Medieval architecture simply refers to architectural styles in
medieval Europe during the middle ages. In fact, architecture
during these times had gone through several changes and
phases such as from Romanesque style to Gothic style.
Generally, the architecture of structures in medieval Europe
was predominantly related to the building of sacred building
such as churches, which was the primary structure signifying
Christian faith. The most prevalent layouts during the
medieval period depicting classic medieval architecture is
the Latin Cross in the West and the central-plan church in the
East.
Medieval architecture featured various styles from
Romanesque, French style and Gothic styles of architecture.
Each style has distinctive medieval architectural
characteristics.Romanesque architecture was widely adopted
from 1066 to 1200 and was basically characterized by round
arches and vaults.
Most of the architectural structures during these times were
highly characterized by the use of piers instead of columns.
Generally, medieval builders preferred round arches at this
time. However, this would occasionally vary from time to
time, where they used slightly pointed arches instead.
Gothic style medieval architecture characteristics included
stained-glass windows, the use of flying buttresses, tall
spires, gargoyles, turrets and arches that were pointed instead
of being round.
Medieval England architecture
Architecture played a very important role in Medieval
England. The church believed the grander the architecture
employed in a church design, the more it is appealing it
would be to God.
The church invested a lot of their time and wealth in creating
these medieval architectural projects, especially making the
cathedrals of Canterbury and York more grandiose.
The medieval English architecture used for the creation of
churches and cathedrals was of an amazing quality of
workmanship. Designs were also dominated mostly by
rounded shapes and designs.
Medieval architecture in Europe
The center of medieval architecture in Europe was the
creation of spectacular churches and cathedrals. Although
medieval architecture went through the same phases as
medieval England, the medieval secular architecture that
survived to this day mainly served defense purposes during
the medieval era.
Castles and walls were the most notable non-religious
examples of medieval architecture throughout Europe.
However, Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles
flourished across the western part of Europe with France at
the heart of both production and innovation. These styles,
especially the Romanesque architectural style, were
developed from Carolingian and Ottonian models.
Byzantine architecture
While the rest of western Europe experienced radical
divergence in architecture during the medieval period,
Byzantine architecture remained classically conservative. It
continued to show classical proportions as well as plain,
unadorned surfaces. However, the Byzantine architects also
developed a unique style that primarily distinguished them
from the Romans.
This was done with complex layouts together with the
designs affinity for domes. Mosaics were Byzantine’s most
favorite artwork. It was no surprise that most building
interiors were coated with lavishly designed mosaics and
murals. Building architecture and design in Byzantine
capitals were mostly derived from Greek and classical
Roman designs.
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture began in the 12th century in France. It
was a new style in architecture and design, which was then
referred to as the French style. However, as this new style
ceased to embody the classic line and proportion in most
designs, it was later on called the “Gothic" style during the
Renaissance period.
Gothic architecture was light, graceful and mostly spacious
in nature. Several advances in architectural technique came
from the Arabs, especially during the time of the Crusades
which led to changes in Gothic styles.
These changes included the use of a pointed arch, ribbed
vaults and buttress. Heavy piers were also replaced by
clustered slender ones, while window dimensions became
larger as vaults and spires increased in height.
Medieval Religious Architecture
Cathedral buildings and other medieval religious
architectures were expressions of faith. Moreover, they were
channels of creative energy during the medieval period.
Churches spent large sums of money for beautification and
the creation of these buildings. The church even granted
indulgences for those who desired to help build churches and
cathedral structures.
The Roman basilica was the primary model of medieval
religious architecture and the Latin cross plan was the most
common among these religious buildings. Cathedrals were
also commissioned by Justinian. They embraced Byzantine
styles in creating domes as well as the Greek cross.
Medieval Church Architecture
Medieval church architecture played a very significant role
during the medieval period. Cathedrals started during the
reign of William the Conqueror. These were the largest
buildings seen in England and across Europe.
Most cathedrals in the middle ages were built in accordance
with Norman architecture and this style dominated the
designs of cathedrals which were built during Williams
reign. Norman architecture was also called Romanesque
architecture. A medieval cathedral was considered a
museum in itself, as it housed various samples of art and
craftsmanship. As part of medieval church architecture, an
altar was usually situated on the far east end. However,
according to art and architectural historians, it actually varied.
The orientation of the altar was based on the position of the
rising sun from the altar’s site extending towards the west.
Elizabethan Architecture
Elizabethan architecture was a Renaissance style architecture
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. And the upper class
houses followed this style in architecture. Stones and bricks
were used as opposed to timber and wattle.
This was done mainly for durability and appearance.
Elizabethan architecture adopted classic Greek and Roman
architecture. The original Royal Exchange in London was
the first important building designed by Henri de Paschen.
HAGIA SOPHIA (Byzantine Architecture)

Chartres Cathedral (aka Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, Gothic Architecture)

The medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe
span the time from approximately AD 500 to AD
1600. Life in medieval Europe has often been
characterized as the “dark ages,” which gives the
impression that there were no advances in
technology or engineering.
One area in which engineering made significant
advances was the construction of cathedrals,
castles, and other large structures. Cathedrals were
built across Europe beginning in the fourth century
and continuing into the present. In medieval
Europe, cathedrals were built in the Romanesque
style (in the tenth and eleventh centuries) and later
in the Gothic style (in the twelfth through sixteenth
centuries). Romanesque buildings are
characterized by thick walls, round arches, and
large towers. Gothic buildings are characterized by
thinner walls with large windows, pointed arches,
and flying buttresses. Several technological
advances made the Gothic cathedral possible.
Flying buttresses transfer the gravitational forces
from roofs and upper stories to external pillars; this
allowed walls to be thin with large windows. In
addition, the use of pointed arches and ribbed
vaults transfers forces to columns instead of the
walls.
Chartres Cathedral, also called Notre-Dame
d’Chartres or the Cathedral of Notre-Dame,
Gothic cathedral located in the town of Chartres,
northwestern France. Generally ranked as one of
the three chief examples of Gothic French
architecture (along with Amiens
Cathedral and Reims Cathedral), it is noted not
only for its architectural innovations but also for its
numerous sculptures and its much-
celebrated stained glass. The cathedral’s
association with the Virgin Mary (the supposed veil
of the Virgin is kept in the cathedral treasury) made
it the destination of pilgrims in the Middle Ages.
The cathedral contains an immense amount of
sculpture, particularly figure sculpture, ranging from
large column statues to miniatures. As the purpose
of the sculptures was to preach and instruct, they
mainly depict scenes and figures from the Old and
New Testaments.
Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta
Sophia, also called Church of the Holy
Wisdom or Church of the Divine
Wisdom, cathedral built at Constantinople
(now Istanbul, Turkey) in the 6th century CE (532–
537) under the direction of
the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. By
general consensus, it is the most important
Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great
monuments.
The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short
time of about six years, being completed in 537 CE.
Unusual for the period in which it was built, the
names of the building’s architects—Anthemius of
Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus—are well known, as
is their familiarity with mechanics and mathematics.
The Hagia Sophia combines a
longitudinal basilica and a centralized building in a
wholly original manner, with a huge 32-metre (105-
foot) main dome supported on pendentives and two
semidomes, one on either side of the longitudinal
axis. In plan the building is almost square. There
are three aisles separated by columns with
galleries above and great marble piers rising up to
support the dome. The walls above the galleries
and the base of the dome are pierced by windows,
which in the glare of daylight obscure the supports
and give the impression that the canopy floats on
air