Masters of the Structural Aesthetic by Derek Thomas

Author:Derek Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Singapore, Singapore

The Gothic master builder “was a man who was taught by one or more master builders of the generation before him and during his training had to demonstrate his own sensitivity in aesthetics, his thorough knowledge of various techniques and methods of construction, his deep understanding of social needs and economic limitations, and finally his capacity to direct and manage all phases of construction of a building. The structural engineer did not exist until very recent times. He was indeed one of many personalities of the historical master builder.”

Khan (1980a)

The theologians and the master masons of the Gothic period reproduced the geometry and followed the proportions of Nature, which contains a myriad of fractal patterns and which were thought to be the “divine language of the universe. Euclidean geometry was used to symbolise the cosmic order of the Universe for the eye of Heaven, whereas fractal geometry was used intuitively to visualise this order for the eye of the worshippers” (Ramzy 2015).

The finest in Gothic cathedrals abound. It is useful to examine at least a few which demonstrated the continual advancement of the structural principles which the stonemasons employed (Fig. 3.7). Chartres Cathedral in France represents this evolving architectural typology but so also does the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy.

Fig. 3.7Oxford Cathedral, Christchurch (1158–1180). At the zenith of Gothic architecture, the distinctive structural aesthetic of perpendicular vaulting graced numerous examples, the cathedral at Christ Church College, Oxford being one. In the thirteenth century the design of the vault followed the outline of inverted, four-sided concave pyramids later being simplified by introduction of ‘fan’ vaulting

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