OPUS 6

A composition, whether it is created in music, written works, architecture or otherwise, is a complete set of parts that, when put together, makes sense as a whole. The way a house or building is composed – which pieces go in it, and where – has a large influence into how functional it is, as well as how it makes a person feel. A cathedral whose walls are mainly composed of windows has the ability to create the feeling, to a person currently inside, that they are completely surrounded by heaven, or are connected to god. The placement of something seemingly small, such as a window in the last example, influenced how the full composition is interpreted and used.


On a larger scale, the way a city is composed of different buildings and houses effects what the main focal point of the city is. We discussed in class that Gothic Cathedrals, such as the Notre-Dame of Amiens which was built in a pre-existing city, buildings with strong vertical orientation, rising above all other buildings in the city. Due to the way this was composed, all focus is on the striking cathedral. This creates an overall impression that the Notre-Dame of Amiens is an important structure. Due to the massive scale of this building, when compared with the rest of the surrounding city, gives off an impression of might, power, and connectedness with heaven.



I have found that in any building, a person can recognize its porch, court and hearth. These are three sections of a building that help to identify the areas use, and the feeling one gets while there. A cathedral, such as the Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England has large entrance, its porch, which evokes a feeling of awe at its grandeur, and changes the mood of the person entering. The court is the congregation area where worshipers sit, stand, or kneel to pray, and to listen to the Preacher. Where the preacher stands is the hearth, or the most important part. This is usually emphasized by being at the center and, in the case of the Salisbury Cathedral, is topped with a large Spire. The spires heavenward reach directs viewers’ eye up, creating a feeling of connectedness with heaven. Though there is a large spire, this cathedral is more focused on horizontal lines than vertical. (Roth 340).

We spent a substantial amount of time this week discussing four of the major Gothic Cathedrals, their similarities and differences. Some of the very minute details differing between any two of the buildings can evoke completely separate feelings. For example, I spent a particular amount of time with the Notre-Dame of Amiens, and found that it had fewer modifications than another, making it what many believe to be a true representation of the Gothic style (Roth 333). Another cathedral, such as the Abbey Church at Saint-Denis, had many Gothic features, but was not purely gothic in its form, and it was these details, along with many others such as height, length and light, that set the many cathedrals apart. I found that the little details are sometimes what matter the most. For example, when the architect didn’t follow the original plans while building the Notre-Dame of Amiens, he made the buttresses too thin, almost causing the building to collapse. (Roth 334)

Diagrams can be a helpful way to compare and contrast differences in floor plans. They also help in identifying when the building was constructed, dating it by various architectural elements used, and where, depending on how the different cultures in that time varied. In the diagram of Notre-Dame of Amiens one can get a notion of where the central focal point of the building is, and we can tell where the main focus is placed. Section diagrams can also display where the different architectural fearures are, such as arches.



This week we talked mainly about Gothic Architecture, and spent a substantial amount of time discussing Gothic Cathedrals. The one which stuck out the most to me was the Notre-Dame of Amiens – the composition of the building created such a striking, and to me awe-inspiring, impression on viewers. I found that the little details are sometimes what matter the most. For example, when the architect didn’t follow the original plans while building the Notre-Dame of Amiens, he made the buttresses too thin, almost causing the building to collapse. (Roth 334)