Gothic style in the architecture of the Middle Ages. Architectural styles: Gothic style. Neo-Gothic - architectural styles - design and architecture grow here - artichoke Neo-Gothic in France

Neo-Gothic architecture If at the beginning of the 18th century throughout Great Britain fashionable architectural trends were based on the classical aesthetics of Palladianism, then towards the end of the century the interest of the British began to lean towards Gothic motifs. At first, the buildings were similar to medieval temples only in appearance, but later neo-gothic style strengthened so much that it gave rise to the construction of many objects throughout the empire.

A typical example of an English building of the Victorian era was the Palace of Westminster. Its appearance is still one of the national symbols of London and the country as a whole. However, the popularity of neo-Gothic also affected engineering structures, as evidenced by the majestic Tower Bridge.

From the great past to progress

The construction of Tower Bridge was initiated in 1886 in connection with the urgent need to create an additional crossing over the Thames to the London Bridge. Its construction was completed in 8 years: in 1894, the bridge was presented to the public. The key figures in its history were:

• H. Jones - the ideologist of the building, the architect of many buildings in London;
• D. Barry - an engineer who also worked on other bridges over the Thames;
• D. Stevenson is an architect passionate about the Victorian theme, appointed to lead the project after the death of H. Jones.

The characteristic neo-Gothic appearance of the structure is given by two pylons - high towers with sharp spiers and sculpture stylized as the Middle Ages that begin and close the passage. The very fact of their presence already indicates a relationship with the design features of bridges of feudal times. If then bridge towers were built to provide control and protection of passage, now pylons support sidewalks at a high level from the river.

Possessing a frame system, these elements of the Tower Bridge have rather thin walls with large window openings. This specificity clearly proves that Gothic and neo-Gothic- genres related to each other. The connection between the eras is also clearly shown by the presence of exquisitely sublime decor on the walls, made of Portland limestone and Cornish granite - materials traditional for the decoration of medieval castles in England.

Interestingly, the bridge got its appearance not only due to fashion trends, but also due to its proximity to one of the oldest fortresses in Britain - the Tower. Against the background of the fact that even then its walls and towers possessed for the British sacred meaning, the desire of the authorities and townspeople to build new facilities in a similar style becomes quite obvious.

There is no barrel of honey without a touch of tar: in its dimensions, the Tower Bridge is noticeably superior not only to the Tower itself, but also to more modern, albeit ancient buildings. Such features contributed to the emergence of the opinion that the building spoils the historical appearance of London. However, if the bridge were smaller, it would hardly cope with its tasks effectively.

Advanced engineering solutions

According to the principle of its operation, the Tower Bridge is a drawable structure of enormous power for the end of the 19th century: its spans with a total mass of over 11,000 tons are capable of rising by 86 degrees. Hydraulic mechanisms were initially responsible for the process of opening the elements. Their power was generated by four high-performance coal-fired steam engines.

In 1982, the breeding system was modernized and equipped with an electro-hydraulic gear drive, and in 2000 it was also automated. Outdated equipment is available to satisfy tourist interest. Museum areas are located in the interiors of the towers and former pedestrian galleries at height.

The greater load-bearing capacity of the spans is created through the use of a rod system, where the supporting elements are made of carbon steel. The multi-ton metal structure is installed on large piers, the construction of which required over 70,000 tons of concrete.

For pedestrian access there are sidewalks located along the roadway. However, the main advantage of the Tower Bridge for pedestrians is the presence of special galleries located 44 meters away from the water surface of the river. In addition to the utilitarian function, these elements also served a decorative purpose.

Throughout almost the entire 20th century, galleries became havens for criminal elements, which forced them to be closed for use. They opened only in 1982: due to the glass roof, their appearance approached the high-tech style, but this does not spoil the appearance of the majestic architectural ensemble.

Current state of the bridge

Architectural refinements of finishing, ingenious design and a well-thought-out traffic management system make Tower Bridge in Great Britain one of the most amazing structures in the world. As before, its height allows free passage various types of ships on the Thames. However, due to the partial loss of importance of the river connection, and partly due to the desire to preserve the structure, it is now diluted no more than 5 times in one week.

Tower Bridge today helps citizens solve the transport issue: over 40,000 people cross the river along it every day on various types of transport and on foot. Taking into account the high load, the board of the City of London Corporation introduced restrictions on the speed and weight of cars - no more than 32 km/h and no heavier than 18 tons. Such measures are intended to preserve the original appearance of the capital's landmarks.

Tower Bridge impresses with its architecture and admires its working principles. Imitating medieval architecture, the building serves as an example of the use of progressive technologies.

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Have you ever wondered what the Victorian era owes its charm to? Of course, there are many factors here, and unbridled progress and new ways of studying the world and the emergence of philosophies that deny the morality of the church, against the backdrop of religious fanaticism and the first protests against the ingrained norms of behavior in society... and a lot of things. True, it seems to me that the Victorian era owes the lion's share of this charm to its architecture. So let's talk about......NEGOTHIC!

This amazing style is inextricably associated with the Victorian era, and it is not surprising, given that it was the British Empire of the 18th and 19th centuries that marked the beginning of the triumphant march of neo-Gothic around the world, as well as the fact that it was in British Empire this style was especially common. This happened in two stages: early British neo-Gothic and Victorian neo-Gothic. I will not conduct a detailed analysis of Victorian architecture, this is more of a review article, although I tried to look at the reason for the flourishing of such an unusual style. Let's start in order.
The emergence of the fully formed neo-Gothic style is associated with the name of the fourth Earl of Orford, Horace Walpole.

Horace Walpole.

This English writer became the first author to publish a "Gothic" novel in 1764, the action of which takes place in the castle of Oranto during the era of the first crusade. The plot of this work, which became a bestseller, was inspired by the buildings of the Strawberry Hill estate, which he acquired in 1747 (some sources mention both 1746 and 1748). It was then that he decided to turn the estate into his own “medieval” castle, which, among other things, even had a knight’s hall.

Strawberry Hill.

Now, strictly speaking, we cannot classify this castle as neo-Gothic, since part of it was built in the Rococo style, but it was Walpole’s idea that gave impetus to the development of the Neo-Gothic style. However, the writer himself admitted that he did not strive for a strict Gothic style, so as not to deprive himself of convenience; the estate had to satisfy his imagination and nothing more. It was from Strawberry Hill that the passion for Gothic decor of estates began. It has become a fashionable feature.
And the Duke of Argyll, for example, even involved William, the brother of the most fashionable architect at that time, the founder of the “Adam style” Robert Adam, in the construction of his “medieval” castle on the Scottish estate of Inveraray.

Inverary.

One of the most striking examples of this kind of eccentricity was the construction of the impressive estate of Fonthill Abbey, the son of a wealthy English planter, William Beckford, who, after the death of his wife, decided to build a grandiose building reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral.

William Beckford.

Fonthill Abbey.

The splendor of this building can only be matched by its sad fate. Its architect was James Wyeth, who was not particularly familiar with the techniques for constructing such structures. The main feature was the octagonal tower, which reached ninety meters during its original construction. Its first version was made of wood and cement. It collapsed a few months later, and Beckford sincerely regretted that he had not seen this grandiose spectacle with his own eyes. The second tower, from the same material, took six years to build, it also collapsed, but the third, stone version, which took seven years to build, finally collapsed in 1825, 12 years later, after the completion of the entire castle. In 1822, Beckford went bankrupt after losing his Jamaican plantations and sold the building to John Farquhar. Gradually, the remaining parts of the building collapsed and the castle was demolished, leaving only a small part of the northern wing.

Surviving northern wing.

Less wealthy Englishmen used in construction only elements characteristic of Gothic, such as pointed arches, loopholes, etc.

The starting point for the next stage of the spread of neo-Gothic was the fire in 1834 of the Palace of Westminster, owned by the British Parliament.
The construction of the new building was entrusted to Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry. A competition was held and out of ninety-seven (!) contestants, the project that exists today was chosen. Ironically, Pugin, who had been fascinated by the Gothic architecture of Normandy since the age of fifteen and converted to Catholicism, was an active proponent of Roman Catholic Gothic architecture in England. He believed that all useful elements of the building should not be hidden, but decorated. Pugin expressed his views in his work “Apology for the Revival of Christian Architecture in England.” Barry, after visiting the Ottoman Empire at the age of 22, was impressed by Italian Renaissance architecture. It was this journey and the magnificent fortresses from the times of the first crusades that he saw that forced him to study architecture.

Augustus Pugin.

Charles Barry.

These two neo-Gothic enthusiasts left only the Westminster Auditorium (1097) and the Jewel Tower (for the treasury of Edward III) from the original medieval palace. The splendor they created became business card of the entire neo-Gothic style, is it a joke, the palace clock tower, Big Ben, is a symbol of the whole of Great Britain, although, strictly speaking, this name was originally given to the bell on the tower, and the palace itself was included in the UNESCO heritage list in 1987.

Palace of Westminster.

Another striking work of Pugen is Nottingham Cathedral, dedicated to St. Barnabas.

Cathedral of St. Barnabas.

And Charles Barry, among other works, was involved in the reconstruction of Trafalgar Square.

Trafalgar Square.

And then, as they say, it started. Instead of the term “neo-Gothic”, the word “revival” was then used. The style has become native British; town halls, universities, schools and train stations are built in this style. The Royal Courts of Justice, the highest court in England and Wales, was built in the neo-Gothic style, designed by George Edmund Street.

Royal courtyard.

St Pancras station building, named after the nearby St. Pancras Church. Pankratia. Erected in 1865-68 by architect Georg Gilbert Scott.

St Pancras.

The same architect designed the Prince Albert Memorial, in London's Kensington Park, opened in 1875 by Queen Victoria in honor of her husband.

Memorial.

St Stephen's College. 1876

Harris College of Manchester. 1889

Tower Bridge over the River Thames, near the Tower of London. Designed by Horace Jones, opened in 1894.

Tower Bridge.

This style was adopted by other countries. Gothic architecture, first of all, affected the colonies, although it took root poorly in America. Antique and neo-Greek styles were very popular there. In the countries of German-speaking Europe, neo-Gothic underwent some changes associated with the intense competition of the neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque styles. And to a greater extent, the revival of the Gothic style was perceived there as the completion of medieval long-term construction projects, such as the Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne Cathedral.

However, the Bavarian king Ludwig II launched the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle in 1869, which became one of the symbols of the world neo-Gothic style.

Neuschwanstein.

In the Romanesque countries they were mainly interested in the heritage of antiquity and the Renaissance. Neo-Gothic came to France rather late and took weak roots. The monumental majesty of neo-Gothic was alien to the frivolous French. But we must admit that Victor Hugo’s novel “The Cathedral” Notre Dame of Paris"(1830) made the French think about preserving their heritage medieval architecture.

The greatest Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí, who has many whimsical works to his credit, created perhaps the most monumental work of the Gothic Revival, the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia.

Antonio Gaudi.

Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family.

Due to a lack of funds, the Spanish government has not been able to complete it since 1882.

And yet, why exactly this style? Perhaps due to the fascination with romantic plots of the medieval era in the works of writers of that time, the revival of interest in Spenser, Milton, Shakespeare, despised in the era of the dominance of classical forms; perhaps due to the growth of patriotic sentiments against the backdrop of the power of the British Empire and, as a consequence, the refusal French style in architecture and the search for one’s own; perhaps “everything new is a well-forgotten old.” Or maybe all this taken together and several other factors that I do not indicate here, but we cannot dispute the fact that we partly owe such unusual and majestic architecture to the splendor of the Victorian era and, as a result, to the culture of steampunk. Of course, in the architecture of the bygone era there was also Gregorian style and neo-Renaissance and late colonial, but you must agree that when remembering the stories of Conan Doyle, Dickens and Wilde, the imagination pictures precisely neo-Gothic England, with pointed arches, towers, imaginary loopholes, Tower Bridge and Big Ben .

I hope you weren't bored! :-)

List of sources.

Mysterious, majestic, even terrifying - all these epithets refer to the same style. It occupies a separate niche in almost all types of art: sculpture, painting, book miniatures, stained glass, frescoes. But in the modern world Gothic style unexpectedly embodied by fashion trends in clothing, makeup and interiors.

Gothic style

Gothic is usually called a period of development in medieval art in the West, Central and Eastern Europe. In the historical scale, this period belongs to XII - XVI century. Gothic replaced romance, gradually displacing it. The term "Gothic" is increasingly used to describe famous style architecture, characterized as terribly beautiful and terribly majestic.

Gothic originated in the middle of the 12th century. northern France. Until the 13th century, it not only spread, but also firmly took root in the territory occupied by modern Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain and England. Italy “infected” Gothic later, with great difficulty and great transformation, which led to the emergence of the “Italian Gothic” movement. The end of the 14th century was distinguished by the appearance of the so-called International Gothic in Europe. In Eastern European countries, Gothic appeared later, but also lasted a little longer.

Terrifyingly beautiful architecture

Buildings and works of art containing elements characteristic of Gothic, created during eclecticism, that is, in the middle of the century before last and later, are characterized by the term “neo-Gothic”.

What came as a surprise to everyone was the emergence of a genre of music called “gothic” in the early 1980s. This modern gothic style was used as the name for the “gothic rock” that emerged in those years, and later for the youth movement that was formed on the basis of such music - the “gothic subculture.”

The name itself comes from the Italian word gotico, which means barbaric or unusual. But this style has nothing to do with Goten, that is, barbarians, historical Goths. At first the word was used as a slur. D. Vasari was the first to use this concept in its current meaning, separating the Renaissance from the Middle Ages. Gothic completed the development of the medieval European art. Emerging on the basis of Romanesque cultural achievements, during the Renaissance this medieval art was considered “barbaric,” cult in purpose, and religious in theme.

Gothic is a whole cultural layer, including architecture, literature, art

The Gothic style of the Middle Ages is especially clearly reflected in temple, cathedral, church and monastery architecture, which was formed on the basis of Romanesque, or more precisely Burgundian medieval architecture. But Gothic differs from the Romanesque style, its round arches, massive walls and small windows. It is distinguished by arches with a pointed dome, narrow and high towers and columns. The facade was richly decorated with carved fragments (vimpergs, tympanums, archivolts) and multicolor stained glass lancet windows. Most style elements are emphasized by a vertical orientation.

The 18th-19th centuries were marked by the development artistic style called neo-Gothic or “revived Gothic”. Borrowing the traditions and forms of classical Gothic, neo-Gothic, which originated in Great Britain, also spread to the countries of continental Europe and even America.

At times, neo-Gothic elements were intricately intertwined with the latest technologies of that time. For example, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was equipped with arches in the form of Gothic windows on pillars. The most outstanding example of neo-Gothic architecture is considered to be the British Parliament building in London.

Famous Washington Cathedral, built in neo-Gothic style (1907-1990)

Cathedral interior

Full view outside - a truly monumental structure

And this is the facade of the Church of St. Macloux (15-16 centuries) in France, built in the Flaming Gothic style. A truly mesmerizing sight

St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York. Neo-Gothic, 1858-1878

A unique example of the Gothic style in Rus' are the buildings of the Faceted Chamber and the belfry at St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod. In medieval Russia, which was influenced by Byzantine art, Gothic was practically not perceived as a style worthy of attention. A certain similarity with Gothic is noticeable only in the structures of the towers and walls of the Moscow Kremlin.

But the imperial residence in Tsaritsyn is distinguished by its neo-Gothic style as the most outstanding monument"Russian gothic architecture"and the largest pseudo-Gothic complex in Europe.

As for furniture, the most striking example of the style is considered to be the dresser or cupboard. Often it was covered with painting. All furniture of that era is characterized by simplicity and heaviness. For example, for the first time, clothes and household items began to be stored in special cabinets, although previously only chests were used for this. Thus, at the end of the Middle Ages, prototypes of modern furniture appeared: wardrobes, beds and armchairs. One of the most common furniture elements in those days was panel-frame knitting. The main materials in western and northern Europe were local wood species, including walnut, oak, pine, spruce, as well as larch, cedar and juniper.

A characteristic feature of the architecture is high, elongated pointed arches, windows, portals

In the era Crusades There was a revolution in the manufacture of weapons. In the East, Europeans managed to become acquainted with light steel that can be forged. Heavy chain mail had to retreat before a new type of armor. They connected pieces of metal with hinges, which made it possible to cover the entire surface of the most complex shape, leaving enough freedom for movement. From such an unusual design of new armor appeared new form V European clothes. At the same time, all the cutting methods that are most known today were created.

Thanks to Gothic fashion, the loose Romanesque shirt-like form of clothing was replaced by a complex, tight-fitting cut. The peak of perfection of the Gothic costume was the end of the 15th century, when all of Europe submitted to the fashion created at the court of Burgundy. At this time, men's attire was shortened, and only elderly people, doctors and judges wore long clothes. Due to the tight-fitting jacket or upeland, narrow shawls and short cloak, the clothing became the embodiment of the aesthetic ideals of the era, emphasizing the slender image of a gallant young man, a graceful gentleman. Women's clothing changed due to the separation of the skirt part from the bodice. The width of the skirt has increased thanks to additional fabric inserts. The upper part of the outfit featured a narrow bodice, tight-fitting long sleeves, and a triangular neckline on the back and chest. The woman's shoulders leaned back, creating a silhouette reminiscent of the letter S and called the “Gothic curve.” Similar to the architecture of that time, Gothic clothing was given a vertical orientation. With sheer ends of oversleeves, sharp cuffs, complex frame headdresses extended upward (atur), and pointed boots, this trend only intensified. The most popular and most expensive was considered yellow, which prevailed specifically in men's clothing.

Gargoyles - demonic figures crowning the walls of Gothic cathedrals

Vintage photo - gargoyle on the wall of Notre Dame Cathedral

"Cute" skeleton holding up the vault

Gothic style in the interior

Compared to any design, it has many advantages: uniqueness, originality, mystery. However, as they say, he is not an acquired taste, because only dark colors with a dominant black color, which is often diluted with burgundy and purple. Much less often, details of light green, pink and white colors can be found, but they are not introduced to please the eyes.

Only a person truly fascinated by the atmosphere of the Gothic style will want to create a similar interior in his home with originality and some gloom. The owner of such penates even finds something romantic in death itself.

This type of interior is best embodied in large-scale buildings and large areas.

The Gothic style has no place in a small apartment, because creating such a design requires space. Therefore, the best option for him is a country house or an elite apartment.

However, although this style requires a large room height, its adherents manage to implement this design even with a not very high ceiling of standard housing.

Gothic style room should be created from the materials that were used by the ancient Goths, and this is natural wood and stone, deliberately processed roughly. But not everyone will use such original material, turning their house into a medieval castle. Therefore, the use of artificial analogues is quite acceptable.
A Gothic style lamp is perfect for creating a medieval atmosphere. Particular attention is required to lighting, as well as lighting effects, with the help of which you can create a special mystery inherent in Gothic style.

Dressing table with mirror. Candlestick adds color

Another one distinguishing feature Gothic interior - the use of windows directed upwards, as well as similar arches. The decor can be openwork towers and ornaments in the Gothic style, which fill the atmosphere of the room with grandeur and grace. The windows are decorated with ornaments or stained glass.

To obtain a harmonious picture, due attention should be paid to Gothic furniture. This could be a sideboard with high legs, a double-door wardrobe with panels, a massive bed and chairs with high backs. Wooden furniture decorated with carvings also fits well into a similar interior. This interior looks heavy: although it is complemented by many sophisticated elements, it is still perceived as somewhat rough. Often, in addition to windows, even doors are made in the Gothic style.

To give the ceiling a “Gothic” look, you can use stucco, a vault effect, or open rafters. Accessories can include sculptures of various mythical creatures, lions, paintings, knightly armor and draperies.

Of course, it is almost impossible to completely convey the interior of an ancient castle. But gothic connoisseurs can also use simply elements of style that can give the features of the house a gothic sublimity.

Gothic style of clothing

The Gothic style of clothing received an unexpected embodiment. It is used mainly by girls and boys who belong to youth subculture- “gotam”. It mainly copies the European fashion of the Neo-Gothic centuries. The fundamental feature of the style is the predominance of details in all shades of black.

There is very little in modern Gothic fashion that makes it similar to the real clothing of the Goths of the Middle Ages. In the traditional Gothic outfit in the current sense, an extravagant cut and black color predominate. Among the materials, preference is given to leather, lace, silk, and velvet. The clothes also use details made of lurex, taffeta, organza, brocade and vinyl.

Victorian Gothic dress

Another striking example of the Victorian direction

Hat, corset, veil - Gothic beauties can be incredibly feminine

Victorian style, male version

Goth girls typically wear corsets, giving the silhouette a slender and seductive outline. They are worn over basic clothing - a shirt or dress. A midi skirt, leather pants or a floor-length dress is considered a current element of outfits. Even miniskirts are very popular in the gothic style. Outerwear for girls it is mainly a long leather or fabric cloak.

Goth men are characterized by a pronounced femininity, so their clothes exactly repeat the elements of women's outfits. Of course, Gothic-style dresses and corsets are still the prerogative of women exclusively, but skirts in the Gothic subculture can easily be worn by men. Everything else is the same black shirt, hoodie, long coat and tight-fitting leather pants.

“Modern” Goths look a little different. There is no longer stylization of the Middle Ages or the Victorian era

When it comes to footwear, high, heavy boots like “grinders” are popular among girls and boys of the Gothic culture. Also welcome are different types of shoes with high platforms, which can be worn by both boys and girls. The fair sex can wear boots, ankle boots or high-heeled shoes. As for the color of the shoes, it, of course, remains only black.

Goth girls really like the inclusion of elegant hats with a black veil, as well as openwork lace gloves, in their outfits.

Characteristic ones are exclusively silver jewelry that can only be replaced with white gold. But at times the Goths can also use inexpensive base metals. The traditional use of white in accessories is considered a symbol of the cold, deathly light of the Moon. With its help, the mournful nature of Gothic clothes and the pallor of the faces of the Goths are perfectly emphasized.

Creating a gothic ensemble is very simple, but looking and being a goth is... different concepts. To comply with the Goth subculture, it is important to live by it, believe in it and not betray even the smallest things. But to create the right gothic costume, you just need to follow the basic stylistic recommendations. Moreover, they do not represent anything new: black clothes, lace, leather, frills, high platform boots, a black or red corset, torn jeans, a skirt and black mesh tights. Torn black T-shirts, gloves, long sleeves, black shirts and trousers are also appropriate. You can complement the look with combat boots, jewelry in the form of crosses, spiders, skulls, dragons, silver chains, massive rings, spiked collars, facial piercings, and non-glamorous jewelry.

Backpacks with spikes, stripes, paint stains, and deliberate tears will help you stand out from the crowd. All that remains is to do the most gloomy makeup, a bloody manicure, a hairstyle with the effect of greasy hair - and forward to unity with the world of darkness!

Photo

As part of our review of historical British architecture and its influence on modern house building, we have already looked at. The next historical style was Gothic and it settled in Europe for a single century.

Its ideological prerequisites were the rejection of massive forms of the Romanesque style and religious motives. In those days, architecture developed primarily within the framework of temple buildings, and the architects, together with the clergy, decided that the narrow, upward-pointing forms of Gothic would personify the desire for the best - for God, that is.

Main features of the Gothic style

Elongated, upward-pointing forms. Perhaps this is the most main feature Gothic - whatever its subtype, era or country, it will always tend upward and somewhat resemble an orderly planting of narrow stone formations.

Lots of sharp elements. This feature is related to the previous one. Gothic tends to be “prickly”, to have angular and sharp general forms, and decor.

Varied decor. The main difference between Gothic and Romanesque style is that Gothic actively uses decoration. It is mainly sold in the form of statues, elegant patterns and rare bas-reliefs.

Of course, in addition to these, Gothic has many other features, such as lancet windows, an abundance of repeating elements, a frame system, and so on. But since we are interested in this style mainly from the point of view of its influence on modernity, it is worth considering general trends.

Types of Gothic

As we mentioned, the Gothic style existed in Europe in general and England in particular for more than a century and, naturally, it changed over time. And in addition to the classical early Gothic, it makes sense to distinguish two subtypes:

Gothic in modern construction

In the modern world, Gothic architecture in pure form practically not used. Some elements may be involved; more or less appropriate stylization is found in various types of entertainment establishments, such as pubs and bars. But there, as is clear, the atmosphere obliges.

Gothic in country house construction

Gothic - style of temples, castles, fortresses. And it is simply impossible to implement it fully. And there is no need - from a country cottage they expect coziness, convenience, a homely atmosphere, and not an angrily hanging gargoyle statue that reminds of sins. Therefore, country house building takes only elements from Gothic: vertical orientation, the shape of windows, neat turrets. But it adds a lot of its own: wood, light and pleasant colors, elements. Here are a few houses that transform the Gothic canons in a country style, but at the same time remain within their framework:

Conclusion

Despite all the severity of the Gothic style, many find a certain charm in it, especially if the issue of integration is approached correctly. Our professional designers and architects are experts in such matters - and can make for you an architectural project of a stylish, cozy and comfortable country house with elements of the Gothic style. And it’s not far from direct sales, which you can also order from us.

Gothic architecture began with the Basilica of Saint Denis near Paris and Sens Cathedral in 1140 and ended in the early 16th century with the final flourishing of buildings such as Henry VII's Chapel at Westminster. However, Gothic architecture did not disappear completely in the 16th century, but survived in ongoing cathedral and church building projects in the more isolated rural areas of England, France, Spain, Germany and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Neo-Gothic architecture (also called Victorian Gothic) is an architectural movement that emerged in the late 1740s in England. Its popularity grew rapidly in the early 19th century, as increasingly serious and learned admirers of the neo-Gothic style sought to revive medieval Gothic architecture as opposed to the neoclassical style that was prevalent at the time.

Famous neo-Gothic buildings:

Top: Palace of Westminster, London;
Left: Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh;
Right: Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Ostend, Belgium.

In England, the center of this revival, the Gothic Revival was associated with deeply philosophical movements associated with the reawakening High Church or Anglo-Catholic self-belief (as well as with the Catholic convert Augustus Welby Pugin) and concerned with the rise of religious nonconformism. Ultimately, the style became widespread due to its intrinsic appeal in the third quarter of the XIX century. Neo-Gothic architecture varied considerably in its fidelity to the ornamental style and construction principles of the original medieval, sometimes slightly oversized, pointed window frames. What was also different was the few touches of Gothic decoration on what would otherwise have been an entirely 19th century building using modern materials and construction methods.

Parallel to the rise of the Neo-Gothic style in 19th-century England, interest in it quickly spread to the rest of the European continent, to Australia, South Africa and South America; in fact, the number of Gothic Revival and Carpenter Gothic (early English Gothic) buildings built in the 19th and 20th centuries may exceed the number of genuine Gothic buildings built earlier.

The Gothic revival proceeded parallel to and supported by the revival of medieval art, which had its roots in antiquarian matters with their survivals and curiosities. As industrialization progressed, protests against the production of machines and the emergence of factories grew. Proponents of all things picturesque, such as Thomas Carlyle and Augustus Pugin, were critical of industrial society and portrayed pre-industrial medieval society as a golden age. For Pugin, Gothic architecture was imbued with Christian values, which were later supplanted by classicism and destroyed by industrialization.

Neo-Gothic also had a political background; while the “rational” and “radical” neoclassical style was associated with republicanism and liberalism (as evidenced by its use in the USA and in to a lesser extent in Republican France), the more "spiritual" and "traditional" Gothic Revival became associated with monarchism and conservatism, as reflected in the style choices for the rebuilt Palace of Westminster in London and Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

In the mid-18th century, with the advent of Romanticism, increased interest and awareness of the Middle Ages among some influential scholars provided a more accurate approach to selected medieval art, starting with church architecture, tombstones kings and nobility, stained glass windows and late Gothic manuscripts. At the same time, other types of Gothic art continued to be perceived as barbaric and crude, for example, tapestries and metalwork.

Some British, and soon some German romantics(philosopher and writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe and architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel) began to appreciate the picturesque character of ruins - the term "picturesque" becomes a new aesthetic quality - and the softening effect of time, which Horace Walpole, the English writer and founder of the Gothic novel, admired, slyly calling " the true rust of baronial wars." The "Gothic" details of Walpole's Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham appeal to the Rococo tastes of the time. By the early 1770s, thoroughly neoclassical architects such as Robert Adam and James Wyatt were ready to provide Gothic detailing in drawing rooms, libraries and chapels to create the romantic image of a Gothic abbey, Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire. This is one of the earliest evidence of the revival of Gothic architecture in Scotland. Built from 1746, with design input from William Adam, Inveraray Castle is a collection of watchtowers.

Basically, neo-Gothic was represented by ordinary houses in the Palladian style, which included some external features Scottish baronial style. Houses in this style by Robert Adam include Mellerstine and Wedderburn in Berwickshire and Seton House in East Lothian, but the style is most evident at Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, rebuilt by Adam from 1777. Eccentric landscape designer Betty Langley even tried to “improve” Gothic forms by giving them classical proportions.

Romanticism and nationalism. Neo-Gothic in Europe

The roots of French Gothic Revival lie in French medieval Gothic architecture created in the 12th century. Gothic architecture in the Middle Ages was sometimes called Opus Francigenum - "The Art of France". French scholar Alexandre de Laborde wrote in 1816 that “Gothic architecture has its charms,” which marked the beginning of the development of Gothic Revival in France. Beginning in 1828, Alexandre Brongniart, director of the Sèvres porcelain factory, produced fired enamel paintings on large panels of plate glass for the Royal Chapel of Louis-Philippe in Dreux. It would be difficult to find large, significant commissions in Gothic taste that preceded this, except for a few Gothic features in some gardens.

Meanwhile, in Germany, interest began to be shown in Cologne Cathedral, which had begun construction in 1248 and was still unfinished at the time of the Gothic revival. The Romantic movement of the 1820s revived interest in it, and work began again in 1842, dramatically marking the return of German Gothic architecture.

Thanks to the Romantic Nationalism movement of the early 19th century, the Germans, French and English claimed that 12th-century Gothic architecture originated in their own country. The English boldly coined the term "Early English" for Gothic, which implied that Gothic was an English creation. In his 1832 novel Notre-Dame de Paris, Victor Hugo said: “Let us encourage in this country, if possible, a love of national architecture,” implying that Gothic was national heritage France. In Germany, with the completion of Cologne Cathedral in 1880, at that time the most tall building in the world, this cathedral began to be considered as the pinnacle of Gothic architecture. Other major Gothic cathedrals were Regensburg Cathedral (with two spiers, 1869-1872), Münster Cathedral in Ulm (with a 161-meter tower, 1890) and St. Vitus' Cathedral (1844-1929).

Grade

By 1872, Gothic Revivalism in the United Kingdom was mature enough for Charles Locke Eastlake, an influential design professor, to write A History of the Gothic Revival, but the first extended essay on the movement written within the emerging field of art history was Neo-Gothic. Kenneth Clark. This essay appeared in 1928.

Characteristic buildings

The Gothic facade of the Parliament of Rouen in France, built between 1499 and 1508, which later inspired the Neo-Gothic Revival in the 19th century, photo by Goldorak73,

Cologne Cathedral, completed in 1880 (although construction began in 1248), with a facade 157 meters high and a nave 43 meters high, photo by Thomas Wolf,

Neo-Gothic in the USA

In the United States, the first church in the "Gothic style" (as opposed to churches with Gothic elements) was Trinity Episcopal Church in Greene, New Haven, Connecticut. It was designed by the famous American architect Iphiel Towne between 1812 and 1814, but even at that time he was building another Federalist style church in New Haven next to this radical new "Gothic style" church. Her Foundation stone was founded in 1814, it was consecrated in 1816. Thus, this church was built a decade before St. Luke's Church in Chelsea, London, which is often called the first neo-Gothic church in London. Although the church was built of trappe (rock) with arched windows and doors, part of its Gothic tower and battlements were made of wood.

Episcopal congregations subsequently built other neo-Gothic buildings in Connecticut: St. John's Cathedral in Salisbury (1823), St. John's Cathedral in Kent (1823-26), St. Andrew's Cathedral in Marble Dale (1821-23). This was followed by the design for Christ Church Cathedral (Hartford, Connecticut) in 1827, which included gothic elements, such as buttresses. St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Troy, New York was built in 1827-1828 as an exact copy of architect Towne's design for Trinity Church, New Haven, but using local stone; due to changes to the original, St Paul's Church was closer to Towne's original design than Trinity Church itself. In the 1830s, architects began to copy specific English Gothic and neo-Gothic churches, and these "mature neo-Gothic" buildings made the domestic Gothic architectural style that preceded them appear primitive and old-fashioned. Since then, Gothic Revival architecture has spread to thousands of churches and Revival buildings throughout America.

XX century

The Gothic style requires the use of compressed structural elements, resulting in tall, fortified buildings with internal columns of load-bearing masonry and tall, narrow windows. But by the beginning of the 20th century such technological developments, like steel frames, incandescent light bulbs and elevators, led to the fact that this style of architecture began to be considered outdated. Steel frames replaced the non-decorative functions of arched vaults and buttresses, creating the opportunity to build wide, open interiors with fewer columns to obstruct the eye.

Some architects persistently continued to use neo-Gothic tracery on iron frames, such as Cass Gilbert's 1913 Woolworth Building in New York and Raymond Hood's 1922 Tribune Tower in Chicago. However, during the first half of the 20th century, the neo-Gothic style began to be replaced by modernism. Some modernists saw the Gothic tradition of architectural form solely through the lens of an "honest expression" of current technology and considered themselves the rightful heirs of this tradition, with its rectangular frames and exposed iron beams.

Despite this, Gothic Revival continued to exert its influence, simply because many of the projects in this style were still being built in the second half of the 20th century, such as Giles Gilbert Scott's Liverpool Cathedral and Washington Cathedral (1907 -1990). Ralph Adams Crum became a leading force in American Gothic with his most ambitious design for the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in New York (claimed to be the largest Anglican cathedral in the world), as well as designs for student Gothic buildings at Princeton University. Crum said that this “style, carved and perfected by our ancestors, is our undisputed heritage.”

Although the number of new neo-Gothic buildings declined sharply after the 1930s, they continued to be built. Bury St Edmunds Cathedral (UK) was built between the late 1950s and 2005. A new Gothic-style church is planned for St. Jean Vianney Parish in Fishers, Indiana.

Characteristic buildings

Elevador di Santa Justa (elevator), 1901, Lisbon, Portugal

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