Unlike rounded Romanesque arches, pointed ones directed weight more vertically, allowing for much taller and narrower structures.
These external stone arches braced the upper walls against the outward thrust of the heavy roof, allowing architects to replace solid stone walls with vast expanses of glass. Gothic cathedrals : a guide to the history, pla...
Gothic cathedrals are monumental "books in stone" that defined the European skyline from the mid-12th to the 16th century. Originating in France at the under Abbot Suger, this style shifted away from the heavy, dark Romanesque period toward a "theology of light," using innovative engineering to create soaring, luminous spaces. History & Evolutionary Stages Originating in France at the under Abbot Suger,
Focused on reaching extreme heights and maximizing window space. The "Rayonnant" (radiant) style is defined by the two-story walls of stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle and the massive scale of Chartres Cathedral . Late Gothic: Flamboyant & Perpendicular (c. 1350–1550): Late Gothic: Flamboyant & Perpendicular (c