Gothic And Renaissance Architecture

13 Pages 3230 Words

church were attended to, Suger was able to put his research and ideas into action.
Construction on the new church began in 1137. By 1140 the church had a new west front and narthex that incorporated a twin-towered façade of Norman churches and sculptured portals that were developed in south France. The improvements on the west side of the building encouraged immediate extension of the east side. For here the improvements only continued. Suger used his fascination with colored light in the new choir that was built in 1144. Rib vaults were used to cover the irregular bays of the original complex. The interior was transformed into an open, airy, and radiant space which satisfied Suger’s desires. Abbey Suger died in the 1150’s, but the innovations that were created at St. Denis lived on.

High Gothic
The Early Gothic period was a time of exploration and innovation. During this time the buildings still possessed redundant features from the Romanesque period. But this had changed with the maturation into the High Gothic period. This period was characterized by its progressive structural and artistic features. Three structural components of Gothic architecture had been developed in this progression. The first was the pointed arch. This arch was much more sophisticated than the Romanesque semicircular arch and exerted less outward thrust. The second structural element of Gothic Architecture was the rib vault. This was a thin shell construction with folded plates. These rib vaults reduced the weight and allowed for greater building heights. The final structural element of Gothic architecture is the flying buttress. This is a type of buttressing that was built at right angles to the wall. Slender arches connected to the wall at strategic points. These slender arches gave the upper section of the building’s skeletal frame strength.
While the French Royal Monastery of St. Denis may have been the first monument of the Early Gothic,...