The Westminster Abbey, previously known as the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster is a major historical landmark in Brittan. This “Royal Peculiar” has been around for approximately over 900 years, throughout which it had undergone several renovations and reconstructions, leading to the present gothic style it possesses. It functions as the site of burial and coronation of both British and English monarchs. Throughout time the hall had been at center of wars and controversy leading to renovations and restorations that resulted in how it looks to date. In this paper I am going to delve into some of the history that helped mold this magnificent wonder of gothic architecture into the building it is today.
Construction began on the Westminster abbey under the reign of King William II in 1097 and was completed a mere two years later. It was built to express his authority and power and to astonish his countrymen. The hall was the largest of its kind in England (boasting the dimensions 240 X 67 feet and a floor spanning approximately 17,000 square feet), although the king was not pleased with its size (Cescinsky et al., 1922). He thought that it should be bigger and only represented a mere fraction of what he had envisioned. At the time the hall was too large to serve any particular function and was substituted for use by other smaller halls. The roof was constructed using Irish black oak. It was reconstructed in 1394 under the reign of King Richard II. The King chose Henry Yevele as the chief mason and Hugh Herland as the carpenter, both accomplished men in their fields, to be responsible for the renovations to the hall. Yevele added huge buttresses to support the walls, which had wooden beams running horizontally along them t...
... middle of paper ...
...2002).
Presently, it’s no secret that the Westminster Abbey was the location of arguably one of the most publicized weddings in the world, the royal wedding of prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. It is also the final resting place of 17 monarchs, and contains some form of commemoration for many significant people in Britain. The building has a rich history and was inspired by the likes of cathedrals such as Chartes, Amiens and Reims. The building houses a wide range of art and sculptures, acting sort of like a museum. Over the years it had experienced several adversities but because of the importance of this monumental building to the public and the members of parliament, it still stands to date. Throughout all the restorations, the original style of the building was maintained which may reflect the significance of the gothic masterpiece of a hall to Britain.
For many the Cathedral is seen to indicate the grandeur and control of the Normans, who were able to build such monuments to their power despite having only recently conquered England. The precarious situation of being an recently instated alien power was even more pronounced in the north, where even the Anglo Saxon Kings had only had a superficial hold, arguably making the construction of Durham “one of the greatest Anglo-Norman achievements”. This so-called achievement is not restricted to architecture but also refers to the political developments which enabled the Normans to apparently gain enough control to do this within 30 years. However the study of Durham Cathedral alone cannot suffice to give a satisfactory outline of Norman politics and the achievements in Durham and must be put into the context of the region. Hence Durham Cathedral and all its powerful connotations can be argued to only be an anomaly to the reality of Norman England and its politics.
Another inspirational architect in this time was William Kent. His designs using ogee pointed arches with a classical cornice inspired Batty Langley to produce a study in which he analyzed Gothic in terms of classical orders. A comparison with true mediaeval and Gothic architecture at this time shows that at this time all Gothic architecture was a decorative style to be applied as ornament to regular structures and s...
We remember William of Normandy as a conquering hero. Truly one of the great warrior's of all time. But its is his patronage that still can be viewed in the twentieth century. The churches of St. Etienne and La Trinite as well as the tower of London, are medieval architectural models. All three buildings have a wealth of documentation surrounding them.
Architects of the Elizabethan era designed many amazingly beautiful buildings and structures. Elizabethan architecture went further than just what the architects told the builders to do and the builders are given far less credit than they deserve. They carved out amazingly intricate designs into the wood and stone of these buildings, they poured their souls into their work and were still forgotten because what are they but some random members of the lower class. Elizabethan architecture has more to it than just looks, the structures were built to last luxuriously and each has a history going back before the day they laid the foundation. The architecture descends from the Tudor Style while also admiring Greek and Roman architecture and contained many influences from when England invaded India.
Did you know that Henry I was the first monarch to use Windsor Castle as a home? During his reign, the wooden keep and walls were replaced with stone and served as a stronger structure for the castle to survive upon. Windsor Castle has housed many kings and queens throughout its lifetime, and has become a monument in England’s history. It has been refurbished over the years, but still has remained with the same layout. The interior is the extent of the changes made around the castle over its lifetime, besides the walls being substituted with stone.
After walking inside and trying to first experience, the church, and all its beauty and ornateness, I began examining the floor plan and elevations of the cathedral. Grace Cathedral was build in a gothic style, which it represents in its architecture inside and out. There were three huge rose windows. One at the very top of the main entrance and one on either end of the transept. There wer...
After Henry took over Hampton Court, he built more than half of the palace. In fact, the basic formation you see today was his design. Henry added on to various parts of Hampton Court. For example: He built most of the tudor parts, kitchen, Chapel Royal, and the tennis court. He also made the design for the Great Hall. The watching chamber was built for Jane Seymour, one of Henry’s six wives. Not to mention, many say that Jane’s heart and lungs are trapped in a box behind Chapel Altar. They believe that the only residence that did not make any changes were, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. However, parts of the tudor were tore down when William and Mary were residences. (Eakins).
With the Pantheon being built over 1700 years ago, it’s amazing that architects are still using features and techniques from this work of architecture in modern creations. The use of this type of classical architecture will continue to be used in works for public space due to its remarkable exterior appearance and it’s long lasting structural durability. When both Jesse hall and the Pantheon are compared it is possible to see their similarities from the types of domes that top each, their external facades, and their interior plan. While they share many similarities, the differences that Bell and Binder used in their creation make this work of architecture unique to many other public spaces.
Wilson, Christopher. "Thirteenth-Century Gothic." The Gothic Cathedral: the Architecture of the Great Church 1130-1530. Reprinted ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 2008. 91-120. Print.
The “superstar” museum gained this status by considering every important detail during its establishment and initial phases of conversion from royal palace to museum (Gombault, 2002). As the purpose of the building changed, each room addressed new functions with new requirements. Although the function of the Louvre is different from the building’s original intention, the building is still appears dignified and important enough to display priceless artifacts and painting (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998). This consideration was applied in designing the Met. The Met looked towards the South Kensington Museum (Victoria and Albert) and the “ideal role model” due to its extensive collections and international reputation (Heckscher, 1995). The Met found itself in a similar situation to the South Kensington, because it did not have a building or a collection to start with (Heckscher, 1995). When designing museums, architects strived to create monuments that “prepare and educate the mind of the visitor (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998).” Education is an essential function of a museum. Acquiring, preserving, and properly displaying materials, permits a museum to fulfill this duty (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998). For instance, lighting is a factor that affects the manner in which artwork is viewed and can be properly appreciated. When determining the proper lighting for the Louvre, Comte d’Angiviller, strongly believed that natural, overhead lighting was the most effective solution (McClellan, 1994, p. 72). The same determination impacted the decision to add skylights at the Met. During the initial phase, architects Vaux and Mould, added skylights to the upper floor, and windows to the lower floor that provided a natural light solution (Heckscher, 1995). Additionally, glass-roofed courtyards provided “unimpeded light” for displaying
The variety of articles, books and opinions pertaining to the New Palace of Westminster are quite interesting. While it is well known that there is confusion around the roles and work of Barry and Pugin on this famous piece of architecture, the range of opinions and supporting resources are intriguing. Robert Dell published an article filled with supporting resources that really supported the fact that A.W.N. Pugin was the “true” architect for the Houses of Parliament, while Roland Quinault defended quite the opposite, barely mentioning Pugin in his work.
Thesis: Both St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres are constructed in French Gothic style which means that architecturally they have many similarities. However, the 700 year gap between their construction offers St. John the Baptist more flexibility in design and style. Still, their likeness and variations extend far beyond the realm of their design.
William Butler Yeats stated that, “Supreme are is a traditional statement of certain heroic and religious truths, passed on from age to age….” When he said this, he is most definitely talking about the Anglo-Saxon era and their style of writing. The Anglo-Saxons were very into warriors and heroes and how heir stories are handed down from generation to generation. When these stories were written down, monks wrote them down. The monks then added parts about God and the heavens, and about all the religious facts they could. Thus mixing the warrior and heroic mentality with the religious faith of the Christians.
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.
“25 Facts About HM Tower Of London.” Royalcentral.co.uk. 13 Jan. 2013. Web. 5 May 2014.