HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE II: Bar Tracery: tracery is composed of thin

Gothic Architecture (Part One) stone elements rather than thick ones. The
By: Ar. Chris Luna, uap glass rather than the stone dominates
the window. It gives a more delicate, web-
Features of Gothic Architecture like effect.
1. PLANS 4. ROOFS
Arranged for convenience rather than Towers were crowned with spires and
for symmetry are predominant features which
2. WALLS accentuate the verticality of the design.
rubble masonry not laid in
horizontal courses A
materials were in small pieces
walls were no longer load-bearing which
contributed to the intervention of stained
glass
3. OPENINGS
doors and windows were recessed &
spanned by pointed arches
Gothic architecture is sometimes called
the architecture of light. B
Windows were of enormous size for the
display of stained glass.
Windows were divided by vertical
mullions and horizontal transoms.

A. Finial is the decorative upper

termination of a spire.
B. Crocket is the foliage decoration on the
raking of a spire.
C. Pinnacle is a small spire.
Gothic Vaults

tracery windows are beautiful features

colourful rose windows
Two types of window tracery
Plate Tracery: tracery uses thick areas of
stone to separate glazed areas. The window
may look as if it had been filled in with stone,
then small openings cut through for the
glass. The stone rather than the glass
dominates the window.

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 6. ORNAMENTS
Characteristics of Gothic Ornaments:
Sturdy craftsmanship
Boldly-executed
Forms of Gothic Ornaments :
Mediaeval mysticism
Christian subjects
Statues
Motifs of Gothic Ornaments :
Stained glass
Grotesques
A chimera or a grotesque figure
serves only an ornamental
function.
Gargoyles
Gargoyles are functional
waterspouts & are said to scare
5. COLUMNS were used structurally & off evil spirits.
classical proportions were not observed.
GOTHIC IN FRANCE
The Gothic style is called L architecture
Ogivale from the word ogive referring to a
pointed arch

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
vaulting framework of intersecting pointed
arch ribs known as the OGIVAL system
Chevet (an apse having a surrounding
ambulatory of which are chapels)
1. Lady Chapel chapel dedicated to the
Virgin Mary.
2. Chantry chapel for religious services
to whomever the donor directs.
Less prominent transepts

Chevet

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 Fleche (slender spire rising from a roof) AMIENS CATHEDRAL has slightly projecting
transepts and sweeping chevet of 7 chapels. It
was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage
List in 1981.

3 Periods of French Gothic

Periods were based on the evolution of the
window tracery.
1. Primaire Pd. (12th cent.) sometimes
called lancettes & distinguished by
pointed arches & geometric traceried
windows.
2. Secondaire Pd. (13th cent.) sometimes
called rayonnant & distinguished by
circular windows with wheel tracery
3. Tertiare (14th-16th cent,) also called
flamboyant, is a florid style of late Gothic
& characterized by flame-like window
tracery.

CATHEDRAL CHURCHES

ALBI CATHEDRAL is a fortress church with a

large vaulted hall, 18. m., the widest in France BEAUVAIS CATHEDRAL is the most daring
achievement of Gothic architecture, having the
highest nave in Europe (48.5m.). It has 3 tiers of
flying buttresses.

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 LA SAINTE CHAPELLE, Paris was conceived
BOURGES CATHEDRAL is remarkable for the by Louis IX as a kind of gigantic reliquary for the
absence of transepts & shortness in proportion most precious religious relics in all Christendom
to width. It was inscribed in UNESCO World - the "true cross" of Christ, the "Crown of
Heritage List in 1992. Thorns" and other relics connected to the actual
passion of Christ.

CHARTRES CATHEDRAL is a Latin Rite

LE MANS CATHEDRAL (Cathedral of S. Catholic cathedral & one of the finest examples
Julienne) has notable chevet with 13 chapels of of French Gothic.
unusual projection

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CHARTRES CATHEDRAL has the most At 142 m., Strasbourg Cathedral was the world's
complete collections of medieval stained glass in tallest building from 1647 to 1874. Today it is the
the world. 152 of the 186 windows are original. 6th tallest church in the world.

STRASBOURGH CATHEDRAL is known as

one of the most beautiful late gothic cathedrals LAON CATHEDRAL dates from the 12th
in Europe. century & is known for its imposing towers.

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NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, one of the oldest REIMS CATHEDRAL, coronation church of the
French Gothic Cathedrals was begun by Bishop French kings and one of the finest gothic
Maurice de Sully structures ever built. Its vast scale, masterful
design and rich sculptural adornment are
virtually without equal.

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL was restored and

saved from destruction by Eugne Viollet-le-
Duc, one of France's most famous architects.
SOISSONS CATHEDRALs construction began
about 1195, and continued into the late 13th
century. The single tower dates from the mid-
13th century and is an imitation of those of Notre
Dame de Paris.

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ROUEN CATHEDRAL has the highest spire in CARCASSONE, a historic fortified city, was
France (151m.), erected in 1876. It was the restored in 1853 by Eugne Viollet-le-Duc.
world's tallest building from 1876 to 1880.

CASTLES
CHATEAU GAILLARD has a complex and
advanced design, & uses early principles of
concentric fortification. It was also one of the
earliest European castles to use machicolations.

FORTIFIED TOWNS

LE MONT SAINT MICHEL used to be a fortified

stronghold of the Roman-Bretons in the 6th and
7th century.

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CHATEAU DE PIERREFONDS was a defensive CHAPEL OF SAINT HUBERT in (Chateau d
military architecture from the Middle Ages by Amboise) is the burial place of Leonardo da
Louis I de Valois Vinci.

HOTELS DE VILLE
(Town Halls)
HOTEL DE VILLE, Arras (1463)
The principal side elevation was in an elaborate
Renaissance style, probably dating from 1572.

CHATEAU D AMBOISE was once home to the

French royal court. It was built of French late
Gothic Flamboyant style

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HOTEL DE VILLE, BOURGES (1489) has a HOTEL DE VILLE, Compiegne was built in late
notable tower built in the late Gothic Flamboyant Gothic Flamboyant Style with mullioned
Style. windows, traceried parapet & central tower.

HOTEL DE VILLE, Dreux

The town's Belfry from 1512, is a former town PALAIS DE JUSTICE
hall and is the symbol of liberty. (Courthouse)

PALAIS DE JUSTICE, Rouen (1508) was built

by Roulland Le Roux in late Gothic Style.

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COUNTRY HOUSES
(Chateaux)

CHATEAU DE CHATEAUDUN was converted

during the Renaissance into a residence, the
main body of the building is roofed in the gothic
style.

CHATEAU DE BLOISs gothic spiral staircase of

Louis XII

CHATEAU DE BLOIS was the residence of

several French kings

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GOTHIC IN GREAT BRITAIN 3. Early English Gothic (1200-1275)
also called Lancet or First Pointed
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Style
This style was characterized by
British Gothic Period Styles long, pointed, narrow, lancet
windows.
1. Norman Gothic (1066-1200)
This style was characterized by semi-
circular arched windows.

2. Transitional Gothic (1200-1275)

This style was characterized by pointed
arches introduced into structures with
Romanesque character. 4. Decorated Gothic(1275-1375)
also called Second Pointed,
Geometrical or Curvilinear
This style was characterized by fanciful
window tracery.
Decorated Geometric - principal of
the window with several lights
surmounted by a circle.
Decorated Curvilinear - the upper
part of the window head might be
filled with trefoils, quatrefoils or
dagger shapes.

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 6. Tudor Gothic (14851603) also called Late
Perpendicular
This style was a shift from the pointed,
ornate Gothic style to the plainer
Renaissance style.
Tudor Gothic is characterized by the
following features:
a. Four-centered arch or the Tudor
arch

5. Perpendicular Gothic (1375-1530+) also

called 3rd Pointed or Rectilinear
This style was characterized by strong
vertical lines in window tracery and wall
paneling.

b. Oriel window
This window projects from the wall
and does not extend to the ground &
often supported by brackets or
corbels.

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c. Timber frame Tudor Gothic Ornaments
a. Crestings

d. Halftimbering

e. Broached Spire

b. Battlements

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c. Crocket e. The Fleur-de-lis was used in the
Royal Arms of England.

d. Finial

f. The Portcullis was a mark of the

Beaufort lineage of Henry VII, founder of
the Tudor Dynasty.

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 g. The Tudor Rose has long been a royal
emblem for England.

Wall ribs or formerets came into use. The

ploughshare twist is produced by raising the
7. Elizabethan Gothic (1550-1830) was springing of the wall rib.
characterized by the use of mullioned
windows. 2. Decorated Vaulting addition of lierne
ribs (short intermediate ribs) produced the
star-shaped pattern called stellar vaulting.
The intersection of the ribs is covered by a
projecting ornament called the boss.

EVOLUTION OF ENGLISH
GOTHIC VAULTING
1. Early English Vaulting the
quadripartite ribbed vault came into
general use.
3. Perpendicular Vaulting the intricate
stellar vaulting led to the type known as the
fan, palm or conoidal vaulting.

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4. Tudor Vaulting use of the four-centered 2. Tie-beam roof
(Tudor) arch and fan vaulting.

3. Hammer-beam

Boss projecting ornament that covers the 4. Double hammer-beam

intersection of ribs.
Pendant - sculpted ornament or elongated boss
terminating the fan vaulting.

TIMBER CHURCH ROOFS

1. Trussed-rafter roof

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5. Collar-braced roof is a simplified 7. Barrel roof
hammer-beam form.

6. Aisle roof GREATER CHURCHES

BRISTOL CATHEDRAL is an Augustinian

priory. It has a rectangular chapter house with
bold interlaced wall arcades.

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL was a mixture of

styles with the choir reconstructed in the 12th
century; nave in the 14th century; cloisters in the
early 15th century.

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DURHAM CATHEDRAL was begun in 1093 by ELY CATHEDRAL was built by William the
Bishop William St. Carileph & completed in 1135 Conqueror
though there have been many additions since.

EXETER CATHEDRAL is called a Decorated

Gothic Cathedral par excellence."

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL (1100) is a fusion

of Norman Romanesque & Perpendicular
Gothic.

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HEREFORD CATHEDRAL is famous for its LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL is the only medieval
library of chained books and for the Mappa English cathedral with 3 spires & dedicated to
Mundi, a 13th-century map of the world. St. Chad and St. Mary.

KINGS COLLEGE CHAPEL by Reginald Ely, is

one of the finest examples of late Gothic.

LINCOLN CATHEDRAL is one of the most

important Medieval cathedrals in England & a
prominent landmark visible for miles around.

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 ST. ALBAN was one of the largest churches in
PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL has a the world in the Middle Ages. In 209 AD, a
magnificent faade of a Gothic screen with 3 Roman soldier named Alban became England's
enormous arches. first martyr - he was beheaded for giving shelter
to a Catholic priest.

Salisbury Cathedral (1220 1380) it contains

the world's oldest working clock (AD 1386).

WELLS CATHEDRAL (1175-1490)

Wells Cathedrals west front is said to have the
finest collection of statuary in Europe, retaining
almost 300 of its original medieval statues.

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WESTMINSTER ABBEY CATHEDRAL is the YORK MINSTER is the second largest Gothic
traditional place of coronation and burial site for cathedral of Northern Europe.
the British monarchs.

CASTLES & FORTIFICATIONS

CONWAY CASTLE (1283-1289) was designed

for King Edward I by master mason James of St.
George, a renowned and gifted castle architect.

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL is the longest

Gothic cathedral in Europe.
CAERNARVON CASTLE (1283) is
architecturally one of the most impressive of all
of the castles of Edward I in Wales. It was
designed by master mason James of St.
George.

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BEAUMARIS CASTLE was an unfinished Manor houses of the first half of the 16th
masterpiece & the last & the largest of the century were built by wealthy trading families.
Edwardian castles in Wales. It began in 1295 &
construction lasted for 35 years. Haddon Hall was built from the 12th cent.-17th
cent. It was never a castle in the usual sense,
but it was a manor house with defensive walls.

Normal domestic manor house, securely

planned round a courtyard with nothing more
than a strong gatehouse
Hampton Court Palace is a Tudor palace,
STOKESAY CASTLE (13th cent.) is one of the developed by Cardinal Wolsey and later Henry
best preserved fortified manor houses. VIII, alongside a baroque palace built by William
III and Mary II.

NOTHING FOLLOWS
MAXSTOKE CASTLE is a 14th cent. moated
and fortified manor house, commissioned by Sir Topic Sources and References:
William de Clinton. History of Architecture 20 edition Sir
th

Banister Fletcher, Architectural Press, 1996.

Gothic Architecture PowerPoint, Arch.
Ma. Vicenta Sanchez, UST College of
Architecture
Various internet articles related to the topic

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