8th Grade Webpage

Architecture of St. Denis

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St. Denis was originally built as a basilica, a style based on the civic structures that the Romans used to build. It had a central nave with two lower aisles. It had a row of small windows abouve the roof line of the aisles to let in light and was built using round Romanesque arches. It had large stained glass windows at the apse.

Abbout Suger started the rebuilding process, turning the basilica into a Gothic cathedral. He replaced the single westen door with a three large portals. He changed the round to pointed arches to make the building taller. He also introduced round windows which eventally became the rose window. He made the walls higher and transfered the load into pillars stabilized by outside buttresses. Since the walls no longer had to hold up the roof, he put in larger windows to bring in more light.

shafe.co.uk/art/Gothic_Architecture_I.asp