Welcome to my continuing journey through buildings and their typologies about which I am passionate. Perhaps they will coincide with your own tastes?
I couldn’t decide which gothic cathedral to single out for this post. If in a mental dilemma the usual recourse is to set the context and then see what emerges. The context is gothic architecture with which I have been fascinated over many years. This was propelled forward after doing some research on the topic as part of writing and self-publishing my book on the Brunel and Barry families of Victorian engineers and architects, after which this newsletter is named.
But why gothic architecture in a book about Victorian architects (and engineers)? Because my real interest was in (New) Italianate architecture, which was a form of neo-classical revival in the 19th century. Charles Barry senior was one of its key proponents in Britain, first popularised by the London Travellers Club building he designed and completed with the help of his close friend the architect John Wolfe. It is still with us on Pall Mall, as is Barry’s even larger neighbouring Italianate accomplishment the Reform Club.
However, when it came to the competition for the New Palace of Westminster after the existing one had tragically succumbed to fire in 1836, Barry had no choice but to veer away from his preferred architectural style. The requirement was for something more in tune with the palace’s medieval setting next to Westminster Abbey, London’s remaining gothic cathedral (the other one, St Paul’s, had gone beautifully classical after the Great Fire of London). Here enters the neo-gothic influence of one Augustus WN Pugin, which ultimately led to a war of attributions taken up by the two mens’ sons and described further in my book (see Building #3 post for a modern view of the palace more commonly known as the British Houses of Parliament).
My PhD studies have led me further down the gothic road, even though it doesn’t feature in any of the example buildings I’ve been researching in France and Belgium. Out of a broader interest in the heritage of French 19th-century architecture I sat in on some seminars of a Masters course on gothic art and architecture at my university and got an immediate sense of wonder at the passion and invention of those medieval Frenchmen who became the key disciples and practitioners of gothic architecture as we know it across Europe. I took a weekend trip to Amiens and stood in awe inside the main chancel of its superb gothic cathedral.
Then on one of my regular research trips to Paris I finally managed to see the famous Sainte Chapelle royal chapel, the inspiration for what became High and subsequently Perpendicular Gothic styles. It is truly exceptional and makes you fully understand the colourful and spiritual luminosity its master builders were trying to achieve - by then I fully realised that it was all about the interior of these structures, and not their exteriors, though still impressive.
The gothic cathedral that features in this post is in Strasbourg. It may not necessarily be the most beautiful example from this architectural typology, but its main claim to fame was the height of its single spire at 142m, making it the world’s tallest building from 1647 to 1874, and to this day the highest extant medieval structure. It could have been very different! At the start of the 20th century concerns began to rise about cracks appearing in one of the internal pillars - after investigation it was discovered that the whole of the enormous spire was in danger of collapse! Thankfully this awful prospect was removed by lengthy remedial work replacing the old foundations and involving a novel reinforced concrete bracing to hold up the central column supporting the spire.
All the photos in this post were taken by the author (Nick von Behr) on location. They are free to use as you wish but with appropriate acknowledgement please and a hyperlink back to this site!
Great pics of such impressive buildings, this one and #4 as well. So far you've included a great variety of buildings, great to see :)