History of Architecture (2): Gothic Architecture Reflection

Justin Carl L. Castro, 1AR3

Guide Questions:
Video 1:
What was the advantage of using the pointed arch over that of the round arch?
What was the idea of Abbot Sugar regarding visuals/ornaments inside churches? Did he agree
or not?

Video 2:
What was the common ornament for Gothic windows and what do they usually signify?

Video 3:
What was the main function of the flying buttress? How did it affect the design of Gothic
architecture?

France:
What was the solution used in Gothic churches like the Cologne Cathedral, to illuminate
the interior? Discuss the elements employed in this solution?

Reflection:
The Gothic architectural style was developed to counteract the Romanesque architectural
style's substantial, solid, and grounded architecture. Gothic architecture was designed to make
rooms more breathable while also pushing the envelope on cathedral height. The rounded arch
in Romanesque architecture had a significant drawback in that it dispersed the stress lines in a
horizontal line. To spread the force uniformly, substantial walls had to be built on either side of
the circular arch. The pointed arch, on the other hand, countered this by causing the building's
weight to flow vertically downward, allowing for a more stable base, while the absence of thick
walls was done to evenly distribute the weight through flying buttresses. Abbot Sugar’s ability to
design glass ornamentation windows that were precisely positioned inside pointed arches that
depicted Biblical stories became possible as a result, and since the majority of the population
was illiterate, he agreed with the design because he wanted the church to represent Holy
Jerusalem and bring Heaven to Earth, which was also symbolized by its tall spires and pointed
roofs. The flying buttress had two main purposes: first, it served to concentrate tension that
could build up at the base of the arch before the column, and second, it allowed that tension to
flow diagonally and eventually downward thanks to the flyers and piers. This allowed more
natural sunlight to enter the church due to the tall span of Gothic windows. High clerestory
windows placed between pointed arches and supported by flying buttresses, which enabled light
to flow more freely than regular buttresses, were utilized as a solution to illuminate the interiors
of churches like the Cologne Cathedral.