What is the floorplan of a Gothic cathedral?
What is the floorplan of a Gothic cathedral?
Floor Plan. Large Gothic churches were built according to a basilica floor plan, which was originally designed by ancient Romans as an administrative center and which early Christians adopted during the Roman Empire. The Roman basilica was a rectangular building with a large, open central area known as the nave.
How were Gothic cathedrals constructed?
The walls and pillars, timber scaffolding and roof were built first. Once the roof was in place, and the walls were reinforced with buttresses, the construction of the vaults could begin. One of the most complex steps was the construction of the rib vaults, which covered the nave and choir.
What is the interior of a cathedral called?
The typical cathedral contains a narthex at the entrance, three aisles with the central being the nave, a transept that gives the church its cross shape, an open choir where the nave and transept meet, and an apse at the far end of the nave, containing the altar.
What is the main room of a cathedral called?
Nave
Nave: The primary area of public observance of the Mass. It is generally the largest space, and located between the narthex and sanctuary.
What was the purpose of Gothic cathedral architecture?
Gothic cathedrals served many purposes beyond their chief function as seats of local bishops and archbishops. Gothic cathedrals were the visual representation of God’s kingdom and, as such, provided spiritual education to the illiterate masses.
What are the three main attributes of a Gothic cathedral?
There are three things that make Gothic architecture Gothic:
- The pointed arch.
- The ribbed vault.
- The flying buttress.
What was the innovative construction of the Gothic cathedral?
Gothic architecture is not merely about ornamentation. The Gothic style brought innovative new construction techniques that allowed churches and other buildings to reach great heights. One important innovation was the experimental use of pointed arches, although the structural device was not new.
What characteristics did the architecture from the Gothic period process?
While the Gothic style can vary according to location, age, and type of building, it is often characterized by 5 key architectural elements: large stained glass windows, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and ornate decoration.
What did Gothic architecture allow for in cathedrals?
To construct taller, more delicate buildings with thinner walls, Gothic architects employed flying buttresses for support. These stone structures allowed architects to create sky-high cathedrals and churches that evoked ethereality and reached toward the heavens.
