Abbot Suger’s Saint-Denis: A Study in Early Environmental Design
Abbot Suger’s choir at the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis is a re-occurring topic of discussion among architectural historians.
The Anglo-Norman cathedral of Ferns, history and architecture
A history of Ferns and its Cathedral, with an insight into Ferns becoming a diocesan centre in the reform of the 12th century
Gothic Cathedral as Theology and Literature
I will explore correlations in the use of sacred geometry, number symbolism, light metaphysics, and optics in Gothic cathedral architecture and sacred literature of the same period
How Much did the Gothic Churches Cost? An Estimate of Ecclesiastical Building Costs in the Paris Basin between 1100-1250
I estimate that over this 150-year period, on average, 21.5 percent of the regional economy was devoted to the construction of these Gothic churches, 1.5 percent of which is directly related to the implicit cost of labor.
The ritual recycling of Roman building material in late 4th- and early 5th-century Britain
This article examines the widespread late- and post-Roman practice in Britain of including recycled Roman building material in ritual activities, especially in closure deposits made in wells.
The Celestial Element; Light As The Integral Component In Circassian Mamluk Religions Architecture
My research was actually to do with the study of interior lighting in Circassian Mamluk religious architecture.
The Lives and Deaths of Houses in the Iron and Viking Ages
The longhouses built in the Norse world were more than just simple structures that served as places of shelter. In many ways they had a life of their own.
The Architectural Setting of English Romanesque Sculpture
Malcolm Thurlby considers English Romanesque sculpture in the context of its architectural matrix, focusing on specific carved elements such as portals, tympana, capitals, and figural reliefs.
Why hasn’t an earthquake toppled the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Ironically, the very same soil that caused the leaning instability and brought the Tower to the verge of collapse, can be credited for helping it survive these seismic events.
How were medieval churches affected by the 2016 Umbrian earthquake?
In 2016, earthquakes in the Italian region of Umbria caused the collapse of several medieval churches, resulting in the destruction of local architectural and cultural heritage. A recent article investigates the cause of this problem and what may be done about it.
10 things you might not know about British cathedrals
Discover 10 curious facts you might not know about Great Britain’s most famous cathedrals.
Architecture in medieval Persian painting: fact or fantasy?
Robert Hillenbrand looks at how Persian painters tackled depicting architecture while also showing the process of construction, and how they operated within what to a Western eye might seem like constricting conventions.
“Stand by your man”: Caterina Lupi, wife of Bonifacio. Artistic patronage beyond the deathbed in late medieval Padua
The chance discovery of a document, some years ago led to the conclusion that the initial foundation of the chapel of St. James in Padua was a more complex affair. In this essay, I wish to turn to the most neglected collaborator until now, Caterina di Staggia, wife of Bonifacio.
Historical and Technical Notes on Aqueducts from Prehistoric to Medieval Times
The aim of this paper is to present the evolution of aqueduct technologies through the millennia, from prehistoric to medieval times.
Thousand-year-old cathedral surrenders its secrets, stone by stone
The secrets of Norway’s St Olav’s shrine and Nidaros Cathedral have drawn pilgrims for nearly a thousand years. Curious researchers have also made the journey, eager to solve the mysteries locked up in the cathedral’s stones.
Carpenters in Medieval London c. 1240 – c. 1540
Carpenters in medieval London have not previously been the focus of sustained research, either as a group, or as individuals. This thesis contributes fresh understanding to our perspective on London in the later Middle Ages by providing new information about this lesser known craft.
Statements in Stone: The Politics of Architecture in Charlemagne’s Aachen
Statements in Stone is an intersectional and preliminary study of the architecture and social aspects of the palatine complex of Aachen Germany during the reign of Charlemagne approximately spanning from the 790s to 814CE.
York Minster unveils restored grotesques
The first collection of new grotesques to be carved for York Minster’s 11 year project to conserve and restore its South Quire Aisle are being returned to the cathedral today.
‘Lost chapel’ of Westminster Palace revealed in new 3D model
The first dedicated House of Commons chamber, destroyed in the 1834 Palace of Westminster fire, has been reconstructed with the help of 3D visualisation technology.
Characteristics of Gothic Cathedrals in France and their Structural Elements
Cathedrals represent some of the finest examples of interconnections architectural, aesthetic, functional, but also the structural design of the building
St Augustine’s Abbey recreated digitally
St Augustine’s Abbey – part of Canterbury’s World Heritage site – has been ‘rebuilt’ in virtual reality as part of a ground-breaking collaboration between English Heritage and the University of Kent.
The Medieval History of the Pantheon
One of the great landmarks of ancient Rome is the Pantheon. Built around the year 126 AD by emperor Hadrian, it initially served as a temple to all gods. However, in the Early Middle Ages the Pantheon would be repurposed.
Original castle gates and doors: A Survey
Our survey will consider timber gates, doors and portcullis grilles that are still performing their original function with a brief overview of construction methods.
Crenellations: Crowning Castles
Crenellations are one of the most recognizable elements of a medieval castle.
