Home Architecture Talk

whats the relationship between spirituality and gothic architecture?

Public Comments

1. Sacred Geometry is the underlying theme and "potentizer" in Gothic architecture. Via these mechanisms valuable "spiritual energy" is channeled into the structures so as to benefit, health wise, consciousness wise and otherwise those who are present there for worship and/or any other reason. See http://www.spiraloflight.com/sacred_geometry.htm for some very enlightening information and actual experience of the energies and flows :))) Also, for those wise enough to be interested in such topics, see also http://www.spiritmythos.org for additional interesting info.
2. The Gothic cathedral was supposed to be a microcosm representing the world, and each architectural concept, mainly the loftiness and huge dimensions of the structure, were intended to pass a theological message: the great glory of God versus the smallness and insignificance of the mortal being. Gothic builders found this order in geometric relationships, and architecture was geometry that reflected the divine order of the Cosmos. Romanesque sculptors had used stylization and distortion to achieve emotional impact; the Gothic practitioners turned to more naturalistic forms that reflected the reasoned analysis of Scholastic thought, an idea developed by Thomas Aquinas Most of the surviving Gothic architecture is secular....theres one or two examples of non-secular architecture. One is a palace.
3. The general idea behind the great Gothic structures that we see today was meant to make an impression of awe by the common man, and that by stepping inside such a space the person should be awed into submission to the church. Also, don't forget that 99% of the population could neither read nor write in those days, so a large space was needed to tell stories through the use of stained glass and heavy carving. Kind of like a cartoon.
4. Well gothic structures are meant to be expanded vertically...therefore..its reaching out to God. The most important thing to remember about Gothic churches and Romanesque...are the stained glass windows. Supposedly,they let in more light which is supposed to signify heaven and the glory of God. You should also check out the Hagia Sophia..same concept.