The question of how medieval architects communicated their fantastically complex designs for some of Europe’s most beautiful Gothic vaulting has perplexed researchers. Now a hands-on approach provides insights that will help conservationists.
When it comes to the fantastically intricate design of Gothic vaulting and ribbed arches, we have had very little knowledge of how architects communicated with master masons. The few sketched-out plans that exist, such as that for a part of the Cathedral of Strasbourg, show a surprising lack of written instruction and even measurements are missing. With the architect in a different place to the building site itself, the question that has baffled researchers in this domain is: how did such complex structures make it from two-dimensional drawing to the great, three dimensional vaults that captivate us today?
Further details: New insights into how the great Gothic vaults were constructed helps restorers of the future