DEVELOPMENTS
Originated in France in 12th cent – lasted until 16th cent.
Grew out of the Romanesque architectural style
Style represented giant steps away from the previous, relatively basic
building systems that had prevailed
Emphasis on verticality and light
Characteristic elements :
1. Pointed arches
2. Ribbed Vaults
3. Flying Buttresses
4. Rose windows and tracery
5. Spires and pinnacles
6. Crockets and Gargoyles
POINTED ARCHES
Began in Europe after the first crusade(1099)
Round arches on sides + Round arches on diagonals = unequal heights
Pointed arches on sides + Round arches on diagonals = equal heights
RIBBED VAULTS
Intersection of two or three barrel vaults produces a ribbed vault
FLYING BUTTRESSES
Specific form of buttress composed of an arched structure
that extends from the upper portion of a wall to a pier of
great mass, in order to convey to the ground the lateral
forces that push a wall outwards.
Two parts :
(i) a massive pier, a vertical block of masonry situated
away from the building wall
(ii) Flyer(Arch) that bridges the span between the pier and
the wall
ROSE WINDOWS
Generic term applied to a circular window
Found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being
divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery
TRACERY
Stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window
SPIRE
Tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a
church tower
Emphasize verticality – show of strength
PINNACLES
Architectural ornament originally forming a cap or crown of a
buttress
Afterwards, used on parapets at the corners of towers
Appearance is similar to a small spire
Ornamental purpose – adds to loftiness and verticality
Structural purpose – very heavy, contained lead to contain
stress originating from vaults and roof.
CROCKETS
Hook shaped decorative element common in Gothic
architecture
Form of a stylized carving of curled leaves, flowers etc.
which are used at regular intervals for ornamentation
GARGOYLES
Spout designed to convey water from the roof and side
Multiple gargoyles were used to divide the flow of rainwater to minimize
potential damage from rainstorms
Usually an elongated animal – length of the gargoyle determines how far
the water is thrown from the wall
FRENCH GOTHIC
Early Gothic
High Gothic
Rayonnant
Flambuoyant / Late Gothic Style HIGH GOTHIC
• Canonized proportions and shapes from early Gothic and developed
EARLY GOTHIC
them further to achieve light, yet tall and majestic structures.
• Began in 1140 • The wall elevation was modified from four to only three tiers: arcade,
triforium, and clerestory.
• Characterized by the adoption of the pointed
arch and transition from Romanesque • Piers coronations were smaller to avoid stopping the visual upward thrust.
architecture. To heighten the wall, builders divided The clerestory windows changed from one window in each segment,
it into four tiers: arcade (arches and piers), holed in the wall, to two windows united by a small rose window.
gallery, triforium, and clerestorey.
• The rib vault changed from six to four ribs.
• To support the higher wall builders invented
the flying buttresses, which reached maturity only • The flying buttresses matured, and after they were embraced at Notre-
at High Gothic during the 13th century. Dame de Paris and Notre-Dame de Chartres, they became the canonical
way to support high walls, as they served both structural and ornamental
purposes.
NOTRE DAME, PARIS
Among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress
Consists of a choir and apse, a short transept, a nave flanked by
double aisles and square chapels
Central spire was added later during restoration
Interior is 130 m by 48 m in plan, the roof is 35 m high
Two massive towers crown the western façade – three storeys
Apse has large clerestory windows = supported by single arch flying
buttresses – Rayonnant Gothic style(boldness and grace)
Three great rose windows.
CHARTRES CATHEDRAL(1194 – 1240)
Building's exterior is dominated by heavy flying buttresses which allowed the architects to increase
the window size significantly
West end is dominated by two contrasting spires – a 105-metre (349 ft) plain pyramid completed
around 1160 and a 113-metre (377 ft) early 16th-century Flamboyant spire on top of an older tower.
Equally notable are the three great façades, each adorned with hundreds of sculpted figures
illustrating key theological themes and narratives.
A two bay narthex - seven bay nave - crossing
Transepts extend three bays each to north and south.
East of the crossing are four rectangular bays terminating in a semi-circular apse.
The nave and transepts are flanked by single aisles, broadening to a double-
aisled ambulatory around the choir and apse
Elevation of the nave is three-storied, with arcade, triforium and clerestory levels.
The designers were able to make the richly glazed arcade and clerestory levels larger and almost
equal in height, with just a narrow dark triforium in between.
CIVIC SPACES
Organised grid in towns as opposed to haphazard growth in Medieval period
Regular square grid of ancient Roman towns, with an arcaded market square at the center.
In most cases, the church was set off to the side of the square, pointing to the priority given to trade
Universities – built around quadrangles – inspired from manor houses
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE
Usually known for luxurious palaces and residences
Palais des Papes, Avignon
Complex arrangement of multiple axes and spaces
Large scaled chapel inside the complex
Hanging gardens
The Vladislav Hall in Prague Benedikt Rejt is the largest secular hall of the late Equestrian staircase in Prague Castle
Middle Ages.
The Hospital of St Cross is England's
oldest and largest almshouse.
