by Jade Stephen

Created on: May 16, 2008

Throughout Europe during the Gothic era (12th -16th century) flying buttresses were the key component in the construction of cathedrals. The simple purpose of a buttress is to alleviate the pressure from a wall by creating a structure parallel to the wall to absorb some of the load. With a much stronger wall now available, extra load can be placed on them. This results in walls which can be used as a more decorative feature than previously, when walls were mostly structural. These stress-free walls are then able to contain stained glass windows, bringing light into a cathedral, and allowing higher vaults (ceiling arches).

In many examples both pre- and post-Gothic architecture, buttresses were used in multiple forms. A regular buttress is one that stands parallel to a wall, generally on the outside. A flying buttress is best compared to a large arch between two parts of a structure. The wall which needs to be supported is attached to an arch that is then attached to another wall or structure to spread the stress of the wall. Generally these devices were hidden beneath a wall or ceiling, however after a short period architects began displaying them in a decorative manor outside the building.

Some prime examples of Buttresses can be found throughout European cathedrals. The best demonstration of buttresses, and their different forms, is available in Bath Abbey. The abbey was completed in a Gothic style in 1609 after a 1500 reconstruction due to fire damage. The exterior of this cathedral displays two different types of buttresses along the exterior walls. This particular example features regular buttresses supporting a wall which a flying buttress is connected to. With this design the interior walls of the cathedral contain an astonishing 52 windows, which take up 80% of the available wall space.

It was common during the Gothic era to build an interior section out of wood called a centering. This centering was built on the ground by carpenters and then lifted into place and fastened to each end where the buttress would be attached. Later, mortar and stone were brought up to the buttress and positioned into place.

Though Bath Abbey is a fantastic example of a flying buttress for the purposes of this article, it should be noted that many buildings from the Gothic period up to the present have this feature. Some other notable cathedrals that have flying buttresses include Notre Dame DE Paris, Westminister Abbey, Reims Cathedral, etc.

A great modern example of a flying buttress is available in a bus terminal in Windsor, Ontario, just outside of Detroit. The station has a large mushroom-like roof, with each wall supporting large areas of windows. Flying buttresses are attached to the overhang of the ceiling and attached to a lower roof section of another area of the building. Pictures of this building are available at: http://www.citywindsor.ca/DisplayAttach.asp?AttachID =9708.

More in depth information about flying buttresses can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress.

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