HISTORY & THEORY 2: Reading Comprehension 3

Amiens Cathedral vs. Florence Cathedral:

In these particular two cathedrals, the methodology was worth contemplating for sheer fear of collapse of the two structures. Not only did these structures serve the purpose of housing individuals for worship and other practices, but also they served as symbols of the wealth power of the church and the place in which the cathedral was erected. If a cathedral were to collapse, it would not only injure individuals but the image of the church would also be damaged. The designers of these two buildings chose to showcase ability in two different manners, at Florence with the dome and Amiens with the sheer height of the cathedral and intricate flying buttress system. The complications these two spaces overcame in their stages of construction proved that feats no one thought possible were a reality. The Gothic cathedrals of this time made large strides in the scale of buildings, producing larger domes and taller walls than ever before. The structural failures of these buildings only help us learn what is and is not conducive to the building process of this genre. We can only study and perfect what lessons have already been learned in the production of these massive structures.

Amiens Cathedral vs. Cologne Cathedral:

Though there are easily discernable regional differences between one and two tower structures, these differences do not exist between the Amiens and Cologne cathedrals despite their locations. These cathedrals are extremely similar in both floor plan and outward appearance. Both use influences from France with their flying buttress system, allowing these structures to be built taller than ever before. These two cathedrals exist in regions that are extremely close to one another and many other similarities that strive towards the symbol of religious power are noticeable. The question of regional differences gets somewhat blurred between these two structures upon first glance, but the details are what sets each of these under their own regional categories. The two-tower entrance only increases the dwarfing feeling of man in Gods presence. Entry into a single tower makes the person entering feel more a part of the cathedral, whereas if they are entering between two massive structures, they understand their place in religious hierarchy.

Amiens Cathedral vs. Salisbury Cathedral:

These two cathedrals spawned from very different circumstances and it is apparent in their design features. The Salisbury Cathedral, which predates the city, which surrounds it, appears to be a sanctuary amongst the chaos of the surrounding town. The manicured lawn and courtyard facility greatly contrast with the close buildings and roadways that surround Amiens. It is apparent Salisbury had room to grow, not being limited by urban surroundings. Aside from the sites, the buildings themselves are apparent in their hindrances (or advantages) of the landscape around them. The Salisbury cathedral, with room to spread its wings, is a much more horizontally strong building, built into its landscape while Amiens, a vertically strong building, was built up, out of its landscape. The solution to the question, how does a building make room for itself in an urban setting, is apparent in the Amiens cathedral. Rather than building out, the building must be built up, consuming as little ground level square footage as possible. The challenges of building a cathedral sans city would be the fact that one isn’t sure how the future city will form around the existing structure or if the structures design will be cohesive in design and cultural influences as the city that springs up around it. A major opportunity in a building of this type would be the limitless area in which the building could potentially be constructed, leaving the limits only with the architects. A challenge of building a major cathedral in an already populated urban area would be the available space in which to put the cathedral. The cathedral must be able to mold with the city that already surrounds it, destroying as little existing structure as possible. An opportunity however, is that a builder and designer are able to study the culture and flow of the city around them and mold the cathedral to best support the area in which it will inhabit, to make it special and a real focal point for the city in which it is being placed.

A Medieval Home Companion:

The Medieval time period existed between late Rome and the Renaissance. This was a time of governmental and social instability, ridden with war and insecurity. It was not a wealthy time for the average citizen who lived in constant fear of invasion and starvation. Not only were governments at war; the church was filled with conflict as well, trying to secure their stronghold in the social and political hierarchy. Because these people lived in fear, mostly everything they owned was small and mobile, able to be taken with them at the first sign of any trouble. They had in their homes only the necessities and many times did without those because they simply could not afford them. These dwellings were small, normally no bigger than a single room. This was partially due to the concern of warmth in the freezing English countryside. It was simply easier to warm a single room than multiple. Furnishings and dwellings were made from local, cheap, and easy to obtain materials such as straw, wood, and mud clay materials.  In this case, this woman is doing the best that she can with what little is given to her. The singular door pictured to the right of the illustration is most likely the only entrance into the one room home. The windows, although they let in cold, are not glassed and are there for light and ventilation purposes. The carrot on the floor was most likely grown in the family garden and is one of the few that survived. Later she will most likely prepare it on the single wood burning stove or merely a fire, where she will serve it to her family at a single wooden table. Then, as the sun goes down, they will lie down to sleep on straw mattresses that also exist in the same room. 

A typical Medieval dwelling.