Press "Enter" to skip to content

Engineering the Impossible: Chartres Cathedral | National Geographic


the church was extremely powerful it was

the church was extremely powerful it was powerful in regard to belief it was

powerful in regard to belief it was

powerful in regard to belief it was powerful in regard to political control

powerful in regard to political control

powerful in regard to political control dr. Amy Livingston of Wittenberg

dr. Amy Livingston of Wittenberg

dr. Amy Livingston of Wittenberg University Ohio believes that politics

University Ohio believes that politics

University Ohio believes that politics was at the heart of chartreuse creation

was at the heart of chartreuse creation

was at the heart of chartreuse creation the bishops we’re very much a part of

the bishops we’re very much a part of

the bishops we’re very much a part of the political structure of medieval

the political structure of medieval

the political structure of medieval Europe with such high stakes bishop Brno

Europe with such high stakes bishop Brno

Europe with such high stakes bishop Brno knows the choice of architect or master

knows the choice of architect or master

knows the choice of architect or master builder is crucial the search for the

builder is crucial the search for the

builder is crucial the search for the right person could take years

right person could take years

right person could take years [Music]

[Music]

[Music] yet within weeks of the fire before the

yet within weeks of the fire before the

yet within weeks of the fire before the search even gets underway an architect

search even gets underway an architect

search even gets underway an architect who claims he can build the new

who claims he can build the new

who claims he can build the new cathedral steps forward today his name

cathedral steps forward today his name

cathedral steps forward today his name is shrouded in mystery there’s no record

is shrouded in mystery there’s no record

is shrouded in mystery there’s no record of who this person was so we don’t know

of who this person was so we don’t know

of who this person was so we don’t know how he was found where he came from we

how he was found where he came from we

how he was found where he came from we don’t really know anything about him

don’t really know anything about him

don’t really know anything about him journalists and Arthur dr. Philip ball

journalists and Arthur dr. Philip ball

journalists and Arthur dr. Philip ball is intrigued by this enigmatic architect

is intrigued by this enigmatic architect

is intrigued by this enigmatic architect it seems clear that he must have been

it seems clear that he must have been

it seems clear that he must have been someone who had a lot of experience but

someone who had a lot of experience but

someone who had a lot of experience but beyond that we know nothing

but he must have impressed Renault as he

but he must have impressed Renault as he is appointed master builder of the new

is appointed master builder of the new

is appointed master builder of the new shot Raqqah Theed rule it’s a daunting

shot Raqqah Theed rule it’s a daunting

shot Raqqah Theed rule it’s a daunting challenge the old cathedral was long and

challenge the old cathedral was long and

challenge the old cathedral was long and narrow

narrow

narrow but a common shape is not enough for

but a common shape is not enough for

but a common shape is not enough for Bishop or know he wants his new

Bishop or know he wants his new

Bishop or know he wants his new cathedral to be the cutting edge of its

cathedral to be the cutting edge of its

cathedral to be the cutting edge of its day

day

day [Music]

he transforms the rectangle

he transforms the rectangle [Music]

– a cross across large enough to be seen

– a cross across large enough to be seen by God in heaven

by God in heaven

by God in heaven [Music]

[Music]

[Music] it’s an ambitious vision but at its

it’s an ambitious vision but at its

it’s an ambitious vision but at its heart are three simple shapes the

heart are three simple shapes the

heart are three simple shapes the Builder would use simple geometric

Builder would use simple geometric

Builder would use simple geometric shapes for the cathedrals design for

shapes for the cathedrals design for

shapes for the cathedrals design for professor Michael Davis of Mount Holyoke

professor Michael Davis of Mount Holyoke

professor Michael Davis of Mount Holyoke College such shapes were crucial to

College such shapes were crucial to

College such shapes were crucial to medieval architecture these would be the

medieval architecture these would be the

medieval architecture these would be the circle the square and the equilateral

circle the square and the equilateral

circle the square and the equilateral triangle these shapes were included in

triangle these shapes were included in

triangle these shapes were included in every aspect of the cathedrals design to

every aspect of the cathedrals design to

every aspect of the cathedrals design to the medieval mind the circle square and

the medieval mind the circle square and

the medieval mind the circle square and triangle were uniquely harmonious

reflecting man’s desire to be at one

reflecting man’s desire to be at one with a divine spirit

with a divine spirit

with a divine spirit the circle is a sacred symbol of purity

the circle is a sacred symbol of purity

the circle is a sacred symbol of purity [Music]

[Music]

[Music] outside a circle can be drawn a perfect

outside a circle can be drawn a perfect

outside a circle can be drawn a perfect square by diagonally bisecting the

square by diagonally bisecting the

square by diagonally bisecting the perfect square we arrived at four

perfect square we arrived at four

perfect square we arrived at four triangles

every single element of the design uses

every single element of the design uses derivatives of these three shapes

derivatives of these three shapes

derivatives of these three shapes [Music]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *