HISTORY

GOTHIC
ARCHITECTURE
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
 Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that
flourished during the late medieval period.
 It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was
succeeded by Renaissance architecture.
 Originating in the 12th century in France and lasting
till the 16th century, Gothic architecture was known
as "the French Style" during this period.
 Its characteristic features include the pointed arch,
the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Gothic
architecture is most familiar as the architecture of
many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and parish
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.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
 The term "Gothic" often applied to buildings
 Often spelled "Gothick", to highlight their
"medievalness”
 Castles, mansions, and monasteries, often
remote, crumbling, and ruined.
FACTORS INFLUENCING GOTHIC
ARCHITECTURE
a)Geographical condition
The people of Western Europe under the Roman Empire
formed into separate nations by the end of 12th century.
Italy, France, Germany, Spain became independent
kingdoms.
Germany was supposed to be the holy empire.
England came under Norman kings who possessed large
territories in France
b)Geological condition
The style was characterized by the availability of materials.
In Italy white and colored marbles were used.
In England and France coarse grained stones were available.
Bricks determined the character of the architecture in North
German countries
c)Climatic condition
The climatic condition varies in Europe from North to South
and from East to West . In North due to dull climate ‘large
sized windows’ were employed to admit light . Small windows
were used to cut off bright dazzling sunshine in South.
On account of less rainfall in South, roofs were flat and high
pitched roofs were used to drain off rain water and snow in
North.
d)Religious conditions
Immense power was vested in Bishops and Popes. Power of
churches increased and it became dominant.

e)Social condition
In this time period, towns and cities developed rapidly and
consequently public buildings were constructed.
There were constant disputes between the Papacy and the
Holy Roman Empire
f)Historical condition
This includes the loss of English possession in France,
division of Germany into number of independent kingdoms.

g)Architectural
Gothic architecture grew out of the previous
architectural genre, Romanesque. For the most part,
there was not a clean break, as there was later to be
in Renaissance Florence with the sudden revival of
the Classical style by Brunelleschi in the early 15th
century.
h)Romanesque tradition
Romanesque architecture, or Norman architecture as
it is generally termed in England because of its
association with the Norman invasion, had already
established the basic
architectural forms and units that were to remain in
slow evolution throughout the Medieval period. The
basic structure of the cathedral church, the parish
church, the monastery, the castle, the palace, the
great hall and the gatehouse were all established.
Ribbed vaults, buttresses, clustered columns,
ambulatories, wheel windows, spires and richly
carved door tympanums were already features of
ecclesiastical architecture.
Characteristics of Gothic churches

• The Gothic style in an ecclesiastical building

emphasizes verticality and light.
• Most Gothic churches are of the Latin cross
("cruciform") in plan, with a long nave making the body
of the church, a transverse arm called the transept and,
beyond it, an extension which is called the choir.
• The naves are generally flanked on either side by
aisles, usually single, but sometimes double. The nave is
generally considerably taller than the aisles, having
clerestory windows which light the central space.
• In some churches with double aisles, like Notre Dame,
Paris, the transept does not project beyond the aisles.
 DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS
• Pointed arches or ogival
• Ribbed vault
• Flying buttresses
Pointed arch
BASIC SHAPES OF GOTHIC ARCHES
a)Lancet arch
b)Equilateral arch
c)Flamboyant arch

a) Lancet arch
•An acutely pointed Gothic arch consisting of a joint
instead of a keystone at the apex.
•The long opening with a pointed arch known in
England as the lancet.
•Lancet openings are often grouped, usually as a
cluster of three or five.
•They are very narrow and steeply pointed.
 Lancet arch
b)Equilateral arch
•The Equilateral Arch gives a wide opening of satisfying
proportion useful for doorways, decorative arcades and
large windows.
•The structural beauty of the Gothic arch is that no set
proportion had to be rigidly maintained.
Flamboyant arch
• The Flamboyant Arch is one that is drafted from four
points, the upper part of each main arc turning
upwards into a smaller arc and meeting at a sharp,
flame-like point.
• These arches when used for window tracery and
surface decoration create a rich and lively effect.
• The form is structurally weak and therefore is used
very rarely for large openings.
• It is employed within a larger and more stable arch.
• Doorways surmounted by Flamboyant moldings are
very common in both ecclesiastical and domestic
architecture in France.
 DECORATIVE ARTS
•Gothic style was not limited to architecture
•Classical Gothic buildings of the 12th to 16th centuries
were a source of inspiration to 19th century designers
•Architectural elements such as pointed arches , steep-
sloping roofs and fancy carvings like lace ant lattice
work were applied to a wide range of Gothic Revival
objects
•Churches , schools and colleges were still
constructed in the Gothic style
•One of the biggest churches in Gothic revival style in
Canada is “Our Lady Guelph Cathedral’’ in Ontario.
CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (MEXICO)
THE SAO PAULO METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL ,
SAO PAULO,BRAZIL