Gothic architecture developed in Europe during the medieval period. Key features include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses which allowed buildings to be much taller with large windows. Gothic cathedrals emphasized verticality and light. French Gothic cathedrals are known for their height and vertical impression, while English Gothic cathedrals have an emphasis on length with projecting transepts and later additions.

1. Gothic architecture
• Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that
flourished during the high and late medieval
period.
• It evolved from Romanesque architecture and
was succeeded by Renaissance architecture.
• Its characteristic features include
the pointed arch,
the ribbed vault and
the flying buttress.

2. pointed
arches

3. Ribbed
vault

4. Flying buttresses

5. • Gothic architecture emphasizes verticality and light.
• This appearance was achieved by the development
of certain architectural features, which together
provided an engineering solution.
• The structural parts of the building ceased to be its
solid walls,
clustered columns,
pointed ribbed vaults
and flying buttresses.

6. • Most Gothic churches, unless they are
entitled chapels, are of the Latin cross (or
"cruciform") plan, with a long nave making
the body of the church, a transverse arm
called the transept and, beyond it, an
extension which may be called the choir,
chancel or presbytery.

7. French gothic
• French Gothic architecture is a style of architecture prevalent in
France from 1140 until about 1500.
• The distinctive characteristic of French cathedrals, and those in
Germany and Belgium that were strongly influenced by them, is
their height and their impression of verticality.
• They are compact, with slight or no projection of the transepts and
subsidiary chapels.
• The west fronts are highly consistent, having three portals
surmounted by a rose window, and two large towers.
• Sometimes there are additional towers on the transept ends.

8. • The designations of styles in French Gothic
architecture are as follows:
 Early Gothic
 High Gothic
 Rayonnant
 Late Gothic or Flamboyant style

9. Early gothic
• This style began in 1140 and was characterized by
the adoption of the pointed arch and transition
from late Romanesque architecture.
• To heighten the wall, builders divided it into four
tiers: arcade (arches and piers), gallery,triforium
and clerestory.
• To support the higher wall builders invented
the flying buttresses, which reached maturity
only at High Gothic during the 13th century.
• The vaults were six ribbed sexpartite vaults.

10. Examples of French gothic :
• Example :

11. English gothic
• English Gothic is defined by its
pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and
spires.
• The distinctive characteristic of English cathedrals is their extreme
length, and their internal emphasis upon the horizontal, which may
be emphasized visually as much or more than the vertical lines.
• Unlike French cathedrals, English cathedrals sprawl across their
sites, with double transepts projecting strongly and Lady Chapels
tacked on at a later date.
• In the west front, the doors are not as significant as in France, the
usual congregational entrance being through a side porch.
• The West window is very large and never a rose, which are reserved
for the transept gables.

12. • The distinctive English east end is square, but
it may take a completely different form. Both
internally and externally, the stonework is
often richly decorated with carvings,
particularly the capitals.

13. Examples