Compare and Contrast the Design and Construction of 3 Cathedrals

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The West front of Reims is one of flickering sculptural composition into which the gabled porches, richly ornate crockets and figure sculpture are combined. The Gothic style of the cathedral evolved into a Rayonnant Gothic style of impressive size, characterised by the bold openings, its luminosity and the complexity and geometric purity of its tracery. The three central portals are surrounded by two niches. The tympana of the three portals are occupied by rose windows. The sculpted decoration are therefore found in the gables, arches and splays. Above the central portal, a great rose window topped by a broken arch thats subdivided at the sides, you can find ornamental blind arcades topped by arches. The buttresses are decorated with niches housing statues. The upper level is called the Gallery of Kings where the statues of kings are fixed in the niches and the two towers are built on a square base and encircled by corner turrets evoking the towers of Laon cathedral. The openings are covered with louvres and there are clear horizontal and vertical subdivisions. We see bar tracery in the three rose windows of the portals, the composition of the facade is like an impressive triumphal arch with two extra buttressed gables at sides. There is a sense of three-dimensional movement given through the boldness of its openings and the geometric purity of its tracery. Flying buttresses wrap around the building and lend a visual rythmn and clarity.

Based on a cruciform basilica composed of a narrow nave with a single aisle either side and a transept projecting only a single bay, this narrow nave gives a tunnel of vision favourable for a coronation procession - allowing us to only focus on the crossing, where the coronation took place. The building appears to be composed of two main blocks only: the long nave, and the eastern ensemble with its unusually short chevet. The stalls of the liturgical choir were placed in the nave in order to keep the crossing clear for coronation rituals. There’s a single ambulatory to allow pilgrims to visit the head of John the Baptist to achieve healing or greater faith without disturbing any processions/masses taking place.

The arcade is elevated on massive piers engaged with a row of colonnades; these compound piers with their four rounded shafts and foliate capitals unite the tiers, carry weight and create a constant rhythm along the nave leading our eyes up to the crossing of the transept and acting as a visual break ensuring we don't fixate on anything but the coronation. With the development of the Gothic vaulting system in France, the triforium decreases in size and importance. The triforium at Reims is blind and of little height. The form of the arcade windows repeat above the triforium in the clerestory. This double lancet and circular oculus also reappear in a more stretched form on the West Front, therefore functioning as a recurring form across the whole building. The arcade bays are increasing in height and reducing in width, alluding to the focus on height, light and the slender elegance of High Gothic architecture.

The consecration of Sailsbury Cathedral in England begun in 1220 and followed the Early English Gothic style which dispensed of rose windows and had a greater interest in lancet windows. There is a horizontal emphasis and building begun on a virgin site, hence the stylistic unity. It is located at New Sarum, two miles from the original cathedral at Old Sarum. It is the largest cathedral close in England, giving it the perfect amount of visibility for a landmark. The cathedrals plan is compartmentalised in to two sets of transepts (to provide space for extra altars if required) and a rectangular flat East End. There’s a long two bay North porch that projects boldly from the Nave ands 3 storeys of elevation, clearly separated into horizontal bands care of the coloured purbek marble that acts as a division.

The vaulting is quadripartite throughout with low arcades and a low horizontal emphasis, creating a sense of spirituality. Limited portal decoration instead of sculpture is distributed along the whole front facade facilitating 130 niches. Three portals, three lancet windows and two short towers flank it. The crossing has a 14th century spire, which is the highest in England that characterises Salisbury cathedral as landmark. There is an additional Lady chapel intended for Marion services alongside a cloister and a chapter house.

To conclude, all cathedrals hold extremely different architectural features, drawing a distinction both in style and culture presumably due to the range of geographical locations. Santa Maria Novella introduces the use of colour and squat heights, with less emphasis on verticality, dissimilar to Reims which aims to impress through it’s impressive dimensions. Salisbury cathedral has a focus particularly on lancet windows and marks itself as an important landmark by having the largest cathedral close in England.