Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture was derived from Romanesque architecture, or Norman architecture in England. The characteristics of Romanesque architecture was the thick wall and columns, the semi-circular arches. At the early Romanesque, architecture did not have arches, but later, it seemed that architects and building contractors were more professional, so the arches roof was occurred in the late Romanesque architecture. The shape outside was the continuous wall which is supporting the vault above. The interior was quite dim because the building have limited opening, so inside did not have so much light. Also, the outer wall did not have ornamented. The reason of the characteristics of Romanesque architecture is the war, political, and the religion.
In 1141, Suger Abbot and his architects wanted to improve the buildings in late Romanesque Architecture church. They wanted to build the transparent architecture to create a lighter. They replaced the wall of stone which is the material in Romanesque with stained-glass membrane with transform sunlight so that it symbolized divine illumination. It can say that they changed the material because they believed that the colored light is the symbolization of gods. Also, in this period, people focused on religious life, so the architectural design and technology of the buildings were built by church.
When the time comes, political and social changed. The most important political and social changes is the awareness of common culture and language that make the nation-states united. In England and France, the nobles lost their power, so they need to build the building that gained the power back such as strong central monarchies. Some areas in France were under England control. This leaded to the Hundred Year's war that marked the end of Middle ages. Europe was transformed during the late Middle ages by the reemergence of the city, and the growth of commerce and trademark. This made Europeans moved to Mediterranean which was important trade. There were exchanging goods between countries so that burgle, or bourgeoisie had so much influenced. Burgle means a person who lived in the city and usually someone who ran out the business. They have more power so that the old agrarian feudal culture was replaced by an urban mercantile culture. The result is Gothic architecture became an urban architecture.
The Gothic architecture and Romanesque architecture were different not only structural form, but also in their dedication that leaded to religious and social changes. In Romanesque architecture, the church was built only for the sake of god, but later, they built the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary which showed that they had the change of attitude toward women. Also the Scholasticism was occurred to be the method of the study, so people had more reasonable, and the Summa theological which is the writing about the church was occurred.
The Gothic architecture was a by-product from the Crusades. When the Crusades end, during the way home, they saw Hagia Sophia at Constantinople, so they want to build a beautiful church in their hometown. The urban cathedral influenced from Summa Theologica which make the church more balance of Classic logic and Christian faith.
The Abbey Church was the church in mediaeval age built by Suger Abbot in 1135. They are three changes from the old one. First, there was a clear geometrical composition. Second, a round window was placed between the towers. Third, the three entrance doors was placed behind the columns and concentric archivolts and covered with sculpture related to Bible. The interior was a stained-glass and double ambulatory. It also had vault to let the light in.
Later, Gothic architecture was improved from early Gothic architecture to High Gothic architecture. Architects have more skills and technologies for construction, so they try to push the method of construction to go further. The characteristics of High Gothic were the bright interior because the tall structure let the light in, and the flying buttresses supporting the high wall for both structural and ornamented purposes. The example of High Gothic is Notre-Dame Cathedral, Chartres, France, 1194-1230
In England, they influenced from France; however, they have different characteristics. In England, they had flat buttress instead of flying buttress, the double transept, and pointed arches. They also have English decoration which was very unique. The example of the building is Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, UK, 1175-1184
Gothic architecture spreaded all over the world. Many countries had influenced Gothic architecture; however, they have different characteristics. This period called Late Gothic Architecture which architecture was more complicated and more heavily ornamented.
In France, they focused on decorative more than structural. In this period, the flamboyant was occurred as a wave shape, or curve form. The example of architecture is Saint-Maclou, Rouen, 1434-1514
In England, it divided into two period, the decorated Gothic architecture, and perpendicular Gothic architecture. The characteristics of decorated Gothic were stressing of straight lines both horizontal and vertical and windows and walls surface are divided by the tracery into row of rectangle panels. The example is Lincoln Cathedral, UK, 1192-1280. Another one is perpendicular which have fan vault, perpendicular finial, spandrel, and perpendicular buttress. The example is King's college chapel, 1446-1515.
Spain was the one where Gothic architecture was influenced. The different from France and England was evolving with confident national style and have Islamic elements. The example is Bergos Cathedral, 1211
German and Czech had adopted the style from France, England, and Spain. The example are St. George Church, 1427-c.500. and St. Barbara Church, 1388-1512
The rise of cities and burgler wealth made a new urban architecture emerged. The merchant bankers became the new patrons of architecture. Almost buildings were residences, guild halls, and town hall. In France, they focused on functions before the forms, also the ornament were on the window, entrances instead of walls.
In England, there were two period of domestic Gothic architecture which had different characteristic. The early domestic tried to adjust to fix the context. The ornamented was great display at windows and doors, and also added an additional elements such as fireplaces, chimneys, kitchens and living quarters. In late domestic had more ornamentation, and had the greater scale building.
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