history of construction in middle ages(500 ad-1500 ad)

2. 47-CE-2K12

3. Structural engineering in
500AD TO 15OOAD

4. Background:
 With the fall of the Roman Empire, a sharp decline in knowledge of the building
arts had occurred.
 Churches during middle ages were intended to be as great past buildings, but
they didn’t exactly use the same techniques to achieve their aim.
 Art and architecture during the medieval period is remembered because of
several reasons, one of which is the way it changed after the Roman Empire
disintegrated.

5. In medieval periods different style of constructions were used in
different times.
• Different phases of growth of construction in medieval period are:
i. Byzantine architecture
(527-565 AD)
ii. Romanesque architecture (800-1200 AD)
iii. Gothic architecture
(1100-1450 AD)
iv. Renaissance architecture. (1400-1600AD)

6. Byzantine Architecture:
Byzantine Art Includes The Following Features:
• Square shaped central planned churches.
• Central domes of great height
• Mosiac decoration.
• Use of impost blocks.
• Byzantine architect created decorative stone blocks to transit between
arches and column.
• Early Christian byzantine architect feature clerestory windows.
• Byzantine engineer turned to the structural use of pendentives to elevate
the domes to new heights.

8. Romanesque Architecture:
• Romanesque design and construction evolved from early
Roman and Byzantine architecture and foretold the Gothic
period that followed.
• Despite the many regional variations, many Romanesque
buildings share these characteristics:
a) rounded arches for support and decoration
b) development of vaults - barrel vaults and groin vaults
c) massive doors inset within arches through massive walls
d) Gothic-type towers begin to replace Byzantine domes
e) small windows
f) Christian churches with a floor plan designed around the Latin cross

9. Barrel vault:
semicircular vault unbroken by ribs.
groin vault:
Vault formed by intersection of
two vaults

11. Gothic architecture:
Gothic buildings has the following features:
• Pointed arches:
Gothic builders found that pointed arches could support more weight than perpendicular
walls. With pointed arches supporting the roof, walls could be thinner.
• Ribbed vaulting:
Instead of solid walls, builders used a series of columns that branched up into arches.
With fewer solid walls, buildings appeared lighter and more delicate.
• Flying buttress:
Free-standing brick and stone arches helped support exterior walls, allowing them to
reach greater heights.
• Stained glass windows:
Since the walls were no longer the only supports, Gothic buildings could include large
areas of glass.

14. Renaissance architecture:
• Used between Early 15th to early 17th century.
• Features:
I. Vaults do not have ribs. They are semicircular or segmental unlike
gothic vaults which are rectangular.
II. During the Renaissance, architects aimed to use
columns, pilasters, and entablatures as an integrated system.
III. Arches are semi-circular or (in the Mannerist style) segmental. Arches
are often used in arcades, supported on piers or columns with
capitals.

15. Certosa di pavia
Santa Maria Della Grazie
, Milan

16. Bridge construction in middle ages:
• After the fall of the Roman Empire, progress in European bridge
building slowed considerably until the Renaissance.
• Medieval bridges are particularly noted for the ogival , or pointed
arch.
• With the pointed arch the tendency to sag at the crown is less
dangerous, and there is less horizontal thrust at the abutments.
Medieval bridges served many purposes. Chapels and shops were
commonly built on them, and many were fortified with towers and
ramparts.
• Some featured a drawbridge, a medieval innovation.