HOA REVIEWER

CHURCH ARCHITECTURE
Church Architecture - Refers to the architecture of buildings of Christian churches
- Evolved over two thousand years of the Christian religion.
- First three centuries was illegal
Church - a building used for Christian religious activities
Towers or domes - often added with the intention of directing the eye towards the
heaven.
Basilica - Used for meetings, markets and courts of law that provided a model for the
large christian church.
Apse - A semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault at the east end.
Bema - A raised dais formed part of many large basilican churches.
Atrium - A courtyard with a colonnade surrounding it.
Mausoleum - A square or circular domed structure which housed a sarcophagus.
Latin cross - type of church with long nave crossed by a transept.
Greek cross - Chancel and transept arms are of equal length.
Arcade - A passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults
supported by columns.
Baptistery - A separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font.
Bell tower - A tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold
bells, even if it has none.
Buttress - An architectural structure built against a projecting from a wall which
serves to support or reinforce the wall.
Chapter house - A building or room attached to a cathedral or monastery in which
meetings are held.
Chevet - Apses that are built as radiating chapels outside the choir aisle.
Church tower - A tower, sometimes topped by a spire.
Dome - A structural element pf architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of
a sphere.
Facade - The significant front of the church usually on the west front but can be on
the side as well.

Portal - A main entrance on the church facade usually highly ornamented.

Aisle - A space for walking with rows of seats on either side or with rows of seats on
one side.
Altar - A structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are
made for religious purposes.
Baldachin - A canopy of state over an altar or throne.
Baptismal font - An article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of
children and adults.
Bay - A unit defined as the zone between the outside edges of an engaged column
pilaster.
Choir - The area usually in the western part of the chancel between the nave and the
sanctuary.
Vault - An arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof.
Crossing - The junction of the four arms of a cruciform
Labytinth - A single eulerian path.
Romanesque Architecture
Romanesque Architecture - Architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by
semi-circular arches.
- “Norman Architecture”
- Massive quality, Thick walls, round arches, sturdy pillars,
groind vaults, large towers and decorative arcading.
- Direct modification of Roman Architecture
Climatic Conditions
*North - Large window openings were provided to allow sufficient sunlight.
*South - roofs were flat.
Romanesque churches - heavily influenced by the Roman Basilica.

General Appearance
*Dark Spaces
*Exterior is simple

Barrel Vaults - Also called tunnel vaults, replace the flat roofs commonly used in
Roman architecture.

Pier - better solution for heavy masonry walls than the column.
Groin Vaults - Diagonal intersections.

Famous Romanesque Buildings

The Companile Pisa, Italy (1174) - World Famous leaning tower.

- 15.8 M in diameter rising to a height of 57 M in 8
storeys of encircling archades.
The Baptistery, Pisa, Italy (1155 - 1278)

Gothic Architecture
Gothic Architecture - Architectural style in Europe that lasted from 12th to 16th
century.
- Rib vault, flying buttress, pointed arch.
-Opus Francigenum ("French work")
Evolution of Style:
12th Century: Origin
13th Century: Plentitude
14th - mid 15th century: International
Second half of 15th Century: Flamboyant

Cathedrals - Most representative buildings

Architectoral Elements
*Lancet Arches *Tudor *Ogee *Three-centered *windows *Gargoyles *Gablet
*Capital
Different Areas:
*Religious and Civilan
Elements of the Gothic Architecture:
*Pointed Pinnacles - Add strength and stability to the structure.
*Gargoyles - “Gargouille” meaning “Throat”
*Stained Glass Windows - Letting in light and color for a beautiful and moving effect.
*Gothic Arch - Major feature
*Ribbed Vault - Reduce risk of fire.
*Flying Buttress - transmit the lateral forces pushing a wall outwards.

Famous Gothic buildings:

1. Durham Cathedral (1128-1134) England - A rib vaulted and a pointed arch
vault.
2. Cathedral of Cefalu ( 1131 - 1471) Sicily - Portico was added between the
two towers of the facade.
3. St. Denis’ Basilica (1135 - 1140) France - The flying buttress, pointed arches
and ribbed vault were used as one unit for the first time in this cathedral.
4. Noyon Cathedral (1150-1231) France - First true gothic cathedral.
5. Wells Cathedral (1174-1239) England - Round arches in favor of the pointed
arch.

Civilan Architecture - Development of cities government

- Markets, Palaces, Town halls
Town hall - Residence of the city’s government.
Northern (Netherlands) - very decorated, with ogee and lancet arches.
Southern (Italian) - Closer, sometimes a fortress.
French Gothic - Distinctive characteristics of French cathedrals.
British Gothic - Distinctive characteristics of English cathedrals.
Italian Gothic - Uses polychrome decoration
German Gothic - Characterized by huge towers and spires.
Spanish Gothic - Comparatively short and wide.