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Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

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Photo Credit: libraries.psu.edu

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Audience and Scope of Description

The purpose of this document is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of how medieval builders constructed Gothic Cathedrals. The document will demonstrate the process of how medieval builders constructed the vaults. In addition, the document will identify characteristics of Gothic Cathedrals, terminology, and types of vaults. After reading this document, the audience will be able to identify the key components of a Gothic Cathedral. The intended audiences for this document are engineering and architecture students interested in medieval construction. The document could appear in a lecture handout. Students should gain a better understanding of Gothic design principles. This general understanding will be beneficial to the students who would like to pursue a career in historic preservation.
Cologne Cathedral Photo Credit: Flikr

Introduction to Process
In order to understand gothic architecture, students must understand the goals of medieval builders. Medieval builders desired to construct tall buildings that allowed as much natural light as possible. Therefore, they needed to design and build higher ceilings and more transparent faades. In order to do this, they constructed vaults to provide these buildings higher ceilings.

Intensions of Medieval Builders

Maximum Soaring Height Maximum Natural Light

St Michael cathedral Photo Credit: Flickr

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Gothic Principles
In the study of gothic architecture, it is important to be familiar with the terms and principles. Also, it is important to understand how the load is distributed through the structure to understand medieval design. Medieval builders modified their design as they worked. They wanted the Gothic cathedrals to have large curtain walls filled in with stained glass. Therefore, these walls could not support the weight of the vaulting and roofs. As a result, they developed an external system of buttressing (seen in the figure below), which applied counter-acting force sideways towards the cathedral wall. This resists the tendency of the walls to bulge out from the lateral pressures. The upper flying buttress redirects the wind forces from the roof and the clerestory wall, guiding them downwards into the pier buttress (aberlard.org). Gothic architecture is characterized by flying buttresses, the pointed arch, and the ribbed vault. Further description of these gothic characteristics is defined in the document.

The Constructive Principle of the Medieval Church Photo Credit: Banister Fletcher (http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/gothic/6.html)

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Gothic Terms
Buttressing A structure, usually brick or stone, normally a half arch carrying the thrust of a roof or vault across an aisle to an outer pier or buttress.

Centering A temporary, usually wooden frame on which an arch, vault, or dome is supported during construction.

Photo Credit: Medieval Building Techniques

Photo Credit: Medieval Building Techniques

Pointed Arch An arch with a pointed top. This is a major characteristic for a gothic architecture.

Dunglass pointed arches Photo Credit: Flickr

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Shoring The vertical or truss supports are used as a temporary replacement for the building buttressing or walls during construction.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

Treadwheel Crane A wooden, hoisting and lowering device that was human powered. It was primarily used during the Middle Ages in the building of castles and cathedrals .

Photo Credit: Medieval Building Techniques

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

How a Gothic Vaults are Constructed

ROOF SHORING Medieval builders constructed the shoring for the roofs using nails and mallets.

Photo

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

ROOF The medieval builders laid out shoring for the construction of the roof and laid a floor to hold the millwheel for construction of the vaults.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

TREADWHEEL CRANE The treadwheel crane was installed on top of the area for the vaults. The medieval builders laid out centering for the ribbed vaults.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

CENTERING OF VAULTS The centering was constructed at the end of the vault to prepare for the application of brick.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

VAULTS The medieval masons applied brick over the vaults shoring.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

VAULTS The final step for the construction of medieval vaults was the builders applied a layer of plaster to the vaults.

Photo Credit: Cathedral: The Story of its Construction

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Gothic Vaulting
There are 7 types of vaults which are listed below:
Barrel Vault Ribbed Barrel Vault Groin Vault Domed Groin Vault Ribbed Vault Quadripartite Vault Sexpartite Vault

Barrel Vault
A roof consisting of a series of semi cylindrical arches (Britannica.com).

Ribbed Barrel Vault

Semi cylindrical arches which ribs help to support the vault.

Early Barrel Vault: Terracina Photo Credit: Flickr

Barrel Vault in Woolworth Building Lobby Photo Credit: Flickr

Groin Vault
Two barrel vaults that intersected at right angles form a groin vault (Britannica.com)

Domed Groin Vault

Two intersecting barrel vaults that are raised to a spherical dome roof.

"groin vaulted ceiling" Photo Credit: Flickr

Photo Credit: www.brynmawr.edu

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Ribbed Vault
A vault in which stone ribs carry the vaulted surface (Britannica.com).

Quadripartite Vault
A groined vault defined by ribs on each side and divided into four parts.

Chateau Marmont Vaults Photo Credit: Flickr

La Belle France, etc, 2011-07-03 at 13-27-38 (IMG_7329) Photo Credit: Flickr

Sexpartite Vault
A groined vault defined by ribs on each side and divided into six parts.

Canterbury Cathedral central section interior 20110424_F0001_2400_20110212 Photo Credit: Flickr

Gothic Cathedrals | Nicole Trujillo

Conclusion
In conclusion, gothic cathedrals have three characteristics: buttressing, pointed arch, and ribbed vault. The medieval masons used the engineering to design the buildings to allow more height and light. They developed 7 types of vaults. Architecture and engineering students understand and appreciate these design methods by medieval builders. They can be applied further into their careers, perhaps in historic preservation.

Milan Cathedral Photo Credit: Flickr

References
www.britannica.com www.flickr.com www.libraries.psu.edu www.wikipedia.com http://www.abelard.org/france/cathedral-construction.php#construction http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/gothic/6.html http://www.brynmawr.edu/cities/Cities/wld/01410/01410b.jpg Cathedral: The Story of its Construction Medieval Building Techniques