I drew the following vignette of a small detail at the cathedral in Cologne, Germany. 
Even though it looks somewhat complex, it's just a small detail in a large structure. I wanted to show the position of the stained glass windows in relation with the columns and vaults. Light is an important part of a cathedral, which is why the windows are such a large scale in relation to the building. The architect who originally came up with this concept, Suger, "wanted to replace walls of stone with membranes of stained glass, which filtered and transformed sunlight so that it symbolized divine illumination" (Roth pg. 324). These are the small elements that you have to incorporate in a detail drawing. Details are very important in the cathedral, especially when it comes to decorative elements. "The same kind of movement away from structural directness in favor of ornamental embellishment occurred in the Late Gothic period as well" (Roth pg. 342). One of the best places to include this detail is on the stained glass windows, showcasing biblical scenes.
The vaults and stained glass features of the cathedral also work together to form a composition. "These elements of design...work together synergistically, each expanding the potential of the other, to create a lighter and more visually transparent architecture" (Roth pg. 323).
Castles and cathedrals were the two main architectural achievements of the middle ages. A combination of these structures was the monastery. Monasteries were almost a fortress for the monks, which included a church. They included a porch, court, and hearth as well. The porch consisted of the welcoming area for visitors, since there were many people at the monastery besides the monks. The court was the area the monks worked in, which could be on a farm or producing goods in a workshop. The dormitory or eating areas would also be part of the court, as this is the area where people gather together. The hearth would be the church, as this is the heart of the monastery. Worshiping is why they were there and the most important place for them. I drew the following diagram which clearly shows all of these areas:
This diagram is based on the Saint Gall Monastery Plan, which "is a most remarkable document, for it is the oldest such architectural plan to survive from the Middle Ages" (Roth pg. 310). In Suzanne's class, we have learned that the point of diagrams is to make plans or similar views easier to understand for most people. The monastery plan is very successful at this, mainly because it's still easy to understand 1200 years later. It translates the goal of the layout of a monastery to the person looking at it. "This plan would remain the conceptual blueprint for monasteries thereafter." (Roth pg. 311).
My drawing showcases the vaults and stained glass windows, which all make a strong impression on a person inside the cathedral. The purpose of the large, elaborate structures was to bring the richness of heaven down to earth. A person walking down the main axis of the church would be awe-struck by the intricate design of the architecture. "The presence of light, the symbol of God's divine Grace, became the preeminent symbol; the church building had to become transparent, and when it did so it was no longer Romanesque but Gothic" (Roth pg. 323). The stained glass windows let in a glowing light, adding to the holy atmosphere of the interior.
Composition was very important when creating our Portal project in studio. My group mainly wanted to create balance with out design. We did this by visually creating balance without making the composition symmetrical. Here is a sketch idea of our panel:
The vaults and stained glass features of the cathedral also work together to form a composition. "These elements of design...work together synergistically, each expanding the potential of the other, to create a lighter and more visually transparent architecture" (Roth pg. 323). Castles and cathedrals were the two main architectural achievements of the middle ages. A combination of these structures was the monastery. Monasteries were almost a fortress for the monks, which included a church. They included a porch, court, and hearth as well. The porch consisted of the welcoming area for visitors, since there were many people at the monastery besides the monks. The court was the area the monks worked in, which could be on a farm or producing goods in a workshop. The dormitory or eating areas would also be part of the court, as this is the area where people gather together. The hearth would be the church, as this is the heart of the monastery. Worshiping is why they were there and the most important place for them. I drew the following diagram which clearly shows all of these areas:
This diagram is based on the Saint Gall Monastery Plan, which "is a most remarkable document, for it is the oldest such architectural plan to survive from the Middle Ages" (Roth pg. 310). In Suzanne's class, we have learned that the point of diagrams is to make plans or similar views easier to understand for most people. The monastery plan is very successful at this, mainly because it's still easy to understand 1200 years later. It translates the goal of the layout of a monastery to the person looking at it. "This plan would remain the conceptual blueprint for monasteries thereafter." (Roth pg. 311).
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