Why Gothic came into being
Aesthetically ornate and conceptually transcendent, the Gothic style has become one of the world’s most distinctive forms of architecture. Though it was born in a period dubbed “the Dark Ages”, this luminous form of architecture continues to captivate and inspire today, as is easily seen in the magnificent cathedrals it has bequeathed to us.
What is Gothic Architecture?
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that is structured by the guiding principles of maximum height and maximum light, brought together with an intricate and delicate aesthetic. Though it originated in France, Gothic can be found in churches, cathedrals, and many other buildings in Europe and throughout the world.
History of Gothic
Gothic architecture is one of the only forms of architecture where the exact origin can be pinpointed. It grew out of an era imbued with a rich Catholic culture and deep, lively faith, a culture that showed its faith in material form through the magnificent cathedrals of Europe.
In 1140 Abbot Suger initiated this uplifting and transcendent form of architecture when he rebuilt the choir of the monastery of St. Denis in France. Inspired by the pseudo-Dionysian writings on light as a reflection of the divine, he arranged everything so as to allow as much light as possible into the church. For Suger, and other like-minded medieval theologians, light itself alluded to the divine and could be used to elevate human consciousness from an earthly realm to a heavenly one. Suger, and those who came after him, attempted to flood their cathedrals and abbeys with light, building taller and more elegant structures. This necessitated the adoption of some of the most obvious aspects of the Gothic form; pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses could be used to make the walls taller and thinner by distributing the weight of the building more effectively. It was this new, intentional use of light that truly set Gothic architecture apart from its heavier and darker Romanesque predecessors.
Romanesque architecture was a medieval aesthetic characterized by arches, vaulted ceilings, and small stained glass windows.
Gothic architecture adopted and adapted these Romanesque elements to produce a new style of building that featured exaggerated arches, increased vaulting, and enlarged windows. In addition to reinterpreting these characteristics, however, Gothic architecture also abandoned one key feature of Romanesque architecture: thick walls. To construct taller, more delicate buildings with thinner walls, Gothic architects employed flying buttresses for support. The pinnacles of the buttresses, like so many fingers pointing heavenwards, added weight and helped to counteract the thrust of the vaults, keeping the walls firmly in place. These stone structures allowed architects to create cathedrals and churches that evoked ethereality and strained toward the heavens. Every element of Gothic architecture was brought together to increase the movement of the soul towards God.
