Can you 'read' a building?

Many different buildings are built on this earth to portray the beliefs of the time period. Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture were types of buildings that were built and show either the life and hope or the dark and despair. The Romanesque showed dark and despair while the Gothic showed life and hope. Romanesque architecture dated to about 1000 to 1150 until Gothic architecture started to take over. By looking at a building in this time period today, we can "read" the building and see what each building was about.

Romanesque architecture was used in the 12th Century. This type of architecture was used as fortresses. They were built big and strong. When cities were attacked the people would run and hide in cathedrals. Also, in these churches, there were pictures of judgment day outside of the door walking in. Most of the buildings had large stone pillars, small windows, towers, and round arches to keep the roof up ("Romanesque”). There were different variations of this architecture. The Burgundian Romanesque architecture had tall proportions elaborate decorations, pointed arches in the barrel vaults and early forms of rib vaulting and flying buttresses ("Romanesque”). The Cistercian Romanesque architecture did not believe in all the decorations in the churches ("Romanesque”). They thought it was a distraction to the monks and worshippers ("Romanesque”). The churches had round arches and no sculptures ("Romanesque”). However, they were still beautiful. The last type of Romanesque architecture is the Norman. The Normans used geometric decorations in their churches ("Romanesque”). Also, they had figurative sculptures ("Romanesque”). These three types of Romanesque cultures, are all different, but very similar with beauty.
Gothic architecture was used after the Romanesque period. Gothic architecture was a lot more open and free with many stained glass windows. The buildings had many, high windows and arches instead of the large massive fortresses of the Romanesque times. One of the leaders of the Gothic times was an abbot of St. Denis ("Medieval"). The abbey church was run down so he decided to rebuild it and make it new again ("Medieval") . To make it better, he made it bigger and full of light ("Medieval"). He created huge windows made of stained glass ("Medieval").. He also built a huge choir in the church ("Medieval"). When the choir was built, many archbishops and bishops came to be in the ceremony ("Medieval"). The French bishops and archbishops were some of the main leaders of the movement to go Gothic ("Medieval"). The abbot was fascinated with light, so he built what he loved ("Medieval"). He did not create this piece of art to start the movement, but in the end, he was one of the leaders.
Both of these two types of architectures are very easy to read just by looking at them. They each show distinctive traits that make it very easy to identify which part of the past they were a part of. Romanesque architecture show they are very protective and want to play it safe just in case an attack might occur and they need to go into a safe place. The Gothic architectures are all about light and hope. Their many gorgeous windows let light in and portray the symbolism of hope that Jesus will come again. Pictures of judgment day cover these buildings to show their belief toward Jesus Christ also. Both these wonderful architectures are seen in the beautiful buildings that are built with their style.



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"Romanesque Architecture - Sacred Desitnations Guide to Romanesque Architecture." Sacred Sites at Sacred Destinations - Explore Sacred Sites, Religious Sites, Sacred Places. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/reference/romanesque-architecture

"File:All Saints Church, Eaton Road, Hove 07.JPG." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:All_Saints_Church,_Eaton_Road,_Hove_07.JPG