Group Analysis: Cathedrals

A cathedral comparison done by Kathy Blair, Kristin Sylvia, and I with Cologne Cathedral in Germany verses Salisbury Cathedral [England], Duomo Cathedral [Italy], and Amiens Cathedral [France] for Design history and theory.

Here is what I wrote to contribute to the group:
In learning about Cologne cathedral and other associated cathedrals, physical properties of these ‘dark age’ structures can give way to details such as the time they were constructed and the reasoning of the designer’s and user’s construction. Cologne cathedral in Germany was a traditionally built structure with the common crossing of vaults and arches, that create massive light elements, done in mostly right angles in composition while the Italian cathedral of Duomo in Florence tends to focus more on a central basis of creating light within the composition with the help of a centralized dome that is unique and closest to is precedent, the Pantheon’s oculus dome built by the Romans many years before. When discussing the elements of the Salisbury cathedral in England and the Cologne, there are sharp contrasts in composition of the space’s layout. While the crossings are similar in the detail of both interior naves and crossing groin vaults, Salisbury Cathedral is more linear in it’s construction composition with protruding elements balanced on its sides while Cologne Cathedral has a more curved affect because of the radiating chapels that appear on the back façade. When looking to find a more similar comparison for the Cologne in Germany, the Amiens cathedral in Amiens, France is almost identical in composition and crossing with its structural elements of vaults, radiating chapels, and towers. Flying buttresses hold up both sides as the vaulted ceilings are built to be taller and taller to reach up towards heavens, leading one to believe they were built around the same time period. The only contrasting detail to these two cathedrals is the fact that Cologne is slightly larger in crossings and overall plan while Amiens is narrower in crossing with a single distinguishing longer radiating chapel aligned with the central axis of the church.

Through our analysis of the Cathedrals from all around europe in the Gothic era of architecture, I learned that each church is unique in construction and design. In the Italian cathedrals the design on the outside was more geometric in shape rather then the amorphous yet ornate designs or a cathedral in France. Light plays a huge part in the awe factor to the cathedral and the composition of a church. Each also carried a symbol to the people worshiping there as to what exactly they were praying or preaching for, the cathedrals were a symbol of hope and the quest to build heavenward in the world of religious design.