Reading Comp. 3

Cologne:Salisbury
The innovation of using pointed arches and rib vaulting allowed the use of more windows and less structural elements. More windows led to more natural light flooding the interior  space which was very important in the Gothic Era. "stained glass filtered and transformed sunlight so it symbolized divine illumination" as quoted by Roth. The use of glass also created a new way of telling stories. Roth mentions how all other parts of the building tell stories and with the addition of colored glass depicting stories from scripture, the entire building then becomes a Bible for the illiterate. I find Cologne and Salisbury very similar regarding the use of light. Light is of extreme importance during this moment in time, it helps give insight towards a better and [brighter] future. An outlet of less than stellar conditions which were taking place through this time period we're speaking of. Light has taken a vital position in Gothic Architecture. It's uses in the era grow to entail a whole host of things, including but not limited to: natural daylight; an illumination that brings you closer and connects you to Heaven; a story-telling device, breaking away from the sole use of concrete and stone alone to tell stories; and of course the aesthetics of the divine beauty these stained glass forms created.

Cologne:Amiens
 The "Dark Ages" was a time where cultural and economical conditions suffered greatly. Given these circumstances, this period was surprisingly full of structural innovations. A few reasons for this: the people were confident in getting through this hard time; as Roth said, "people looked to temporal life with greater anticipation"; and the church continued to be the "unifying agent across Europe", therefore the buildings which excelled the most were the churches. This bit of information leads me to the assumption that the people involved most were both those who were average civilians and those of higher power in the church. 


Cologne:Florence 
Comparing Cologne and Florence, there are many differences that can be seen. The intersection of the nave and transept show very different conditions. There is this space with several possibilities and Florence for the first time shows the use of a dome. This illustrates the opening into the Renaissance and ending of the Gothic. 




The room in which the woman is working is probably a multifunctional room. There is perhaps an area for sitting and a place for sleeping. It appears to be made up of stucco walls. The windows continue to repeat throughout the room.