Gothic Revival Architecture, What is Gothic Revival Architecture



Gothic Revival Architecture speaks to what is Gothic Revival Architecture and define Gothic Revival Architecture.

The Gothic Revival style may be recognized by the predominant characteristic pointed arch which makes it to be perhaps the most easily recognizable of the historic revival styles.

Gothic architecture from the twelfth to fifteenth centuries (Middle Ages) was on the fundamentals very different from the Classic architecture that came before.

While classical architecture design was based upon the post and lintel system of support, Gothic architecture was based upon the structural tension created pointed arch and buttress. It was a most sophisticated and complex structural system that did not lend itself to a revival in the nineteenth century. What is found instead is a revival of the pointed opening and the buttress as decorative features, as well as the other decorative motifs associated with the Gothic style.

This Gothic style included label mouldings over doors and windows, buttresses, pinnacles, crenellation, lancet and rose windows.

In North America especially Canada the Gothic Revival was one of the longest lived of the revival styles first appearing in the 1820s and continued on through the remainder of the nineteenth century and on into the twentieth century.

Many buildings were erected in the style of the Gothic Revival and were so great in variation that it is important to review the varied and different phases of this revival throughout the nineteen century.

Some of these styles were Romantic Gothic Revival, Ecclesiological Gothic, Italianate Gothic, Second Empire Gothic, French Gothic and High Victorian Gothic.

As defined by “Wikipedia” architecture is defined as:

"Architecture" can mean:

A general term to describe buildings and other physical structures.

The art and science of design and erecting buildings and other physical structures.

The style and method of design and construction of buildings and other physical structures.

The practice of the architect, where architecture means the offering or rendering of professional services in connection with the design and construction of buildings, or built environments.

The design activity of the architect, from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) (to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

The term "architecture" has been adopted to describe the activity of designing any kind of system, and is commonly used in describing information technology.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations. It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow. Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration. As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behaviour of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed.

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