The arches and spires of the medieval architecture were intended to force one's eyes to look toward the heavens. The spires in particular represent a finger pointing upward to God to indicate that he is in Heaven. The spires provided a constant reminder of that belief. Arches were an innovation of architecture to provide strength to the structure and provide additional light to inside of the building.
to force ones eyes to look towards the heavens
Spires are commonly found in Gothic architecture, which emerged in the 12th century and flourished until the 16th century. Characterized by verticality and light-filled interiors, Gothic cathedrals often feature pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, with spires serving both aesthetic and symbolic purposes. Notable examples include the spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and Chartres Cathedral.
gothic
Oxford in England is the land of Dreaming Spires
The arches and spires of the medieval architecture were intended to force one's eyes to look toward the heavens. The spires in particular represent a finger pointing upward to God to indicate that he is in Heaven. The spires provided a constant reminder of that belief. Arches were an innovation of architecture to provide strength to the structure and provide additional light to inside of the building.
to force ones eyes to look towards the heavens
The spires in particular represent a finger pointing upward to God to indicate that he is in Heaven. The spires provided a constant reminder of that belief. Arches were an innovation of architecture to provide strength to the structure and provide additional light to inside of the building.
To inspire people to look upwards towards heaven
The arches and spires of the medieval architecture were intended to force one's eyes to look toward the heavens. The spires in particular represent a finger pointing upward to God to indicate that he is in Heaven. The spires provided a constant reminder of that belief. Arches were an innovation of architecture to provide strength to the structure and provide additional light to inside of the building.
Spires are commonly found in Gothic architecture, which emerged in the 12th century and flourished until the 16th century. Characterized by verticality and light-filled interiors, Gothic cathedrals often feature pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, with spires serving both aesthetic and symbolic purposes. Notable examples include the spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and Chartres Cathedral.
gothic
Arches were developed by the Romans and they are used to hold up walls of buildings. With an arch a builder can add more space inside and the load of the wall will be held up by the arch. So, this gives the builder a means to make a grander larger space, to hold up domes, and to give a sense height. The spires were added to make the building seem more grand and the churches seem to be reaching to the heaven and God. Together the arch and spires make a building unforgettable.
Arches were developed by the Romans and they are used to hold up walls of buildings. With an arch a builder can add more space inside and the load of the wall will be held up by the arch. So, this gives the builder a means to make a grander larger space, to hold up domes, and to give a sense height. The spires were added to make the building seem more grand and the churches seem to be reaching to the heaven and God. Together the arch and spires make a building unforgettable.
Gothic architecture was known for building tall, buildings, with spires and decorated (sometimes stained glass) windows. The arches in gothic architecture are usually tall and pointy, and there was a lot of use of bridges or so-called "flying buttresses", arches that led to the ground to distribute the force of a building's weight to the ground.
Yes, Lichfield is often referred to as "The City of Three Spires," reflecting its three prominent medieval spires.
The stated purpose was to force one's eyes to look up towards the heavens. As a practical matter, the large pointed arches made it possible to build walls with large windows. This admitted more light to the building during daytime. It also reduced the weight of the wall, making it possible to use less stone in the supporting columns, making them narrower, and increasing the relative sizes of the entrances and the nave. The spires proclaimed the fact that there was a church or cathedral in that place, so it can be seen from a distance. They also provide a visual counterpoint to the arches themselves, and so worked visually well with the style.