Romanesque Architecture Style

History of Gothic Romanesque; Architecture Gothic architecture picks up where Romanesque architecture left off after 1100 AD. It was heavily influenced by its predecessor, but with some notable differences. The most important aspect of Gothic architecture was that it answered the problems of Romanesque architecture-the stone roofs were difficult to support without the hefty arches and pillars that dominated the Romanesque buildings.

Gothic architects answered this with ribbed and pointed arches rather than the barrel ones of earlier times. This lent itself to the unique appearance of gothic buildings. This meant that there could also be wider windows, thinner walls, and the introduction of the flying buttresses which were so characteristic of gothic architecture. They could also be much taller than their predecessors and thus all the grander. Gothic architecture was also influenced by the Byzantine style which was carried back by the crusaders on their travels home.

There are actually three phases of gothic architecture: early, high, and late. Each one is characterized by changes and evolution of the building style. The early Gothic phase was one of rebuilding older buildings into the new style and the introduction of the ribbed arches and flying buttresses across Europe. The high Gothic style moved away from the massive buildings (due to the collapse of several churches and vaults) and focused more on decoration-windows, gables, and trace work on the walls of buildings. Gothic-Architecture

Architects focused on geometric shapes and this required the beginnings of an office and the use of designs on paper. This was also known as the Rayonnant style which referred to the radiating spoke style of windows characterized primarily in French gothic architecture.

The late gothic period is characterized by dramatic experiments in Germany and Austria throughout the fifteenth century and mainly hall cathedrals were built so that they could be built in a massive and awe inspiring scope.

The building of bell towers also began in this period of gothic architecture. Throughout this entire period, the stone work was done more precisely with better tools and more elaborate decorations could be commissioned.

One of these decorations was the introduction of the gothic gargoyle statues that loomed over visitors and leered down at them. They were actually used to divert water from damaging the building, much like the drainpipes of today. Gothic architecture eventually faded and altered, rather than suffering the sudden change that it was born from. There are still countless examples of this style of architecture across Europe and much of it is still in use, albeit, updated for comfort. Still other gothic buildings are massive tourist draws.

Gothic architecture was very popular across Europe with all different countries and architects taking it on and making subtle alterations to the design. English Gothic architecture for example, tended to be heavier built and studier while the Italian gothic architecture was made from brick, not stone and made far more use of stone like marble.

Gothic cathedrals were meant to capture the light of God in the arches, airy rooms, and windows of the new buildings. In this way, they were very different from the Romanesque cathedrals which, while grand, were dark and cold due to the lack of windows.

Castles built in this style could be built on a grander, taller scale due to their design. The Gothic period of architecture lasted approximately three hundred years, though it’s difficult to pin a definitive ‘end’ because it simply faded out and evolved rather than end.