Building skills were extremely limited back in the 1100’s- 1200’s and gothic architecture tried to solve this problem by revolutionising the appearance of Mid-Medieval buildings. Architecture has now evolved to become beautiful thanks to the gothic aesthetic style. Gothic Architecture possesses a number of key features and characteristics that vastly improve on building skills.
First we have the flying buttress which was spider-leg like in appearance and enabled Gothic architecture to become taller and lighter while affording a greater aesthetic appearance than before (Bony, 2003). Another feature is the gargoyle which is a sculptural waterspout placed to prevent rainwater from running down masonry walls (Bony, 2003).The pointed arch was designed to direct the weight of the vaulted roof downward along its ribs (Bony, 2003). The fourth feature is the tracery which is a series of thin stone frames that are inlaid in window openings to support the glass. Additionally, the oculus was a window design established during the gothic period (Bony, 2003). The sixth feature is the spires which are tapering architectural elements that had the ability to achieve radical heights while lending a feeling of lightness (Bony, 2003). The pinnacles were established and used to break abrupt change in slenderness as a building gave way to mounted spire and this led to a gothic appearance (Bony, 2003). The ribbed vault, which is the eighth feature, opened up inner space in walls thus providing visual as well as aesthetic unity while the fan vault gave the appearance of an open fan (Bony, 2003). The last feature is the statue column. Statues that were of structural nature carved from the same stone held up the roof (Bony, 2003).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Image 001- Fan Vault
An example is a fan vault. The ribs of the fan vault are curved equally and equidistantly spaced, giving it the appearance of an open fan. Such is gothic architecture which gives the building a much better appearance.
References
Bony, J. (2003). French Gothic Architecture of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries (Vol.
20). Univ of California Press.
