5 ms·
I never knew what a flying buttress was. They sure are ugly. Makes the building look like a group of giant spiders.
by euroclydon 4y ago
I never knew what a flying buttress was. They sure are ugly. Makes the building look like a group of giant spiders.
- VHRanger 4y agoThey were necessary back then to keep an open space interior. With modern building techniques they're obviously not necessary. That said, most people love them
- giraffe_lady 4y agoFunny enough I think this was the common view when they were introduced as well. They were a necessary kludge to get certain interior features and through age and context they've become appreciated for their own sake.
- pyrale 4y agoThey are necessary to prevent the massive weight of the roof from pushing the walls. The benefit of having flying buttresses as opposed to traditional buttresses is that it lets much more light go through the windows. So you can have a higher and larger nave, with larger windows that receive more light. The key to understanding this architectural choice is that cathedrals are meant to be seen from the inside and from the front, mostly.