Analysis: The National Cathedral

The National Cathedral is known for its massive size and impressive gothic architecture. I used to think that a gothic cathedral meant tall and pointy. I was certainly wrong. Learning about different cathedrals in this course helped me understand and identify the three specific elements that make up a gothic cathedral; flying buttresses, pointed arches, and ribbed vaults. But that is not actually what architecture is usually judge on. Vitruvius, a Roman architect, believed that the three questions one should ask when visually analyzing a building are: Is the building appropriate for its function? Is it structurally sound and durable? Is it a pleasing structure? Which is what I asked myself when I visited the National Cathedral. I believe …show more content…
When I drove there I was able to see it from miles away. As I got closer, the cathedral was the only building I focused on. There were houses and a couple of other buildings around it, but nothing as massive and aesthetically pleasing as the cathedral. I believe that this is very important since it draws more people to visit. Even if one is not there to tour the building, driving or walking by such a splendid place must definitely spark the interest to stop by for a number of individuals. The cathedral is built mainly of limestone, since it works very well for construction and carving. Limestone is a very strong rock, which makes it easy to carve and hold small detail work, but is also strong enough to support undercutting. This not only helps the structure, as it creates a durable building, but it also helps the visual appeal of the cathedral by being able to create a detailed and attractive …show more content…
I had personally never gone to any building to analyze its architecture. I believe that having a slight background on cathedral architecture and history made this visit very interesting, as I was able to understand the deeper meaning of many elements of the cathedral. Personally, visiting the National Cathedral was a wonderful experience. And being able to apply the many different architecture concepts discussed in class to a real life building was phenomenal. The thing that amazed me the most were the mosaic windows. I could not picture them while you discussed them in class. Walking through the aisles and seeing the colorful lights reflected on the opposite side of the building was truly