SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE

Assignment 002
History of Architecture 2
First Term AY 2024 – 2025

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF
ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

Prepared by:

LEAH BEL B. CRUZ

ARC 204

Submitted to:

Ar. AYESHA AMIE G. DE LEON, RLA, AFA

Subject Instructor
 Romanesque Architecture and Gothic Architecture is has the same beautiful structure
that build in ancient time and also know for the creative structure in the world before. But Romanesque
Architecture and Gothic Architecture have a individual uniqueness in terms in design or creating their
structures. Especially when they do their arches, window, door, columns, portals, arcades and also the
style they use to built a strong and creative but religious structure. Both Romanesque Architecture and
Gothic Architecture has a structure that you can surely that it was construct as a religious church,
cathedral, basilica and etc. because of there design and inspiration for doing those structure. And also both
of their structure they make sure that they built and plan it with a strong and stable foundation where in they
ensure that it can stand structure through the future.
Romanesque Architecture start at 11th to 12th century and also it has a design that defined as a heavy
masonry walls or thick walls, it also known has a rounded arches that supported by piers, sturdy pillars,
barrel vaults design in their ceiling, large towers and decorative arcading. And arcades that the row of
column that surrounded the central open space that support to the column it provide a strong foundation
that enough to sustain the weight of a roof to not fall. Romanesque structure was inspired by the ancient
roman and byzantine style were in they have most the same design especially in terms of arches, door,
window and etc. In terms of designing their wide door it has a semi circular shape for their arches. They
also have a small window that contains to preserve the strengthen of the wall or structure and they also
using a round arches to design their windows.
Romanesque also have a dark interior because of the small window it has. Romanesque aimed to spread
religion and bring the people closer to god. And also in this period only church has commissioned art. Even
while many of these buildings are now mostly tourist destinations or fascinating historical sites, they
previously held incredible power: the majority of churches and governmental buildings in medieval Europe
were built in this formidable architectural style. Romanesque structures were designed to be as intimidating
as they were imposing, despite their austerity and dominance.
It also use an column that combined the Corinthians and Ionic capital with a twisted shaft. It originated
from the outstanding spread of monasticism in the tenth and eleventh centuries, combining elements of
local Germanic, Roman, Carolingian, and Ottonian, Byzantine, and other traditions. In order to house the
large number of priests and monks as well as the visitors who came to see the relics of saints, larger
buildings were required. Masonry vaulting started to take the place of timber designing because of its fire
resistance. Semicircular arches for windows, doors, and arcades; barrel or groin vaults to support the
nave’s roof; massive piers and walls with few windows to contain the vaults’ outward thrust; side aisles with
galleries above them; a large tower over the transept and nave crossing; and smaller towers at the western
end of the church are all features of Romanesque churches. French churches frequently built on the layout
of the early

Christian basilicas, adding huge transepts between the sanctuary and nave, ambulatories surrounding the
sanctuary apse for receiving pilgrims, and radiating chapels to house more priests.
Gothic Architecture Begin at 12th to 15th century after the Romanesque
Architecture and it also known for thinner walls that supported with flying buttresses,
vertical proportion, a pointed arches where in it base on intersecting of the two circle, external
buttressing and also a stainless glass windows that almost occupied the wall. During the Middle Ages in
Europe, the gothic architectural style first emerged. Asymmetry, exterior buttressing, pointed arches, and
vertical proportions define it. The walls of big gothic cathedrals, such as Salisbury in England and Chartres
in France, were pierced for enormous stained-glass windows, but pointed arches allowed for hefty stone
roof vaults. The external buttressing that supported the weight of the vaults allowed for the construction of
these audacious constructions. Gothic cathedrals were not only towering in relation to their arched
windows, but they also frequently had tall, pointed steeples.
The notably mismatched steeples on the west façade of Chartes Cathedral demonstrate that Gothic
architects did not always aim for symmetry. Gothic Architecture also evolved the genre of Romanesque
instead of putting a thick wall and rounded arches they choose to put a pointed Arches and thinner walls to
built a church, cathedral, palace and etc. that has height like a sky. In short the architect before want to built
a lighter and taller structure that supporting by flying buttresses to have stability. And also they use a large
stained glass windows to have a natural source of light inside the structure. Gothic Architecture also known
for using a ribbed vault for their ceiling. In Gothic period not only the church commissioned art. And also
noblemen and rich merchant can build their palace where in it design decoratively with paintings and some
sculpture to make their palace a beautiful in their period. It also has a four Basic Shapes of Gothic arches
and Stylistic Character it is the Lancet were in it has an radius longer than the width of the arch. Equilateral
Arch were in it has two centered pointed arch in which the curve are equal span that gives an satisfying
proportion for doorway. Flamboyant Arch which has a four point in the upper of the main arch. Depressed
Arch were in it has an four centered arch that gives much wider than the height of that arch. During this era
they use a gargoyle to convey the water from the roof and take a way the water in the side of the building.
And also they believe that gargoyle can prevent to an harmful spirit and also to avoid against to the evil.
Gothic buildings weren’t limited to cathedrals during the Middle Ages.
Parish churches, however typically with lighter timber roofs instead of hefty stone vaults, replicated the
cathedrals’ architecture on a smaller scale. Houses were often made of plaster and wood, but they might
also be designed with vertical features like towering windows and steep gabled roofs. In the 18 th century,
gothic architecture made a comeback and was seen suitable for churches or charming homes. One of the
first structures in America to feature the Gothic revival style is St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel, located in the
Seton Hill district of Baltimore. The first college in Baltimore, founded in 1807, used it as a chapel before
changing its name to St. Mary’s Seminary. Victorian architecture in England had a significant influence on

American architecture following the Civil War. Victorian Gothic design emphasized the verticality and
asymmetry of the original style, but it differed from original gothic designs in many ways, especially in
massing and color scheme. Baltimoreans are all familiar with Mount Vernon Place Methodist Church, which
is a good example.
Gothic architects created rib vaults—where the ceiling surface was divided into webs by a framework of
diagonally arched ribs—and flying buttresses—great arches that extended out from the upper part of
exterior walls and assisted in pushing weight outward—to help support the weight of these taller buildings.
Even while buttresses date back to the third century, Gothic architects
advanced their sophistication. The thrust of the weight was totally supported by new
arches beyond the walls, where it was counter-thrust by stone columns, with pinnacles added for
more weight and design.
Gothic architecture was notable for its pointed arches, which could provide the illusion of soaring height
and, more practically, sustain larger loads than the preceding round arches. Pointed arches were
architectural motifs seen on Gothic artifacts where they acted as frames for people or narrative sequences.
They were also employed in arcades, vaults, doors, windows, and niches.
Both Gothic Architecture and Romanesque Architecture as the same plan they have a wide center nave, an
apse containing the alter, smaller side aisles and also a transept that crosses the main building at a 90
degree angle in the shape of a cross that basically known it built according to the Roman basilica plan and
also both of them use a style that religious motifs, carvings and arches that also inspired by the Roman
Architecture. Having this Romanesque Architecture and Gothic Architecture gives an idea on how talented
the past people and also it gives an inspiration that if they can do that design we can also do an design that
makes also an unique one. It also see in their design that you don’t need to change the all design because
it has a new generation except you can evolved their design to remind on how unique and strong their
design for those structure.
https://www.loyola.edu/academics/history/architecture/cga.html#:~:text=The%20gothic%20style%20of
%20architecture,%2C%20external%20buttressing%2C%20and%20asymmetry.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-gothic-style-an-introduction#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20help
%20support,that%20helped%20to%20push%20weight
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/romanesque-architecture-explained
https://study.com/academy/lesson/romanesque-vs-gothic-architecture.html#:~:text=Romanesque
%20architecture%20is%20characterized%20by,arches%2C%20and%20stained%20glass%20windows.