Reading Comprehension 3

[1]

Amiens-Salisbury

It is important to start with a spatial analysis of Amiens and Salisbury Cathedral in order to compare one another in terms of cohesion. What is obvious and significant of these to cathedrals and most of Gothic Cathedrals is that they are organized in a crucifix shape ( Latin cross). Another feature is that cathedrals especially Amiens and Salisbury cathedrals are big on their volume and represent power to a location. While Amiens is an initial point on urban development after a disastrous fire destruction of almost entire city to become a major centre of Christian France, Salisbury cathedral is somewhat more rural but not inferior to its possessive monumentality. Both of the cathedrals are set to be dominant on a region by their vertical expansion, a highest point to heaven. Amiens nave is unique with its monochromatic labyrinth on a marble which starts at the center and expands in a broken radial direction. Both of the cathedrals took a considerable time to build except that Salisbury cathedral was build under one generation of continuous building whereas Amiens cathedral took over to centuries to be built and facing a lot of structural difficulties, particularly around the nave that may have resulted to a fatal collision and collapse.

Amiens-Cologne

The fact that renaissance period tried to overlap the medieval period and underrating its innovative techniques made its impact over the times until late centuries when critics and artists discovered a blossom of true values especially on the architecture field of studies. The difficulties were present more than ever; stacking couldn’t be more dangerous with all of those flexible tall columns. Serial vaults even though enforced in axial direction, transversal direction those were loaded with a big question mark on top.

We can say about Amiens Cathedral that it is composure of volumes and braces on its entire structure. Flying buttresses were never seen before and even nowadays we see a lot of improvisation. It is complex structure with a lot of components only to achieve light and bring it inside and dismantle the renaissance replica calling it a dark age.  At Cologne cathedral we see similar effects and its transcended from Amiens including symmetrical towers, flying buttresses and most notably the identical cross shaped fundament based on which it rises above the city. Even though towers do not match completely from the two cathedrals there is a similarity on a concept, a guardian to a powerful house of God. If it would not be a distinction of towers on both cathedrals, people would easily confuse those two without having a deep analytical approach. As for the technique I would doubt to be a difference between those two cathedrals.

Amiens-Duomo

Each of the cathedrals speaks a different language in design but not in difficulties these two cathedrals face in trying to articulate syntax in order to bring a fine artistic language.

It is known that both cathedrals took lifetimes to be built and completed, they both represent an era that seem to be vanished overtime to be back with all their mysteries. Amiens had two towers, flying buttresses, labyrinth nave, that are unidentified at Duomo. On the other hand Duomo even though it is Latin cross on the floor plan, it employs a different approach in radiating its monumentality. It has a single tower (Bell tower), octagonal dome on base, geometrical decoration on the façade, etc.  

Amiens dealt with tying stacked composures having solid knots whereas Duomo dealt with precision of stacking. Amiens tried to correct itself over the time while Duomo after it was built, all it needed was a dome, and it was a one trick thing until a magician came to the podium. It took a long time to bring the right effort from a brave designer like Brunelleschi after previous several attempts done by many other designers that cost lives and money to Medici Family. After all one thing can be said, “The sunset in Florence and the cupola at Santa Maria del Fiore, a piece of heaven on earth”- unknown.   

[2] 

Roth described on how a medieval house would be organized and gave a clear imagery of a communal space and it would make sense even though the image from A Medieval Home Companion is not so expressive. We can see a woman that is engaged to her domestic commitment supposedly on a kitchen. Based on the reading of medieval domestic architecture, Roth explains how kitchen is located on the backside of the house which was axially stretched rectangle in shape, connected by a length wide hall borderd by an exterior side wall that makes a connection of other parts of the house. Seen from an image there is a doorway that may lead to other parts of the house or backyard that was planted with fruit trees and vines, herbs, flowers, etc.. The kitchen was surrounded by several fireplaces used for cooking purposes. There was a scullery outside the kitchen as well.