by many artists.
They marked it as “Gothic” to suggest it was the crude work of
German barbarians (Goths).
Examples of Gothic architecture: Notre Dame Cathedral in
Paris and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

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 Characteristic

Exterior Interior

1. Pointed arches 1. Bright and airy

2. Very linear 2. High ceilings
3. Tall and slender in 3. Very decorative
appearance 4. Lots of windows
4. Very decorative 5. Stained glassed windows
6. Pointed arches
7. Vertical and slender in
appearance

Fig (2) – Interior of the Gothic Cathedral

3 Gothic Architecture
 Architecture Elements

1-Pinnacle
2-Flying Buttress
3-Vaulting Rib
4-Diagonal Rib
5-Transverse Rib
6-Springing
7-Celerestory
8-Oculus
9-Lancet
10-Triforuim
11-Nave Arcade
12-Compound Pier With Responds
Fig (3) – Elements of Gothic Architecture
4 Gothic Architecture
 Architecture Elements

The Pointed Arch

Builders turned from the semicircular, unbroken arch to the
pointed arch, during the Gothic era, builders discovered
that pointed arches would give structures amazing strength
and stability.

1. Looked lighter and pointed upward.

2. Exert less thrust than semicircular arch of the same span.
3. Solves geometric difficulty inherent in ribbed vaults .
4. Impossible to arrange all arches and ribs to a common
level using exclusively semicircular ribs.
5. With a pointed arch, ribs could easily be made level.

Fig (4) – Pointed Arches in Gothic Cathedrals

5 Gothic Architecture
 Architecture Elements

Fig (5) – Pointed Arches Exteriors

Fig (6) – Pointed Arches Drawing Fig (7) – Pointed Arches in Gothic Cathedrals
6 Gothic Architecture
 Architecture Elements

Ribbed Vaulting

Earlier Romanesque churches relied on barrel

vaulting.
Gothic builders introduced the dramatic
technique of ribbed vaulting.
While barrel vaulting carried weight on
continuous solid walls, ribbed vaulting used
columns to support the weight.
The ribs also delineated the vaults and gave a
sense of unity to the structure.
Fig (8) – Ribbed Vaulting

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 Architecture Elements

Fig (9) – Ribbed Vaulting Drawing Fig (10) – Ribbed Vaulting Interior
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 Architecture Elements

Flying Buttress

In order to prevent the outward collapse of the arches, Gothic architects

began using a revolutionary "flying buttress" system, freestanding brick or
stone supports were attached to the exterior walls by an arch or a half-arch.
Flying Buttress – Effected by powerful external arches swung above the side
aisles and the ambulatory>
Arches rise from colossal freestanding piers:
1- Absorb and channel disruptive forces, such as wind and weight, safely to
the ground.
2- Towering piers could be erected without much affecting the nave or
choir interior.
Fig (11) – Flying Buttress
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 Architecture Elements

Fig (12) – Flying Buttress Fig (13) – Flying Buttress

10 Gothic Architecture
 Architecture Elements

Stained Glass Window

Since the walls themselves were no longer the primary

supports, Gothic buildings could include large areas of
glass.
Huge stained glass windows and a profusion of smaller
windows created the effect of lightness and space.
They came with number of different tinted colors and
some decoration.
The stained glass window shown here is from Notre Dame
Cathedral in Paris

Fig (14) – Stained Glass – Notre Dame Cathedral

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 Architecture Elements

Gargoyles

Cathedrals in the High Gothic style became increasingly

elaborate, over several centuries, builders added towers,
pinnacles, and hundreds of sculptures, in addition to
religious figures, many Gothic cathedrals are heavily
ornamented with strange, leering creatures.
These gargoyles are not merely decorative, originally, the
sculptures were waterspouts to protect the foundation
from rain.
Since most people in Medieval days could not read, the
carvings took on the important role of illustrating lessons
from the from the scriptures.
Fig (15) – Gargoyles

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 Gothic Plans

Gothic Plans

Gothic buildings were based on the traditional plan used by basilicas,

however, single units were integrated into a unified spatial scheme.
Most Gothic churches, unless they are entitled chapels, are of the Latin
cross (or "cruciform") plan, with a long nave making the body of the
church, a transverse arm called the transept and, beyond it, an
extension which may be called the choir, chancel.
There are several regional variations on this plan
1-The nave is generally flanked on either side by aisles, usually singly,
but sometimes double.
2-The nave is generally considerably taller than the aisles, having
clerestory windows which light the central space. Fig (16) – Latin Cross Cathedral Plans
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 Gothic Plans

Gothic Plans

In some churches with double aisles, like Notre Dame, Paris, the
transept does not project beyond the aisles.
In English cathedrals transepts tend to project boldly and there may
be two of them, as at Salisbury Cathedral, though this is not the case
with lesser churches.
In France the eastern end is often polygonal and surrounded by a
walkway called an ambulatory and sometimes a ring of chapels called
a "chevet".
While German churches are often similar to those of France, in Italy,
the eastern projection beyond the transept is usually just a shallow
apsidal chapel containing the sanctuary, as at Florence Cathedral. Fig (17) – Notre Dame Cathedral Plan
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 Example
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

Fig (18) – Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

15 Gothic Architecture
 Example
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

Fig (19) – Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.

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 Conclusion

In general, Gothic Architecture elements can be summarized by:

1. Pointed arches(As seen in churches)

2.Ribbed Vaults (Aligned on Arches)
3.Flying Buttress (As seen in exterior pillars)
4.Stained Glass ( As seen in the interior of the churches)
5.Gargoyles ( As seen in the exterior, as watersports)
6.Latin Cross Plans (Witnessed through their general plan layout)
7.High Ceilings (As seen in their interiors)
8.Linear (Through their general façade)
9.Very Decorative (Both interior & exterior)

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 Resources

1. https://www.britannica.com/art/Gothic-architecture
2. https://mymodernmet.com/gothic-architecture-characteristics/
3. https://www.archute.com/gothic-architecture/
4. https://www.slideshare.net/shouryagoswami969/gothic-
architecture-48238426
5. 6- A global history of Architecture, Francis Ching, 1995.
6. 7- A history of Architecture, Sir Banister Fletcher, 1996

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