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02 CONSTRUCTION & Structural Details of Gothic Arch.

The document summarizes key structural elements of Gothic architecture. It describes how Gothic cathedrals used pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows to create tall, light structures supported by an equilibrium of vertical and oblique forces. The structural system evolved from Romanesque architecture's thick walls and heavy piers to a skeletal frame of stone elements that allowed for larger windows and interior space flooded with light.

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184 views13 pages

02 CONSTRUCTION & Structural Details of Gothic Arch.

The document summarizes key structural elements of Gothic architecture. It describes how Gothic cathedrals used pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows to create tall, light structures supported by an equilibrium of vertical and oblique forces. The structural system evolved from Romanesque architecture's thick walls and heavy piers to a skeletal frame of stone elements that allowed for larger windows and interior space flooded with light.

Uploaded by

Abhi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CONSTRUCTION & STRUCTURAL

DETAILS OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE


INTRODUCTION

• The choir & sanctuary were eastward from the crossing of nave &
transepts.
• Divided in to central nave and aisles spaced by columns & piers.
• The choir would further form an ambulatory for walking which ends into
the chevet at the end.
• Columns supported nave arcades above which there was triforium.
• Above this there is a clear story with large of window to let in light.
• Flying buttresses were most prominent features, counteracting the
pressure of arches at right angle to the external wall.
• Pinnacle was the peak, the highest point.
• Everything here had structural importance not to just beautiful the
building.
• In this architecture “FORM FOLLOWED FUNCTION.”
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

• Gothic architecture is the


continuation and development of
Romanesque architecture.
• In gothic architecture the entire
system was like a skeleton of
piers, buttresses,arches & rib
vaulting all held in equilibrium by
the combination of oblique
vertical forces neutralizing each
other.
GOTHIC WALLING SYSTEM

• The large and massive structure of the Romanesque was converted into
the light & graceful gothic.
• They appointed point load system or column like structures instead of
thick walls & heavy piers.
• As a result windows with large openings become possible thus flooding
the interiors with light.
• USE OF STONES
• The walls of a gothic cathedral consist of the piers or columns
supporting vault & roof constructed by hundreds of act stone pieces.
• Stone was utilized to its capacity.
• Heaps of stone in towers was made which tapered upwards in slender
spires.
• They even cut gradually stone as thin as fibrous wood.
• Small stone in shallow courses, thick mortar –greater elasticity &
stability.
PAINTED GLASS WALL

• Walls become less necessary


as support as a result of the
development of buttresses.
• Invention of painted glass
moved the style a step
ahead.
• Walls were kept uniformly
flat internally so the colored
window can be seen by all.
• Structural features such as
pinnacles & buttresses were
placed externally.
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS & WALL
ROSE WINDOW

• "A Rose Window is a circular


window, divided into
compartments by mullions from
a center, also called Catharine
wheel and marigold window
according to modifications of the
design.
• It forms a fine feature of the
church architecture of the 13th
and 14th centuries.
CATHEDRALS

• At gothic period cathedral occupied an


important position.
• Walls & windows stimulated energy &
action of daily life.
• Stone was used for construction so they
had less width & length addition became
easy.
• Transepts not only increased its volume
but formed support to the long central
vault.
• Ribs , bars , shafts were all at a bow string
tension.
• Shorter arms formed transepts.
• Main body stretched westward.
• Apse was surrounded by chapel known as
chevet.
RIBBED VAULTING
• The two main structural
innovations of Gothic architecture
were pointed arches and ribbed
vaulting.
• By the 12th century, architects
realized the superiority of the
groined vault compared to the
barrel vault and started to add
ribs, which were used to support
the weight of the vault.
• Cross-ribbed vaulting functions
in much the same manner as plain
groined vaulting, except that it is
reinforced with ribs, and can be
made much thinner.
• The vault uses a diagonally
reinforced arch resting on thin
pillars, permitting the walls to be
hollowed out, while also allowing
the vaults to extend higher.
• Such light, skeletal construction
employing cross ribbed-vaults
and other thin carrying structures
replaced the massiveness of
Romanesque vaults.
• The vault pressures operated
both downwards by the weight
of the stone, through the action
of the law of gravitation , &
outwards by the force of the
arch voussoirs both pressures
were collected by the meeting
of the ribs at the angles of
vaulting compartments , & the
resultant oblique pressure was
then counteracted and
transmitted to the ground by
buttresses and flying
buttresses weighted by
pinnacles.
• The weight o the roof,
transmitted by the nave
arcades , also played its part in
directing thrust to earth.
RIBBED VAULT
FLYING BUTTERESS

• "To build the flying buttress, it was first


necessary to construct temporary
wooden frames which are called
centering.
• The centering would support the weight
of the stones and help maintain the
shape of the arch until the mortar was
dry.
• The centering were first built on the
ground by the carpenters. Once that was
done,
• they would be hoisted into place and
fastened to the piers at the end of one
buttress and at the other.
• These acted as temporary flying
buttresses until the actual stone arch
was complete."
• A buttress is a structure built against or
projecting from a wall which serves to
support or reinforce the wall.
• Stability of a gothic cathedral depends
upon the proper adjustment of
counter thrust.
• function of flying buttresses was to
counteract any out ward thrust exerted
on the walls.
• Pinnacles on the top of the buttresses
looked decorative but their main
purpose was to add more weight to
the buttresses themselves thus
anchoring them.
• Buttresses are fairly common on more
ancient buildings as a means of
providing support to act against the
lateral (sideways) forces arising out of
the roof structures that lack adequate
bracing.

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