Log in victoria aka crafty girl aka cupid 9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to victoria aka crafty girl aka cupid's post “How come buildings are c...” How come buildings are considered art.? • (6 votes) DC 9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to DC's post “Because they can be built...” Because they can be built beautifully. Many buildings are plain and boring, like a painted wall, but when you turn the architecture, or the paint, into a masterpiece like the Mona Lisa or the Hagia Sophia, it is art, and art by any measure. (27 votes) Joe Rue Pighams 9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to Joe Rue Pighams's post “I thought that the archit...” I thought that the architecture had a symbolic meaning. Like how the churches were often in the shape of a cross, I thought that the ribbed vaulting was supposed to look like the inside of the bottom of a boat, referring to how the church is where the spiritual journey takes place. • (11 votes) Magistra H 9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to Magistra H's post “You're correct; they prob...” You're correct; they probably just didn't get to it because the video is only an introduction. (5 votes) 1315048633 8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to 1315048633's post “what was the difference b...” what was the difference between ribbed vaulting and barrel vaults • (4 votes) Justin Tang 8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to Justin Tang's post “Barrel VaultTo understa...” Barrel Vault To understand the ribbed groin vault, we have to see where it derived from. We can understand it better by looking at the barrel vault and groin vault. A barrel vault is the simplest form of a vault. It is a continuous archway with a surface or ceiling that is semi-circular or with a point. It is very similar to a barrel or a tunnel that was cut in half height-wise, hence the name barrel vault. Barrel vaults have existed since the Ancient Egyptians and were commonly used during Roman times. Groin Vault A groin vault in the simplest definition is an intersection of two barrel vaults positioned in right angles (90 degrees). Groin vaults are stronger than barrel vault structures because barrel vaults must be built on long walls creating less stable lateral stress, whereas the groin vault design can implement stress vertically on piers. Ribbed Vault In ribbed vaults, stone "ribs" are added to groin vaults where the arris would form. The ribs offer many advantages from functional and structural support to visual enhancements. Groin vaults compared to ribbed vaults are heavier, requiring more support and heavier filling. The stone ribs allow some of the force and pressure from the ceiling to be easily transferred to the columns/pier support below. This allows the structure to use lighter materials for the filling. The most important advantage of ribbed vaults is the ability to construct vaults in greater heights. It was very important for architects to achieve a monumental scale to represent the glory of God. The ability to go higher creates a sense of greatness and also allows windows in the structure to be bigger and taller, eliminating walls as a primary form of support. This creates an airy and ethereal atmosphere. Cathedrals would change from dark, massive and heavy buildings to tall elegant structures with a multitude of windows. The Durham Cathedral marks the first building to have ribbed vaults, an important structural element that would help the Gothic style flourish between the 12th and 16th century. (10 votes) forreynj 8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to forreynj's post “What are some additional ...” What are some additional resources that go into more detail about the mathematics and engineering behind Gothic architecture? • (4 votes) drszucker 8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to drszucker's post “Otto von Simson's old but...” Otto von Simson's old but wonderful book, The Gothic Cathedral, might be a good place to start. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/4201.html (4 votes) Shadia 9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to Shadia's post “I was wondering where on ...” I was wondering where on Khan Academy I could find an activity on Gothic Sculpture? Also, did the Gothic architecture also reflect on the artwork produced? • (2 votes) jzhang1 7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to jzhang1's post “"In fact, the column basi...” "In fact, the column basically continued all the way to the roof, and became part of the vault." Could someone please explain what a "vault" is? The word reminds me of an attic, or a treasury, but I'm not sure... • (1 vote) saubhaginimahajan2298 7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to saubhaginimahajan2298's post “Comparision between st se...” Comparision between st sernin toulouse ( romanesque ) and reima catherdral (gothic)? • (1 vote) David Alexander 7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “I think you can google ea...” I think you can google each of these buildings and print out the wikipedia articles to which you are led. Then, using markers or colored pencils, one color for each of your comparative categories, you can find the data you want and make the comparisons. The most important thing you can do is your own homework. (2 votes) Camp Girl!!! 10 months agoPosted 10 months ago. Direct link to Camp Girl!!!'s post “what is the main similari...” what is the main similarity between all three churches? Notre Dame, St Denise, and Cathedral of St. John The Baptist? • (2 votes) David Alexander 10 months agoPosted 10 months ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Could it be the floor pla...” Could it be the floor plan? (0 votes) Casey.O 7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to Casey.O's post “How common were Gothic ch...” How common were Gothic churches? • (1 vote) drszucker 7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to drszucker's post “Gothic was the dominant s...” Gothic was the dominant style north of the Alps for churches for several hundred years beginning in the 12th century. So yes, Gothic churches was quite common. (1 vote) Amber Runkle 6 years agoPosted 6 years ago. Direct link to Amber Runkle's post “What were some requiremen...” What were some requirements of cathedrals? • (1 vote) David Alexander 6 years agoPosted 6 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “A cathedral is the offici...” A cathedral is the official throne of the bishop. It is nothing but a chair. A cathedral church is the building in which the bishop's chair is located. That being the case, the "requirement" of a cathedral church is that it be the headquarters of the bishop, who administers that region and all the churches in it, and that the church itself be large enough to hold the chair, the bishop who sits in it, and any other people who might be present for ceremonies associated with the administrative and ecclesiastical duties performed there. (1 vote)Want to join the conversation?
Am I wrong or did they just fail to mention this?
Points of comparsion
Arches
Vaults
Buttresses
Elevation
Plan
Lighting
(Answering what why how ?)
Could it be the placement of the altar within the structure?
Could it be the style of the towers?
Consider these three as you view pictures of the structures. I'm sure that you can come up with something.
I live in Tainan, Taiwan, where the local cathedral church is rather modest. In fact, it's smaller in scale than some of the local parish church buildings.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Buildings as Art
Buildings are considered art when they are designed and constructed in a way that goes beyond mere functionality and incorporates elements of beauty and creativity. Architecture can be seen as a form of art when it exhibits qualities such as aesthetic appeal, innovation, and expression [[2]].
Symbolism in Architecture
Architecture often incorporates symbolic elements that convey meaning and reflect the purpose or significance of a building. For example, churches are often designed in the shape of a cross, and the ribbed vaulting in Gothic architecture is meant to resemble the inside of a boat, symbolizing the spiritual journey that takes place within the church [[3]].
Ribbed Vaulting vs. Barrel Vaults
Ribbed vaulting and barrel vaults are two different architectural features commonly found in Gothic architecture. A barrel vault is a continuous archway with a semi-circular or pointed ceiling, resembling a tunnel cut in half height-wise. On the other hand, a ribbed vault is an intersection of two barrel vaults positioned at right angles, with stone "ribs" added for functional and structural support as well as visual enhancement [[5]].
The main differences between ribbed vaulting and barrel vaults are:
- Ribbed vaults are stronger and more stable than barrel vaults because they can implement stress vertically on piers, while barrel vaults rely on long walls for support.
- Ribbed vaults allow for greater heights and larger windows, creating a sense of greatness and an airy atmosphere.
- Ribbed vaults use lighter materials for filling, while barrel vaults require heavier filling for support [[5]].
Mathematics and Engineering in Gothic Architecture
If you're interested in learning more about the mathematics and engineering behind Gothic architecture, a good resource to start with is the book "The Gothic Cathedral" by Otto von Simson [[7]]. This book delves into the technical aspects of Gothic architecture and explores the mathematical principles and engineering techniques used in its construction.
Gothic Architecture and Artwork
Gothic architecture had a significant influence on the artwork produced during that period. The soaring heights, intricate details, and abundant use of stained glass in Gothic cathedrals inspired artists to create complementary sculptures, paintings, and other decorative elements. The architecture and artwork of Gothic cathedrals were often designed to work together harmoniously, creating a unified aesthetic experience [[9]].
Similarities Between Notre Dame, St. Denis, and Cathedral of St. John The Baptist
The main similarity between Notre Dame, St. Denis, and the Cathedral of St. John The Baptist is that they are all Gothic churches. Gothic architecture was a dominant style for churches in Europe, particularly in the northern regions, during the 12th to 16th centuries [[11]].
Requirements of Cathedrals
Cathedrals have certain requirements due to their role as the official seat of a bishop. The primary requirement is that a cathedral church must house the bishop's chair, which is the symbol of their authority. Additionally, a cathedral church should be large enough to accommodate the bishop, clergy, and the congregation for various religious ceremonies and functions. The size and grandeur of cathedrals can vary, but they are typically larger than parish churches and serve as the administrative and spiritual center of a diocese [[13]].
Commonality of Gothic Churches
Gothic churches were quite common during the period when Gothic architecture was dominant, which lasted several hundred years starting in the 12th century. Gothic churches can be found throughout Europe, particularly in regions north of the Alps [[15]].
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
