Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Architectural Culture & History 1

Project 1 - Precedent Studies


Gothic Architecture started in the high middle ages during the 12th century as an evolution of the Romanesque Architecture. Gothic Architecture key features are the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. With these features, it carries the buildings into a design with greater height, light and volume. Gothic was best expressed on cathedrals and churches because Gothic Architecture promoted characteristics that made the buildings appeal to the emotions. (Cram, 1909)

Notre-Dame de Paris was an example of gigantism which later became one of gothic architecture’s characteristic. The cathedral has much higher and thinner walls as compared to buildings before as emphasis were given on verticality. As a result, flying buttresses and sexpartite vaults were introduced to support the walls of the cathedral. (Bruzelius, 1986) Notre-Dame de Paris has a skeletal structure which gives it a more “weightless” appearance and allows the placement of windows for natural light to enter at the same time as the people then believed that light was a gift from God. Pointed arches were used in the cathedral also to enable the construction of higher ceilings and provide more space.(Palmer,2008)

As the walls were no longer the primary support, stained glass windows were used, showing the heavy influence of naturalism during the Gothic period. (Levi, 2009) The basic design of a stained glass depends upon the arrangement of flat patches of colour using monochromatic shading and drawing in parts. (Stewart, 1961) The rose window located at the west facade of Notre Dame de Paris is one of the significant features of Gothic architecture and its set subjects are religious. Sculptures can be found abundantly at the exterior of Notre Dame de Paris as they served both iconic and didactic purposes. (Palmer, 2008) Figure sculptures usually stand in niches with canopies or arches over them and it occurs in bands arcading along the west fronts. (Stewart, 1961) Each sculptures were crafted individually with its own narratives.  



The west front of Notre Dame de Paris has one of   the most notable features which is its twin towers. Notre Dame in Paris is rare because its facade towers match. (Palmer, 2008) Scenes of the life of Saint Anne, the Last Judgement and the life of Virgin Mary can be found from the three west portals.These were the magnificent examples of Gothic art. The west facade is also the main entrance of the building. The strength and dull impressiveness of this facade is based on interplay between vertical and horizontal lines. The square of the facade stands for the created while the circle stands for the boundless.

In conclusion, prominent designs from the Gothic architect such as the flying buttresses and the pointed vault, wide usage of stained glass and the unique west facade made the Notre-Dame de Paris a true architectural marvel and also one of the most famous French Gothic cathedrals remaining up till this day. More research should be conducted in order to understand the building completely from its core till its surface.



References

Bruzelius C., 2012. The Construction of Notre-Dame. The Art Bulletin, 69(4), 540-569. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3050998 [Acessed 24th April 2013]

Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris., 2006. Cathedral for Art and History. [Online] Available from: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/spip.php?article383 [Accessed 10th April 2013]

Cram R.A., 1909. Gothic Architecture. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 24, 2013 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06665b.htm

Hayes H., 2010. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-notre-dame-cathedral

Heyman J., 1997. The Stone Skeleton: Structural Engineering of Masonry Architecture. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=IvuIvzwGClwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Levi N.S., 2009. The Stained Glass Windows of Notre Dame de Paris. Retrieved from The Photography of Ned S. Levi website: http://www.nslphotography.com/Cities/Paris-France/Stained-Glass-Notre-Dame/10180256_ZJNS6Z#!i=700931863&k=WwHF6Mz

Palmer A. L., 2008. In Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts.  Retrieved from http://architecture_history.enacademic.com/207/NOTRE_DAME,_PARIS

Steward C., 1961. Gothic Architecture. Simpson’s History of Architectural Development Vol. III. London. Longman.

Toman R. et al. ed., 2007. Gothic. Architecture Sculpture Painting. China. ULLMANN & KONEMANN




Presentation Board




Model 










After completing this project, i was able to recognize and recall appropriate verbal architectural vocabulary when referring to building types, styles and periods. Besides that, i was also able to exemplify the sequence of historical periods and how they are represented architecturally and thereafter classify the sequence of historical periods and how they are represented architecturally. 

While conducting this project, we managed to produce building analysis which document intentions, concepts, patterns, disciplines, architectural language and contextual relationships. 

In this project, i had to learn independently to research about the buildings constructed during different periods. Besides that, i was able to put theories into practice especially while constructing the model. The construction of model had also given an introduction of the usage of balsa wood in model making to me and my groupmates.

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