Gothic Architecture History, Characteristics and Examples

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Gothic style of architecture is an architectural style that developed across Europe between mid 12th century and 16th century and its key feature is mainly masonry building style use of spacious, chambers, and walls pierced with overlaid tracery. Gothic style and architecture originated from France but you can find it in Europe and other continents. Firstly, the kind of architecture imported from Europe was called Opus Francigenum which means “French Work”, and was mainly employed by religious organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church.

The style actually existed during the 12th century up to the 13th century where engineering was on going and architects designed and constructed huge buildings. The gothic style of architecture originated in the middle ages and development from a Romanesque styles characterized by strong vaulted ceilings, numerous arches and smaller stained glasses. The rib vaulted pointed arch and the flying buttress that are evident of gothic architectural styles were used for providing the support to tall buildings and also admit light. While large first windows, which are characteristic for the Gothic cathedral, let in only colored or tinted light inside the building.

Saint-Denis Basilica, initially known as Abbey church of Saint-Denis, is usually considered as first Gothic structure.The west end of the Basilica of Saint-Denis originally had two equal towers and this was one of the layouts copied in the design of Notre-Dame de Paris layout. For many years these huge Gothic cathedrals were the only high constructions in the city before tall modern buildings. More attempt will be made in this article to explain more of the nature of gothic architecture and style with examples.

Large Stained Windows

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Today stained glass windows are found in some worship places, but they were initially in Gothic cathedrals, and they featured cut-colored glass. They were either arched and tall lancet windows or round rose windows larger than those found in churches today, which guaranteed they brought in more light. The large clerestory windows often used tracery, a decorative type of stone support, and detailed Biblical stories
Large Stained Windows

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Large Stained Window

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2. Pointed Arches

Pointed Arches

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Other essential components of gothic architecture were Pointed Arches, which served both aesthetic and functional purposes. The pointed arch was of a sturdy little design that possesses form which could distribute the force of bulky walls and heavy ceilings more than the previously used pillars. The gothic arch was something beautiful and ornamental like a water buffalo and it helped other gothic designs such as the vaults.

While the round arches that were so popular in the Romanesque structures were being used, the gothic style architects borrowed the thin pointed arches similar to the ones used in Islamic structures. This profile for each cathedral indicated to the sky and enabled the support of a vaulting of this form.

Pointed Arch

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3. Vaulted Ceilings

Vaulted Ceiling

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Ribbed vaulting is another art form during the Gothic period because the pointed arch results involved barrel vaults-arches placed parallel to one another and supported the rounded roof. These vaulted ceilings used the pointed arch technology to spread and distribute the weight and force from the upper floors, and they allowed ceilings to be taller than they were before, providing an impression of height and elegance. As a result of the force distribution within the vaulting ceilings, the vaults could be constructed in different sizes and shapes.

4. Flying Buttresses

Flying Buttresses

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The flying buttress is one of the gothic architecture elements that provides specifications of exterior and aims to transfer the weight of the high walls. Flying buttress was adopted by the architects to help in structure support through shifting the force on the ground. It was an aesthetic and functional component of history and was rather ornate.

The flying buttresses created a flowing and frivolous feel because they appeared to run and glide around the structures. At times, the flying buttress had invocations which made the architecture to appear grand and important with carved ornaments.

Flying Buttress

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5. The Gargoyles of Gothic Architecture/ Ornate Decorations

Gargoyles

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Being one of the major features of the gothic architectural style and elaborate detailing, Gargoyles were ornamental little monsters which were usually placed on the roof and the parapets of gothic palaces and buildings. Besides having two functions, one common function of a gargoyle was to direct and force rain water down off the roof – out of the gargoyle’s mouth, which would then cascade to the ground. Another reason was to intimidate the ill-educated peasants who would be forced to enter either the gothic cathedral or church.

Gargoyles

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Gargoyles were one of the defining elements of Gothic architecture and had evil visages and menacing postures that were stylized and made many turn to a church or cathedral for protection in a world saturated with superstition and fear. Other examples of non-strictly architectural elements were sculptures of saints and other important people, elaborated columns and niches, pointed arches, roofs, capitals and bases of statues and bas-reliefs and other sculptural forms – pinnacles, and so on.

Classic Gothic Style and Gothic Architecture, Examples

a). Gothic Cathedrals

1. Notre-Dame De Paris

Notre Dame

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Notre-Dame De Paris is a phenomenal example of Gothic architecture; again construction started in the year 1163 and went on up to 1345; this church is one of the most famous churches in France. In the regime of Louis XIV and Louis XV great changes actually transformations occurred though Notre Dame had faced a little architectural brunt in the Second World war through bullet shots some of the glass windows of which were restored after the war.

Notre Dame

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2. Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral

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Notre-Dame De Paris is a phenomenal example of Gothic architecture; again construction started in the year 1163 and went on up to 1345; this church is one of the most famous churches in France. Then in the time of Louis XIV and Louis XV, Notre Dame was enlarged, transformed and also shot by bullets during the second world war when several glass windows were destructed, replaced by new ones following the war.

3. The Basilica of Saint-Denis

Abbey of Saint-Denis

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Considered one of the first Gothic-style buildings, and it officially became a cathedral in 1966. Basilica Church of Saint-Denis is located in a Paris suburb, and the site it's built on was previously a Roman cemetery, and the remains are still below the building. The Basilica of Saint-Denis is both a pilgrimage and houses the tombs of most French Kings between the 10th and 18th centuries. Abbot Suger, a friend, noted scholar, and advisor to King Louis VI and Louis VII, led to the church's rebuilding.

4. The Cathedral Church of Milan

Milan Cathedral

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Cathedral Church of Milan, another example of gothic architecture, took around 600 years to complete, with the construction beginning in 1386 and lasted until the 19th century in 1865. The building work had to stall during the Second World War because of the allied bombing of Milan and lack of funds, and it was finally completed in 1965.

The Cathedral Church of Milan is the third largest cathedral globally and is famous for its forest of pinnacles and spires and the highly ornate facade. The forest of spires and pinnacles design has purposes both for aesthetics and structure.

5. St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Stephen's Cathedral

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Stephen's Cathedral, an example of gothic architecture, is considered the most prominent Gothic building in Vienna's entire city, where it is located, and it houses some of Vienna's art treasures. Its current form is a combination of Gothic forms and Romanesque and was built in 1160.

Stephen's Cathedral

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6. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

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Westminster Abbey, an example of gothic architecture, is London's most well-known landmark, an abbey church located in Westminster city in London. The abbey church was the regular place of coronation for English monarchs for many centuries until the monastery was dissolved in 1539. Today it has remained among the most visited sites in London.

Westminster, Abbey

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7. Amiens Cathedral

Amiens

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This is the tallest cathedral in France and another example of Gothic architecture built between the years 1220 and 1270, but minor works continued till the year 1288.

Amiens gothic architecture

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8. Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral

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Salisbury is one of the lucky survivors that has perfect example of Gothic architecture, a marvelous cathedral to start with, as well as a record holder. Constructed between 1220 and 1258, it contains the highest church tower, the largest and most important cathedral close and the largest abbey in Britain. Subsequently, it consists of one of the oldest working clocks and one of the original copies of the Magna Carta which are crucial to UK and common wealth as well as democratic countries.

Salisbury Architecture

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9. Reims Cathedral

Notre Dame at Reims

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Also known as the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Reims, this cathedral in France is among the most visited countries, with about 1,000,000 visits every year. It was built using the High Gothic style in the 13th century and was built on another church's location that a fire had destroyed. It is recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site since 1991, and it inspired the high gothic style which appeared in the Holy Roman Empire rebuild.

Notre Dame at Reims

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10. Cologne Cathedral

Cologne cadhedrals

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This Cathedral took 600 years to complete, with construction beginning in 1248 was abandoned in 1473, and remained unfinished for 350 years, to be resumed in the 1840s and was completed in 1880. The Cologne Cathedral was the largest in Northern Europe and had the second-tallest spires built in a Germanic Gothic style. The cathedral has witnessed several tank battles and bomb hits, and it has been ongoing repair since after the war to date.

Cologne architecture

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11. York Minster

York Minister

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English Gothic style with tracery particularities is present in the main window of the York Minster West front. It also has stained glass: the oldest of which was made in the 12th century, the construction of which began in 1220 and was only completed in 1472.

12. Canterbury Cathedral

Cathedral Canterbury

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Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest that has its history starting from the 6th century, and it is situated in England. Originally church was reconstructed during the period of 1070 and 1077, but the east end was reconstructed again during the period 1170-1177 due to fire in English Gothic Architectural style. The most historical event associated with the Gothic Cathedral is the murder of Archbishop Tomas Becket which has happened there In 1988, it has become the UNESCO site.

Canterbury Cathedral Gothic architecture

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b). Gothic Styles

13. Rayonnant Style

Rayonnant Style

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The term Rayonnant was the term given to the French High Gothic architecture that was in use between 1240 and 1350. Many stained glasses were used in the architectural designs, building sizes were made to fit human use and the repeated motifs were highly used. The movement received its name from the rays of light that emanated out through the glass and the style began with the Gothic architect Hugues Libergier in the Abbey church of saint Nicaise in Reims, France about 1231. A clear example of this style is the Sainte-Chappelle built in Paris between 1242 and 1248 to house King Louis IX’s many Holy relics.

14. Flamboyant Style

Flamboyant Gothic Style

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The Flamboyant Style stemmed from the Rayonnant style while enlarging the zone of decorative effects under pressure of more curved shapes with an overall effect of an extravagance and a completely kinetic movement. One of the best examples of this style during the gothic period used in religious gothic architecture is the church of St. Maclou ( 1436-1521) in Rouen – France. In England it was called the Perpendicular Style and in Germany, the Sondergotik or special Gothic style.

15. Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated Manuscripts

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An illuminated Manuscript is a gothic style approach that became an essential feature of the International Gothic style that combines religious texts with painted illustrations. Giotto and Duccio’s work and Simone Martini of the Sienese School influenced the gothic style and architecture.

The most notable example of this International Gothic style was the Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (1412-1416) by the Limbourg brothers. Tres Riches Heures has a vivid color palette and some realistic scenes that marked ordinary life and therefore celebrated both the secular life and, at the same time, fulfilled a religious purpose.

Conclusion

The late gothic architecture styles featured vaulted halls, and some of the buildings in Europe were fabricated with stone. Still, Italian Gothic used marble and brick instead; however, as gothic architecture started declining, just as the Renaissance architecture gained popularity in France, Italy, and Europe.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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