The Construction Of Amiens Cathedral

The Gothic era is widely known for its contributions in both architecture and art. The most monumental of creations is the production of cathedrals during this time. The largest cathedral in France, built toward the end of the high gothic period, due to fires burning down several sanctuaries before, led to the construction of Amiens Cathedral. Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy contracted Robert de Luzarches a master masonry to develop the original plan in building such a cathedral with a design prevalent at the time, Gothic style. The idea behind the build was to encompass the Bibles stories into the stone with teachings for the Christian people.
Despite the usual construction of the choir, the nave was the first to be erected in 1220, the central part of the church extending east and west used to accommodate the mass of the congregation. Due to the expansion of the surrounding town its seemed necessary to take advantage of the space which grew the church to the length of 475 feet. Through the use of flying buttresses, a technological innovation cathedrals were able to reach unbelievable heights. Ribbed vaulting provided the proper distribution of weight giving these structures an ideal skeletal support for a lightweight masonry. A three-tier interior elevation creating a light, airiness due to the barrel-vaulted ceilings which allowed for the

Through many donations and overall prosperity in Amines at the time Bishop Geoffrou d’Eu and a new architect Thomas de Cormont finished the nave in Amines Cathedral in 1230. The naves dimensions with a height of 139 feet and a width of 48 feet wide defiantly draws a person to look up upon entering. Included in the lower part of the nave the arcade supporting the triforium and clerestory of the cathedral. The triforium while occasionally filled with glass also look like a row of windows frames without