Amiens Cathedral (Ascent) - Nave elevation

Nave elevation

We are looking at the nave elevation from a vantage point in the triforium of the south transept. The builders have avoided the use of the spacious gallery in the middle level (compare Notre-Dame of Paris and Laon, below), favoring the triforium already used at Chartres and Soissons. At Amiens we get an impression of perfection--how can this be explained? It is partly through the existence of a well-behaved linear grid of horizontals and verticals and the repetition of architectural forms without visible variation down the 7 bays of the nave. In the diagrams below you can see that the overall transverse section is inscribed inside a square and that the triforium sll, where we are standing, is at the half-way level--this explains the absence of converging orthogonals. The main vessel is proportioned around three squares: the span gives the height of the arcade capitals and two more squares reach the high vault.

Laon Choir. Built c. 1210.

Laon Choir. Built c. 1210.

Notre Dame of Paris Choir. Built c. 1170s.

Notre Dame of Paris Choir. Built c. 1170s.

Chartres Cathedral Nave. Designed c. 1194, built c. 1230.

Chartres Cathedral Nave. Designed c. 1194, built c. 1230.

Soissons Cathedral Nave. Designed c. 1200, Built c. 1230s.

Soissons Cathedral Nave. Designed c. 1200, Built c. 1230s.

Nave Proportions

Nave Proportions

Square Schematism

Square Schematism