Gothic Architecture: Features, Structure and Design

Gothic architecture will characterize the search for light, which becomes the dominant metaphor of God. Salvation, the construction of buildings that seem to twitch, and the soul's ascent to heaven all reflect Christian belief in God. The predominance of the l of the walls disappears, and walls are replaced by windows that allow light in, fragmented into many colors, which invades the interior of the cathedrals.

Columns, Arches and Vaults

The columns become slender and are converted into thin, circular columns, called bakerns. The pillars, in their thickness, are no longer sufficient to withstand the vertical thrusts. The oblique thrusts are countered by buttresses, which are supported by external flying buttresses that run along the outside of the temple. The Gothic arch, preferred by the architect over the ogival arch, appears in multiple variants. It covers the quadripartite rib vault, the most commonly used type, in which four elements are joined by ribs that define its trace.

Exterior Elements and Elevation

The exterior of the building, with towers, needles, pinnacles, gables and rose windows, helps achieve the sense of elevation and dematerialization characteristic of the Gothic style. Every buttress usually ends in a pyramidal pinnacle, which accentuates the ascending effect. Flying buttresses carry the water from the roof and drain it through gargoyles away from the walls.

Decoration and Geometry

Gothic decoration is both ornamental and geometric. Gothic tracery combines triangles, circles and curves, with decorations in the interior niches or pointed arches. Plant decoration is the most abundant, with natural motifs that capture the spirit of Gothic art. Decoration appears on capitals, friezes and archivolts. Animal decoration shows a strong naturalism, without monsters. Inside the temple, three new fields of decorative development appear: the choir stalls and the large windows and altarpieces.

Cathedral Plan and Facade

The Gothic cathedral is the building par excellence. The plan of the dominant plant is longitudinal, with considerable projections, and its height is remarkable, creating the effect of the central nave, side aisles and external chapels. The Roman tribune disappears, and the triforium is replaced. The main facade follows the same design, with a triple portico crowned by flared gables. The lower floor has statues and a frieze, and the facade is topped by a rose window and the main arch. The facade is flanked by towers, which are not homogeneous as in earlier periods. They frequently have a base, with a cubic or polygonal belfry aligned with windows, topped by a terrace or pyramidal coping.