 Gothic Architecture originated in

France in the 12th century and existed in

the western half of Europe through the
middle of 16th century.

 Gothic architecture is most familiar as

the architecture of many of the
great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of
Europe. It is also the architecture of
many castles, palaces, town halls, guild
halls, universities and to a less prominent
extent, private dwellings.
For this reason a study of Gothic
architecture is largely a study of
cathedrals and churches.
 It evolved from Romanesque
architecture and was succeeded by
Renaissance architecture.

 It is characterized by building of
great cathedrals, a progressive
lightening and heightening of
structure, and the use of pointed
arch, ribbed vault, flying
buttresses, and a system of richly
decorated fenestration
Pointed arches
Very high towers and spires and roofs
Clustered columns: tall columns that looked like a group of thin columns bundled
together

Ribbed vaults: arched ceilings made of stone. In the Gothic style they were held up by
stone ribs.
Tracery: carved stone lace in the windows and on the walls
Stained glass: richly coloured glass in the windows, often with pictures telling stories

Buttresses: narrow stone walls jutting out from the building to help hold it up
Flying buttresses: buttresses that help to hold the vault up. They are made with an
arch that jumps over a lower part of the building to reach the outside wall.

Statues: of Saints, Prophets and Kings around the doors

Many sculptures, sometimes of animals and legendary creatures. Gargoyles spout
water from the roof.
 There are usually there richly carved
doorways in the western facade

Deep doorways are formed

by receding columns with
arches above them.

Gothic Style allowed for high

walls, allowing larger
windows, more light.
The plan is shaped like a cross.
The long nave makes the body of the
church and, crossing it, the arms are called
the transept.

On the other side of the transept is

the chancel which is often called the choir.

The nave has a passageway or aisle on

either side. Sometimes there are
two aisles on each side.

The nave is usually a lot taller than the aisles, and has
high windows which light up the central space.

The upper part of the building, where these windows

are, is called the clerestory (or clear storey).

CATHEDRAL SECTION
 It is simply known as the Gothic
Arch and was reconstructed from
cylindrical vault of Roman
architecture.
There are four stones at the end of
the arch supporting the power from
the top so that the height and the
span of the arch are no longer
restricted and the arch can be
made as large and high as possible.

POINTED ARCH
 Buttress is a supporting facility to share
the pressure from the main walls.

 It has been largely used in Roman

Architecture.

The original buttress was solid and

covered by the roof.

However, the buttress with Gothic style

is exposed out to be known as flying
buttress.

Due to the further requirements of the

height, the role and appearance of
buttress have been greatly enhanced.

It is coved with complicated decorates

and elaborate carvings.
The stained glass, covered with religious stories which
helped to illustrate the doctrines to illiterate people is of
high artistic achievement.
There are two main colors, blue and red.
Blue symbolizes the heaven and red symbolizes the
blood of Christ.
The stained glass creates a mysterious but brilliant
scene, which express people’s longing for the kingdom of
heaven

STAINED GLASS AT OPERA CATHEDRAL,ITALY

A vault supported by or decorated with arched
diagonal ribs
The Gothic vault, unlike the semi-circular vault
of Roman and Romanesque buildings, can be
used to roof rectangular and irregularly shaped
plans such as trapezoids.
Pointed arch channels the weight onto the
bearing piers or columns at a steep angle.
This enabled architects to raise vaults much
higher than was possible in Romanesque
architecture.
The facade of a large
church or cathedral, often
referred to as the West Front,
was generally designed to
create a powerful impression
on the approaching
worshipper, demonstrating
both the might of God, and
the might of the institution
that it represents.

One of the best known and

most typical of such facades
is that of Notre Dame de
Paris.
Many churches were very richly decorated,
both inside and out. the statues were often
painted in bright colours
The statues, the decoration, stained glass
windows and wall paintings told Bible stories
such as how God created the world and how
he rules over everything that is in the universe,
the seasons of the year and the stars in the
sky.

Right Portal of Chartres Cathedral: Throne of Wisdom

• height

• impression of
verticality

• two large towers

• extreme length

• internal emphasis upon the horizontal

• double transepts
 Different building materials were found in different parts of Europe. This is one of the
differences in the architecture between different places.

In FRANCE, limestone was readily available in several grades,

the very fine white limestone being favored for sculptural
decoration.

ENGLAND had coarse limestone, red sandstone and dark

green Purbeck marble which was often used for architectural
decorations like thin columns.

In ITALY, stone was used for fortifications, but brick was Interior of Amiens Cathedral, France.
preferred for other buildings.
In Northern Germany,
Netherlands, Denmark, Baltic
The clear proportions countries and northern Poland
of Florence Cathedral ,
ITALY are defined by dark there was clay for making bricks
stone against the colour- and tiles. So many of these
washed plastered brick. countries have Brick Gothic
churches and even Brick
Gothic castles.
 RIBS

This picture with parts cut away shows

the columns, the stone ribs of the roof
ELEMENTS OF A GOTHIC CHURCH
and the buttresses of a Gothic church.
PANTHEON CHURCH
BOTH PLACES OF WORSHIP
V
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 Built in the
16th
Built in the Built in Work began on
century
16th 1140 the west
century
facade, called
the Royal
Portal , in 1145

The innovative
design used at
Saint-Denis
became the
inspiration
W. Face of
Chartres
Cathedral 1134-
1220