🏘 Gothic style architecture of the Middle Ages

Mystery, majesty, enthusiastic sensitivity - this is not a complete list of adjectives that characterize the Gothic style of architecture. He organically combined the power of the stone walls with ease and bright colors stained glass. The theme of this material from HouseChief edition - Gothic as history and modernity in architecture.

Historical stages of development of the Gothic style of architecture

The architectural structures in Europe mid-XII century was dominated by the Romanesque style with antique classic heavy, thick walls, round arches and the narrow windows, battlements. At the same time there was the emergence of Gothic art, with different concepts of aesthetic ideals and creating forms. Ironically, the name of the air style gave the old Germanic tribes Goths, conquered Rome. People of that era seemed to retreat from the barbarism of the ancient canons.

The development of Gothic, like art, occurred in countries with a predominance of the Christian church. The defining elements of style have become churches and cathedrals - the embodiment of the new trends, not only in architecture but also in the painting and sculpture. There are four main periods of Gothic:

• Early Gothic - XII century;
• mature or high gothic - XIII century;
• later, Flamboyant Gothic - XIV - XV century.

With the emergence in the XV century, the new trend of Renaissance, Gothic art faded into the background.

Early Gothic

The ancestor of the style is considered to be France, its province of Ile de France. In the middle of the XII century in the Abbey of Saint Denis, the church was built with the elements of Gothic style. When its construction was removed unnecessary walls, expanded facade, Extended arches and received the first sample of the Gothic - a lighter, a large-scale and solemn.

Features of early Gothic architectural elements of different churches of Noyon, Lana and other French provinces.

They yet prevails certain heaviness of the Romanesque style, is not enough free floating and looseness.

The period of mature Gothic

High Gothic Period characterized richer compositions with more sculpted, paintings and mosaic elements. In the mature style perfectly used frame structures, Lifting the arches of the church to an unattainable height.

Another feature of the mature Gothic style stone bridge steel window in the form of a rose with diverging rays from the center.

Especially the late Gothic

This architectural style spans the space of England and southern Europe, where Gothic gets kind of local flavor. In the late Gothic period there is a surplus of decoration:

• an excessive amount of sculptures and bas-reliefs;
• ornate curly twisting spiers;
• arched window openings, with the complicated stencil jumpers.

Wall structures in an incredible number of cover arches carved in the lace vimpergov, flirty statues causing poses.

Meaning framing system gothic architecture

Almost all the delights of Gothic structures built on the main invention of the time - new framing system. chassis design allows to distribute the weight-bearing building walls significantly reducing the weight and overlap.

Gone are the massive walls and support columns that separate the room, increased the total area and the height of the ceiling vaults. In addition, the framework contributed to saving building resources.

The main structural elements of the Gothic style

Architecture for the Gothic brought to the construction of the buildings original elements, which later became the business card of the medieval style.

arches

Any high-rise building has a Gothic vaulted colonnade of arches that serve as a supporting framework, cementing and unifying architectural ensemble.

Gothic architects used the ribbed ledges decorated building. This rib - arches, the main frame member.

Meaning arkbutanov and buttresses

The bearing capacity of buildings lost dependence on the thickness of the walls and massive, thick-walled buildings replaced the light structure with thin walls. Pressure vaulted ceilings passed to the arched columns, the lateral load is taken gothic elements - flying buttresses and buttresses.

Mosaic stained glass window

Mosaic stained glass art is another essential and decisive elements of Gothic style. Each tile is unique and is the result of years of work of experts.

Unique works of art gives radiance sunlight coming through the window, creating an atmosphere of high solemnity.

portals

facades Gothic cathedrals necessarily made out lots of lace trim and portals - incised niches containing sculptures of animals or the mythology of the characters.

Technological features of the construction of Gothic buildings

Gothic architectural style shows the exceptional skill of the craftsmen stonemasons. Gigantic structures require a huge amount of natural stone, which was brought from the local and distant quarries. In some areas of the south of France, the Netherlands, northern Germany used brick.

Construction of such scales is impossible without the use of metal fasteners in detail and block structures for lifting material. The great skill of architects of the Middle Ages shows constructability techniques.

Gothic buildings in Europe

Gothic architecture was formed in different ways, taking into account national peculiarities of architectural schools in Europe. But in spite of certain differences of style integrity remained undisturbed.

Features English and French Gothic

French Gothic architecture as the homeland of this style can be attributed to the classic works of art of the Middle Ages.

Gothic elements are widely used in secular urban development. The main square of the town hall necessarily graced with rich décor and a tower superstructure.

Main building in England conducted in areas of large abbeys. Towns and villages treated buildings parishes, where there was one dominant axis tower of the western facade.

The temples were built in the open countryside and preserve large areas.

Gothic in Germany and the Czech Republic

Innovative style came to Germany by the end of the XIII century and also met strong commitment to Romanov and Byzantine style. The first Gothic structure of German lands considered Libfrauen Kirche in Trier and the Church of St. Elizabeth in Marburg.

North-east of Germany were poor in natural stone, and construction of buildings was carried out by a brick. skill specialists masonry It has created a new branch in the European Gothic.

Around the same time delights of Gothic architecture overtook the Czech Republic. Large-scale construction sites were developed in the center of Prague. And to this day, the medieval buildings are the main calling card of the capital.

Czech Gothic landmark achievement is the construction of Wenceslas hall in the old palace complex of Prague kings.

Spanish and Italian Gothic buildings

For the Italian State Gothic style proved a foreign body. Architects of Italy filled facades gothic elements - spiky thorns, roses, windows, towers, but it is more likely to split up the overall integrity of the buildings.

Perhaps only in Venice embraced openwork constructive structures, which allowed to push the facades, in conjunction with a rainbow variety of colors.

In Spain Gothic came with all constructive solutions, but captured only religious buildings. In a secular construction remained strong Moorish motifs.

Gothic in other European countries

Gothic art was asserted in other European countries. A typical example of the Eastern Gothic - the castle complex in Malbork, founded at the end of the XII century.

Poland is generally characteristic of a wide variety of vaulted structures. Local craftsmen have achieved in this regard perfection.

Hungarian Gothic remained bad. Porush and buildings were looted during the Turkish conquest, or have undergone capital restructuring.

Baltic architecture has undergone a major influence of the German knightly orders.

Neo-Gothic as Renaissance gothic architecture

Sublime gothic architecture completely disappeared by the middle of the XV century, giving way to the Renaissance material, recreating the ancient culture. Neo-Gothic architecture suddenly flashed on the island of Great Britain in the middle of the XVIII century and spread to the European and American continents.

Medieval Russia, was heavily influenced by the Byzantine culture, hardly knew Gothic architecture techniques.

Particularly striking manifestations of neo-Gothic style noticeable in the building of the Royal residence outside Moscow - the largest pseudo-complex Europe.

In the Americas, neo-gothic intricately intertwined with technological progress.

Gothic elements in a modern cottage construction

Nowadays the trend comfortable suburban housing It requires increasing complexity of architectural solutions.

Modern gothic cottage construction - an exclusive design for each owner. Moreover, it is not necessary the construction of a medieval castle with natural dimensions, the main thing - to observe the basic canons of external style.

To create a Gothic design adhere to these principles:

• mnogoskatnoy design roof It should exhibit a very high angle of tilt and trim ogradku with pointed spikes;
• construction layout should provide for mandatory turret and protruding pieces of the facade;
• windows are made with a lancet arch insert at the top of the window opening.

The outer wall finishing used siding, Ceramic tiles with wild imitation rock blocks. The variant decorative plaster pastel grays. Suitable for interior paneling wood beams.

Projects of small country houses with elements of Gothic style

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What do you think of this style direction? Would you like to use such techniques in the architecture of your own home? Write about it in the comments! In conclusion, we offer you a short video about the modern application of this style in the construction and interior design: