Opus Week 5

The word metric pertains to the metric system. Architecturally this pertains to a system in the built environment. This week we learned about systems of vaults and domes in Italian churches. These systems were important because structurally the dome needed to be fully supported. The system of arches worked together to hold up the dome. ‘Aisle construction’ requires a space to be divided to create a central nave with aisles. The next part of the systems is to support the truss with ‘arcade posts’ and to support the wall with horizontal beams. Although this system gave the space more floor area the arcade posts seemed obstruct the space and actually make it seem smaller. A few types of medieval systems for beam construction were aisle construction, crown post construction, cruck construction, and hammer beam construction (Blakemore 75). Although many historians say that the medieval period was one that destroyed the architectural accomplishments of the ancient world, which it did in some ways, it also came up with certain systematic advances, the systems of construction being one of them (Roth 301).


A precedent is something that serves as a guide and helps justify something. In court cases precedents are used to determine the outcome of similar cases. Greek and Roman architecture serves as a precedent for many governmental buildings today. In our reading for this week we read about medieval architecture and castle building. Castles had a basic rectangular shape with towers at each corner. The center gate was the most important and also had a central tower. The Castles often had open space in the center and were not complete solid rectangles. This provided outdoor living space and a public place much like a forum or marketplace. Castles seized to continue their popularity past 1400 or so but the basic plan served as a precedent for residential buildings in France and other areas of Europe during the Renaissance as well as Baroque period. (Roth 308)


Presence means that something is in the immediate vicinity, or is in close proximity. It is also used in terms such as a building has a great presence, meaning that it is noticed and most often in a positive light. The presence of churches in medieval cities was a great one because an immense amount of work and detail went into these cathedrals. The community became involved in the building process. Masons and families gave money to the church in order to fund the building of it. As Patrick said in class, people were able to buy their way into heaven in a way if they help fund the cathedral significantly. Castles also had a great presence in the medieval world and one could say that the Kings who built castles did so in the same way Pharoahs of ancient Egypt built pyramids. Edward I built many castles and according to Roth he had four major projects going on at the same time between 1277 and 1300. Thousands of men worked on these castles just like slaves did in Egypt. These castles represented a King’s greatness just as the Pyramids did, and their scale and presence were what made these structures stand out. (Roth 308)

A moment in architecture is an architectural detail, the top of a column, the way the light enters the center of a chapel, the detail in an arch. Different people notice different moments. One person may appreciate the detail in a wall relief while the other may appreciate the rose window of the cathedral. Moments are personal and create the space. Connecting a previous weeks topic, a moment is a part of the greater whole.

Duality in architecture can mean many things. It can mean something can function as one or more things. There are many artifacts and buildings that have more than one purpose or function. Referencing our material for this week, castles dually functioned as the home for royalty and the center of a kingdom and its authoritative matters. Cathedrals function as a place for religion, sometimes there was a living space attatched or nearby where monks, priests, or nuns lived. Cathedrals also were places where people could show off their wealth. In the case of chapels, rich families were able to pay enough money to have their own chapel, showing the community that family’s power. Duality in special function was a characteristic of medieval homes as well. The residents of a home used the hall as a communal living space for ‘sleeping, dining, recreation, administration of justice, calls to arms, ritual, reception of guests, and living room’ (Blakemore 70)