Architectural Principles of the Medieval Essay

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The Crusader utilised stone in order to create their castle structures. During this time Castles began to adopt features of a polygonal shape with turrets in their corners, as contrasted with the classic designs of previous times which included minimal towers and were normally square in shape. Other features of the newer design endemic in most castles included the usage of detached towers which permitted for the castle to remain independent if its towers were conquered by a potential enemy.

Romanesque and Gothic architecture slowly developed in the medieval era, reaching their highest expression in the great cathedrals of the High and Late Middle Ages, which were revived again during the Victorian Era of the 19th Century. This was the basic design for all the great churches, castles, places, town halls, public buildings and monasteries during the Middle Ages, which give the period its distinctive architectural feel and look. A look that included ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, graceful columns and tall spires, stained glass windows, wood carvings and tapestries.

The Romanesque and Gothic architects utilised stone columns and high arches in order to construct ornate structures that housed their houses of worship. Romanesque architecture was frequently known by semi-circular arches. It was well-known by its massive quality, its thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading.

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Such decoration could be discrete or have a notion of massive energy, like at Durham where the diagonal ribs of the vaults are all outlined with chevrons, which were joined together to create one of the richest and most dynamic interiors of the Romanesque period.

Gothic cathedrals symbolized the whole universe, and their great spires, vaults and arches always represented the longing of the human soul for heaven after death and for the divine in general. Pointed arches were intended to emphasize the height and majesty of cathedrals as they aspired to the heavens rather than earthly matters. This appearance is characteristically further enhanced by both the architectural features and the decoration of the structure. In many Gothic churches the treatment of vertical elements in gallery and window tracery creates a strongly unifying feature that counteracts the horizontal divisions of the interior structure. Other features of Gothic architecture include large stained glass windows that colorfully light up the interior, as well as tapestries in a highly ornamental Gothic style that also tell stories from the Bible. Gargoyles are another characteristic of Gothic architecture, and usually take the form of winged demons or monsters designed to frighten away evil spirits. It is all of these features put together that make the architecture of this time so well renowned today......

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