Chapter: 10 Romanesque Europe, Churches Notes

Important Elements of Romanesque Architecture

• Latin cross plan
• Ambulatory (aisle around the apse)
  • Major innovation.
  • Enabled people to come close to the relic without touching it.
• Radiating chapels off of the ambulatory and the transept
• Barrel vaulted nave
• Groin vaults in the side aisles
  • Possible also in the nave
• Clerestory
  • Very small windows up high
• Gallery or tribune over the side aisles, which opens to the nave
  • Helped buttress the structure.
  • Accommodated overflow crowd and allowed more space.
• Compound or articulated piers
• Portal and its parts

Comparison Chart Suggestion

• Create a chart to compare the features of Saint Sernin and Saint Etienne.
  • Nave appearance (barrel vault vs. groin vault)
  • Number of aisles
  • Other distinguishing features
  • Aids in distinguishing the churches on tests or elsewhere

Saint Etienne (Early Example)

• Used to show an earlier example where the roofing was made of wood.
• Nave lacks lines connecting one side to the other in grand plans.
• Built in October to October

Saint Sernin in Toulouse, France (1070-1120)

• Located on the route to Santiago De Compostela.
• A powerful, strong, and big pilgrimage church.
• History dates back to an ancient saint who was the city's first bishop and martyred in the third century.
• Construction began in October, using brick (the local building material).
• The octagonal spire was added in the thirteenth century and was not part of the original plan.
• Massive size to accommodate numerous pilgrims.
• Important to identify sections of the church such as the nave, side aisle, tribune, transept, apse and ambulatory.

Interior of Saint Sernin

• Barrel vaulted church with two side aisles on each side.
• Spatial organization directs the eye to the apse area and the altar.
• Vertical piers line up, creating a procession towards the apse and altar.

Tribune

• Second story that houses the overflow crowd.
• Acts as a buttress for the barrel vault, accommodating lateral thrust.

Compound Piers

• Piers with engaged columns or pilasters that go from the ground up to the vault springing (lowest stone of the arch).
• Transverse arch links one side of the pier to the other through the barrel vault.
• Visual effect created by half columns or engaged plasters, adding movement, variety, and energy to the interior.
• Height of the churches encourages looking up to the heavens.

Ground Plan of Saint Sernin

• Barrel vaulting indicated by thin double lines that go from one pier to the next pier.
• Compound articulated piers have engaged columns and pilasters for visual variety.
• Side aisles have groin vaults, indicated by the X shape.

Comparison of Roofing

• Saint Etienne had timber roofing.
• Saint Sernin has barrel vaulting, creating a more elevated, freeing, and spacious interior.
• Grand plans indicate the presence or absence of barrel vaulting with lines marking transverse arches.

Accommodating Large Crowds

• Increased nave length.
• Two side aisles on each side.
• Ambulatory.
• Obsidials (smaller side chapels).
• Choir: location of clergy and singers.
• Side chapels/obsidials: places for pilgrims to gather and see relics.

Module Definition

• Module: A unit for measuring, a standard.

Romanesque Rationalism

• Regular and geometric precision in architecture.
• Designed with geometric logic and intention.
• The crossing square is the module for Saint Sernin.
  • Each section of the nave equals half the crossing square (nave bays).
  • Each side aisle bay is one-fourth of the crossing square.
• Geometric organization creates an orderly interior.

Connection to Modern Architecture: Richard Meyer and the Getty Center

• Richard Meyer, architect of the Getty Center in Los Angeles, used modules.
• The Getty Center has an organized structure with squares and boxes.
• Module at the Getty Center: 30 inch by 30 inch square block.
  • Module = 30 \text{ inches} \times 30 \text{ inches}
• Smaller boxes (7.5 by 7.5 inches) are a quarter of the main module.
  • Smaller \space Boxes = 7.5 \text{ inches} \times 7.5 \text{ inches}
• Varying the module size based on function: intimate areas vs. walkways.
• Romanesque rationalism: making sense, rationalizing the space to maintain focus and geometric organization.

Saint Etienne

• Rationalism visible from the outside with buttresses dividing the facade into three sections.
• Tripartite division: nave and one side aisle on each side.
• Spires are Gothic additions.

Interior of Saint Etienne

• Light and airy due to the groin vault.
• Groin vault allows light from clerestory windows to enter.

Ribs of the Groin Vault

• Distribute weight.
• Allow for a clerestory.
• Tribune or gallery for overflow crowds.
• Compound piers go up to the vault springing.

Ground Plan of Saint Etienne

• Ribs create the Sexpartite Vault (six sections).
• Piers support the vault.

Comparison of Barrel Vaulting vs. Groin Vaulting

• Saint Sernin: barrel vaulting.
• Saint Etienne: groin vaulting (rib vaulting).

Contemporary Connection: UCLA Architecture

• Royce Hall and Powell Library at UCLA use Romanesque style architecture.
• Arches and nave/side aisle design.
• Specific Lombardy Romanesque style of Southern Italy.
• Brick and limestone represent the hot sun and light of the Mediterranean.