Architectural Style of Notre Dame - Research Paper Example

Architectural Style of Notre Dame An architectural style refers to a technique of building that is distinguished by the elements that render it remarkable. An architectural style may comprise materials, regional characters, forms, and techniques used for construction. Many works of architecture may be grouped as a chronology of fashions that change with time. They may manifest materialization of current technologies and ideas or changing religions, fashions, and beliefs. Therefore, architectural styles come from a society’s history and are recorded in the history of architecture. In addition, architectural styles extend to other regions away from their areas of origin. In many instances, after a style has faded away from fashion, there are frequently reinterpretations and revivals. For example, classicism has been renewed to find fashion as the new classicism (Baker and AIA 26). This paper will look at the architectural style of Notre Dame. Notre Dame can also be referred to as Notre Dame de Paris or Notre Dame Cathedral. It is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral located in France at the city of Paris. It is the house of worship of the Paris Catholic Archdiocese. Moreover, the cathedral is the residence of a reliquary that supposes the Crown of Thorns. The cathedral is seen as one of the exceptional examples of Gothic architecture in the French region and Europe. The musical experimentation of the Notre Dame School coincided with the cathedral’s initial era of building from 1163 to 1240s. Many of the cathedral’s images were destroyed or damaged in the 1970s during the French Revolution. At this time, Notre Dame suffered vandalism (Janson 123). Later, there were wide restorations that did away with decorations that remained, putting the cathedral back to its initial state. Notre Dame Cathedral was among the first constructions that employed the flying buttress. Initially, the building was not planned to comprise the flying buttresses around the nave and choir. In addition, the architects constructed supports in the vicinity of the outside walls. Most of the statues that were small were positioned near the outside. The small statues were specifically crafted, and they worked as supports for water spouts and columns. The famous gargoyles are among the small statues (Michelin Travel Publications 91). Additionally, they were colored like the majority of the exterior. Notre Dame Cathedral was to a large extent completed by 1345. The construction of Notre Dame Cathedral saw the demolition of several houses by the bishop. The destruction of the houses was to give way for the construction of a road that would ensure materials could be transported to the cathedral. The cathedral construction started in 1163, during the Louis VII period of influence. Building of the choir started in 1163 and was completed nearly 1177. Moreover, the new High Alter was made holy in the year 1182. The finishing of the transepts was overseen by Eudes de Sully who succeeded Bishop Maurice de Sully after he died in 1196. In addition, Eudes de Sully continued to supervise the work on the nave (Michelin Travel Publications 111). The nave was almost complete when he died in 1208. During this period, work on the western facade had started but was not finished until the middle of 1240. The cathedral was made by many different architects. This is evident by the contrasting styles at the sundry heights of the towers and west fronts. During the period of 1210 and 1220, the number four architect supervised the building of the level with the rose window and the large halls underneath the towers. Moreover, the transepts were modified to reflect the latest style associated with Ravonnant. This was the most momentous alteration in design in the middle of the 13th century. Jean de Chelles attached a gabled portal to the transept at the north, in addition to a marvelous rose, window. After a short period, Pierre de Montreuil employed a similar technique on the South transept. These two transept portals were well decorated with sculpture. The north portal contained the Theophilus story in tympanum and Christ’s infancy, and a powerful statue of Mary and Jesus in the trumeau. The south portal comprised scenes from lives of different saints (Janson 133). Ideas and Values Over the years, the magnificence of Notre Dame Cathedral has been an inspiration to writers, poets, painters, believers, and individuals. The cathedral is among the most attractive religious constructions created by the Christians. In addition, the cathedral has called to mind values and ideas. The cathedral has advanced the values associated with the Christian faith. The attractive material manifestation is a sign of the Christian faith. This makes Christians want to reach heaven literally. Its orientation is a demonstration of a person’s progression towards God. Entry into the cathedral replaces the material with spirituality and gives the idea of being close to God (White and Willensky 97). It also gives the idea of strong faith and devotion to the people. Similarities Notre Dame Cathedral has similarities with other samples of Gothic church architecture of the same period. Gothic architecture presents a sense of verticality and space. This is because the architecture emphasizes height as observed in the Notre Dame Cathedral. The high walls permit stained windows that are large to let in the light because they do not bear the building’s weight. The sunlight’s reflection on the windows enhances the beauty of the cathedrals. The cathedral is surrounded by symbols like other cathedrals which were built around the same time. In the floor stone, there is the pattern of labyrinth. The pathway leading to the nave is steered by the fantastic light from the glass windows that are stained (Michelin Travel Publications 81). Finally, there is the place of profound meditation and conducting prayer. Differences The cathedral’s stone pillars escalate to the roof-vaults in the cathedral. The roof-vaults are outlined by joint ribs that give support to the high ceiling of the building. In addition, the Notre Dame Cathedral has a unique exterior design in the form of the flying buttress. The flying buttress operates as drainpipes, in addition, to giving support to the roof-vaults and high wall. Looking at the west side of the Notre Dame Cathedral, a person can observe that Notre Dame Cathedral is constructed with three levels or layers. The lower layer, also the ground floor, provides the entry point. It has three gates for people to enter the cathedral. This layer is also the main arcade (Michelin Travel Publications 121). Additionally, sculptures that have figures from the stories in the Bible are situated all along the front portal at the lower layer before the entrance of the door way. These sculptures are engraved with elegance. The sculpture depicting the Last Judgment story in the Bible is the most visible of all the sculptures. The middle of the second level comprises attractive sizeable windows that are shaped in the form of a round rose. The Notre Dame Cathedral has three rose shaped windows. The Notre Dame Cathedral’s third layer is completed by the towers. If a person climbs 376 steps above in the direction of the south tower, he or she can observe Paris (Baker and AIA 76). In addition, there is an 1868 bell that weighs 15 tons and hangs in the south tower. Notre Dame Cathedral also differs from other cathedrals because of its sculptures naturalism and glasses that are stained. The cathedral is compact, with trivial or no protrusion of the subsidiary chapels and transepts. Moreover, the west fronts are characterized by a high level consistency. This comprises the mentioned three portals covered by a rose window. The east extremity has a polygon shape with a chapel that is ambulatory. Notre Dame Cathedral differs from many of the chapels because it has transepts and aisles. The cathedral does not sprawl across its site. The cathedral also has a well managed entrance as described above in contrast to cathedrals in England (Janson 126). The English cathedrals congregational entry point is on a side porch. Works Cited Baker, John M. and AIA. American House Styles. New York: Norton, 1994. Print. Janson, H. W. History of Art. (3rd ed.). New York: Harry N. Abrams Incorporation, 1986. Print. Michelin Travel Publications. The Green Guide Paris. New York: Michelin Travel Publications, 2003. Print. White, Norval and Elliott Willensky. AIA Guide to New York (4th ed.). New York: Random House, 2000. Print. Read More