Gothic Architecture Research Paper

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the Colosseum, Machu Picchu - human beings are responsible for some of the most extraordinary feats of engineering that we still see standing today. Architecture is an art form of a unique category due to the complexity, grandeur, and artistic elements incorporated into the structures. Completely describing the history of architecture would take many books, a couple of doctorate degrees, and a passion for all things related to architecture to encompass the subject and do justice to the topic. Architecture can also be examined in the evolution of how the purpose, style, and durability has changed over the many years.
Architecture has always served a purpose in designing structures for survival and communal reasons. As time has …show more content…
A connection can be made that the purpose of architecture in any given period often correlates with the main functions in society at the time. When looking back at ancient architectural ideals, two main functions are evident based on society at the time. Architecture served the purpose of consolidating security and power, and served to please the gods. This justified the amount of governmental and religious complexes, the Greeks and Romans often built temples in honor of different gods that they might believe protected them or looked over them. The change in purpose can be seen when comparing Gothic architecture to modern architecture. Gothic buildings were often grandeur complexes that did not always optimize the building materials, characteristics include a large size and many columns that took up space and other adornments. Compared to modern architecture, architects often try to minimize and optimize building materials, this results in vertical architecture, where designers tend to build upward to utilize space. Traits that have endured time and are evident in most architectural