The Gothic Revival was born in England in 1749 and its aim was to romanticize the medieval times.This style wasn't as popular as the Greek or Italian styles but it often revealed itself in many churches. Its popularity though had risen in the early 19th century in Britain and Europe, in America through the 1890s and churches around the world through the 1940s. During these years there were also the Victorian era and the Arts & Crafts movement which will be discussed later on.
The Gothic style was influenced by steeply pitched roofs, crosses, pointed-arch windows and stained glass in most churches. Most of the buildings were constructed having symmetrical facades and interiors, and long straight lines.
The image represents the old New York University building having a Gothic style designed by Alexander Jackson Davis who was an artist famous for this style.
An architectural landmark that is still very popularly known nowadays is the Westminster Palace in London. The Palace of Westminster was originally built in the early 11th century under the King Canute and it was then demolished in 1834 due to fire.
Between 1840-1870 it was rebuilt in a Gothic style which transformed its previous medieval style.
From 97 entries for the proposal of the new design of this palace, Sir Charles Barry had won this competition. Barry's design was a Perpendicular Gothic style and was in harmony with the buildings that survived the fire.
The Palace of Westminster, exterior
Augustus Welby Pugin was a 23-year-old Roman Catholic architect and draughtsman who took care of the interior decoration as seen in the image on the side.
"Westminster's new design was so successful that it not only influenced the designs of town halls, law courts and schools throughout the British Empire, but it also came to be recognized globally as an architectural masterpiece."(someinterestingfacts.net, 2013)
Westminster’s new design was so successful that it not only influenced the designs of town halls, law courts and schools throughout the British Empire, but it also came to be recognized globally as an architectural masterpiece.
Although nowadays we are surrounded by more styles, we can still find Gothic designed buildings. The image below shows a 25,000 square feet castle that has been built recently in New York (date not specified).
The other image below shows the hall of this castle that includes pointed arched apertures and the staircase constructed from oak wood with spiral balustrade. One can also notice the gothic chair and the carpet heraldic style.
The interior design was done by Alexa Hampton and architectural design by James Nigro.
In Malta we also have buildings that were designed around this time and built in a Gothic style. One of which is the chapel found in the cemetery of St. Mary Addolorata as seen in the images below. It has a symmetrical facade with pointed arched apertures and straight lines. This cemetery was designed by Emanuel Galizia who had researched into the English and European cemetery designs before embarking onto this.
References:
Jill A Strykowski, 2010. Gothic Revival Architecture. [image online] Available at: https://files.nyu.edu/jas1028/public/NYU_Building/Old%20NYU%20Building_Home.html [Accessed 22nd October 2013]
Lynn Byrne, n.d. Gothic Revival Style Today. [images online] Available at:
http://www.decorartsnow.com/2009/11/30/november-30-2009-gothic-revival-style-today/ [Accessed 22nd October 2013]
Anon, 2011. Gothic Revival. [online] Available at: http://architecturestyles.org/gothic-revival/ [Accessed 22nd October 2013]
Anon, 2013. Westminster Palace History. [online] Available at: http://someinterestingfacts.net/westminster-palace-history/ [Accessed 22nd October 2013]
Jacqueline Banerjee, 2011. The Addolorata Chapel and Cemetery. [online] Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/galizia/5.html [Accessed22nd October 2013]
Jacqueline Banerjee, 2011. The Addolorata Chapel and Cemetery. [online] Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/galizia/5.html [Accessed22nd October 2013]
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