The gothic style in the twentieth century

Abstract

The Architecture of the Gothic period is one which I find is of great interest. The medieval people produced a wonderful style of architecture which achieved its height in the great Gothic Cathedrals, buildings which still capture the fascination of people today. To see photographs and film of them is a positive experience. To walk into them and to experience them first hand is an ambition I hope to enjoy one day. This report begins by exploring the Gothic period, looking at the history leading up to the Gothic period and the history of the Gothic period itself. Influences are explored and the characteristics are discovered. From that, the actual essence of the Gothic architecture is extracted. Gothic principles used by architects of the 20th century are explored. By finding what principles have been used, I will evaluate their success. This process relates the Principles of the Gothic period to today, and how those principles may be used in architectural design. The report is therefore divided into two parts. Part One explores the Gothic Style. Part Two explores the 20th century by researching architects who use Gothic principles in their designs. My opinion is then developed on how to use Gothic principles positively in today's environment as a design philosophy. My research method is the exploration of literature in books and articles written by architectural theorists, architectural historians, architects, and structural engineers. Through the combination of these resources, I make conclusions to help explain why the Gothic period produced a style that was of great eminence and yet, to date in New Zealand, nothing of the Gothic scale seems to have been successfully achieved. In choosing the Gothic Style to study, I am choosing a style that is intensely structural. I have a number of aims in this report. First I want to learn about the Gothic Period and the history surrounding it. Then I want to enhance my knowledge of structures, in the way it relates to architecture, and how to use structure to express, and be intimately related to architecture. A final aim is to learn the art of research, which is a worthwhile skill to obtain.