The Seven Key Characteristics of Gothic Architecture
Fundamentally, Gothic architecture transformed castles, churches, cathedrals and pretty much the whole of Europe!
This style of architecture developed because of common architectural problems in Medieval times.
Back in the 1100s-1200s, building skills were extremely limited. Stone castles were rudimentary - dark, cold, and damp.
Gothic architecture tried to solve some of these unpleasant problems, and created light, pleasant and airy buildings. Before the Gothic, architecture was functional. Now, architecture became beautiful.
Some Gothic buildings - particularly churches and cathedrals, such as York Minster, in York, England (the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe) - were rendered into awe-inspiring places of piety and worship, as a result of their phenomenal Gothic design.
Many castles adopted some of the characteristics of Gothic architecture, too. They became transformed from dank living environments into majestic, light and pleasant residences for the lords and ladies within.
Don't forget, though, that the term 'gothic architecture' is a retrospective term. Medieval people wouldn't have used it. Back in Medieval times, this form of building was called 'the modern style'.
1. Grand, Tall Designs, Which Swept Upwards With Height and Grandeur
The magnificent Gothic exterior of York Minster in the UK.
In the times before Gothic architecture, Early Medieval architects struggled to spread the weight of heavy stone walls.
This meant that most towers needed to be short, and buildings thin, otherwise the sheer weight of higher levels (or large rooms and halls) would collapse into themselves.
One of the fundamental characteristics of Gothic architecture was its height. New building techniques (such as the flying buttress, detailed below) enabled architects to spread the weight of taller walls and loftier towers.
This all meant that Gothic buildings could, quite literally, scale new heights. It allowed them to reach up to the heavens - perfect for cathedrals and churches.
The cathedral pictured above is York Minster
In the times before Gothic architecture, Early Medieval architects struggled to spread the weight of heavy stone walls.
This meant that most towers needed to be short, and buildings thin, otherwise the sheer weight of higher levels (or large rooms and halls) would collapse into themselves.
One of the fundamental characteristics of Gothic architecture was its height. New building techniques (such as the flying buttress, detailed below) enabled architects to spread the weight of taller walls and loftier towers.
This all meant that Gothic buildings could, quite literally, scale new heights. It allowed them to reach up to the heavens - perfect for cathedrals and churches.
The cathedral pictured above is York Minster
This is the famous Dom - or cathedral - of Cologne. It's an amazing example of the Gothic style.
2. The Flying Buttress
2. The Flying Buttress
These flying buttresses are a feature of Gothic architecture. They're part of the St Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle.
The flying buttress is the defining external characteristic of Gothic architecture. These buttresses effectively spread the weight of the new designs, taking the weight off the walls and transferring force directly to the ground.
However, what's particularly notable about the flying buttress is that it's decorative, too.
Rather than just being a simple support, buttresses were often elaborately designed and extremely decorative. They appeared to dart and sweep around each building, giving a sense of movement and of grandeur missing from previous architectural designs.
The flying buttress is the defining external characteristic of Gothic architecture. These buttresses effectively spread the weight of the new designs, taking the weight off the walls and transferring force directly to the ground.
However, what's particularly notable about the flying buttress is that it's decorative, too.
Rather than just being a simple support, buttresses were often elaborately designed and extremely decorative. They appeared to dart and sweep around each building, giving a sense of movement and of grandeur missing from previous architectural designs.
3. The Pointed Arch
The innovation of the pointed arch which was the defining internal characteristic of Gothic architecture. Its significance was both practical and decorative.
The pointed arch effectively distributed the force of heavier ceilings and bulkier designs, and could support much more weight than previous, simple pillars.
The stronger arches allowed for much more vertical height, too - they literally reached up to the heavens.
The Gothic arch wasn't just a workhorse. It had an aesthetic value and beauty which influenced many other features of Gothic design - most notably the vaulted ceiling.
Malbork Castle in Poland has some excellent examples of pointed ceilings.
The vaulted ceiling was an innovation which lead on from the achievements of the pointed arch.
The pointed arch effectively distributed the force of heavier ceilings and bulkier designs, and could support much more weight than previous, simple pillars.
The stronger arches allowed for much more vertical height, too - they literally reached up to the heavens.
The Gothic arch wasn't just a workhorse. It had an aesthetic value and beauty which influenced many other features of Gothic design - most notably the vaulted ceiling.
Malbork Castle in Poland has some excellent examples of pointed ceilings.
4. The Vaulted Ceiling
The vaulted ceiling was an innovation which lead on from the achievements of the pointed arch.
The delicate vaulted ceilings of Malbork Castle in Poland. These ceilings are another feature of Gothic architecture.
Irregular, vaulted ceilings utilised the technology of the pointed arch to spread force and weight from upper floors. The arch also provided the impression of height and magnificence, giving the vaulted ceiling a feeling of grandeur and elegance.
The distribution of force within the vaulted ceiling enabled vaults to be built in different shapes and sizes, too. Previously, vaults could only have been circular or rectangular.
The picture above is again an example from Malbork Castle, in Poland.
The distribution of force within the vaulted ceiling enabled vaults to be built in different shapes and sizes, too. Previously, vaults could only have been circular or rectangular.
The picture above is again an example from Malbork Castle, in Poland.
5. The Light and Airy Interior
Before Gothic architecture, castles and early Medieval buildings were pretty depressing places to live or worship in.
Castles, in particular, were damp and mold, as most weren't built strong enough to support slate or stone roofing. Although these fortresses could more or less prop up wooden roofs, these let in the rain.
If that wasn't depressing enough, these old environments tended to be dark and dingy. The windows were generally tiny, as the force of the walls would collapse into themselves if they included any larger glass works.
Gothic architecture strove to be the exact antithesis to this older Medieval style of building.
It emphasised light, bright windows and airy interiors, transforming castles and churches into more pleasant and majestic environments.
You can see the height, light and airy nature of the inside of Cologne Cathedral. This is a great example of Gothic architecture.6. The Gargoyles of Gothic Architecture
A classic gargoyle - you can see his dual purpose as a decoration and also as a water-spout.
One of the most notable characteristics of Gothic architecture is the gargoyle. Gargoyles are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at along the roofs and battlements of Gothic buildings and castles.
Gargoyles have a practical purpose: they're spouts, enabling rainwater to drain off the roof and gush through their mouths, before plummeting to the ground (guttering is a relatively recent innovation!).
However, gargoyles had another intended purpose: to strike fear into the hearts of ill-educated Medieval peasants, scaring them into the church or cathedral. Many gargoyles include elements of the grotesque: exaggerated, evil features or threatening poses, which would have leered down from on-high.
In a world marked with fear and superstition, these creepy creatures would undoubtedly have encouraged many to seek solace and safety inside of a church or cathedral- protected from the demons and ghouls which roamed outside. The gargoyle is one of the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture, and sticks in the mind even to today.
One of the most notable characteristics of Gothic architecture is the gargoyle. Gargoyles are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at along the roofs and battlements of Gothic buildings and castles.
Gargoyles have a practical purpose: they're spouts, enabling rainwater to drain off the roof and gush through their mouths, before plummeting to the ground (guttering is a relatively recent innovation!).
However, gargoyles had another intended purpose: to strike fear into the hearts of ill-educated Medieval peasants, scaring them into the church or cathedral. Many gargoyles include elements of the grotesque: exaggerated, evil features or threatening poses, which would have leered down from on-high.
In a world marked with fear and superstition, these creepy creatures would undoubtedly have encouraged many to seek solace and safety inside of a church or cathedral- protected from the demons and ghouls which roamed outside. The gargoyle is one of the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture, and sticks in the mind even to today.
The gargoyle is one of the key characteristics of Gothic architecture.
7. The Emphasis Upon the Decorative Style and the Ornate
Gothic architecture marked the first time that beauty and aesthetic values had been incorporated into building design. This revolutionised the way that Medieval architects began to think of buildings. Architecture was no longer just functional - it began to have merit and meaning in its own right.
This doorway of Cologne Dom exemplifies the ornate, Gothic style.
Increasingly ambitious and ornate designs of church, cathedral and castle came to be built. Rivalry and competition drew different groups of builders to conceive and construct grander and more decorative designs, for the glory of the Christian religion.
Increasingly ambitious and ornate designs of church, cathedral and castle came to be built. Rivalry and competition drew different groups of builders to conceive and construct grander and more decorative designs, for the glory of the Christian religion.
This tremendous spire of the Dom in Cologne, Germany, shows the reach, height, grandeur and intricate detail of the Gothic style.
How "The Modern Style" Became Associated With Barbarians: A Quick History of Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture revolutionised the appearance of Mid-Medieval buildings. Do remember though, that 'gothic' is actually a retrospective term. It wouldn't have been used in Medieval times. This style of architecture was, back then, called the "Modern Style", and it was a revolutionary influence for all castles, churches and palaces in Europe.
The style originally became popular in France from the 1150s, and spread with surprising speed across the whole of Europe.
Some 300 years later, in the 1450s, this style began to go out of fashion. Renaissance architects, the new vogue, started to pour scorn upon this style of architecture.
They derided it as being old-fashioned and uncouth, because it was fantastical, exaggerated and daring. Their Renaissance style was classical, solid, pure, and symmetrical.
To express their scorn, the Renaissance architects actually coined the term 'gothic architecture'. 'Gothic' was a pejorative term, as the goths were barbarians who had wreaked havoc on Europe hundreds of years earlier. The choice of "Gothic architecture" expressed their disgust for an architectural style that they felt had blighted the face of Europe.
Atmospheric, Autumn arches of a ruined cathedral in Wales, UK. :
However, the Gothic style was - and is to today - absolutely unstoppable. In the mid 1600s, the style resurfaced, and was re-invented for more modern audiences. The 'gothic revival' period (or the "neo-Gothic" period; also referred to in England as the "Victorian Gothic") saw many of the characteristics of Gothic architecture re-invented for more modern buildings.
Buildings built in the Gothic revival style include the Houses of Parliament in London; Parliament Hill in Ontario, Washington Cathedral, and many campuses of 1800s Universities worldwide.
These adopted the common characteristics of Gothic architecture in a more modern style.
The Gothic style is still phenomenally popular today, and is the design-of-choice for new churches, cathedrals and similar buildings in Europe and the Americas.
Many of the key characteristics of Gothic architecture have been adopted into more modern architectural designs, and our current aesthetic style owes a great deal to the roots of the Gothic architecture movement in Medieval times.
Modern Examples
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