Tracing the past: analysing the design and construction of English medieval vaults using digital techniques.

追溯过去：使用数字技术分析英国中世纪拱顶的设计和建造。

• 批准号: AH/R012032/1
• 负责人: Nicholas Webb
• 金额: $ 25.57万
• 依托单位: University of Liverpool
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FR012032%2F1
• 关键词: Tracing; past; analysing; design; construction

Some of the most remarkable features of medieval works of architecture, particularly greater churches and cathedrals, are the ribbed vaults spanning their vast interior spaces. For over nine hundred years, they have inspired worshippers and visitors alike, their eyes drawn heavenwards by these captivating constructions and prompted to ask 'how did they do that?' No corresponding texts or drawings survive but digital methods now enable us to propose answers. Beyond their decorative role, gothic vaults fulfil a structural function and the interaction between the two merits further analysis, to help to understand how this might have been conceptualised by medieval masons. Across sites, the interaction between 2D and 3D geometries shows great variety and astounding levels of creativity.Whilst recent medieval architectural research has initiated a new critical analysis of practical geometry and its possible symbolism, the origin and development of complex rib vaulting and its associated geometries remains a significant scholarly lacuna. This project investigates the design and construction of medieval vaults at significant sites in England using the latest digital surveying tools, producing accurate records of their forms. Digital analysis tools are then used to forensically examine the vaults in 2D and 3D, allowing new readings of their design to a level of detail not previously possible with analogue techniques. Using this pioneering process we can identify patterns at individual sites, in addition to trends across related sites, complicating existing interpretations and prompting new questions which our research will address. For example, at Wells Cathedral, we have identified the use of four different design processes in a space which was previously considered to only use one, thus supporting new interpretations of the design input, construction sequence and site management. Our research questions the validity of most previous study of canonical design/symbolic geometry as it lacks rigour in terms of the base data employed, gathered by traditional surveying techniques, often not for the purposes of geometrical analysis and usually analysed via plans in small-scale reproduction.Beyond the main value of understanding how medieval vaults were designed and constructed in England, our survey data will be freely accessible to all via the Archaeology Data Service (ADS), acting as assets for heritage and conservation purposes. For example, in repair work undertaken by stonemasons our analysis will ensure a clearer understanding of approaches to original construction techniques so they are better equipped to preserve these structures for future generations, along with the cultural heritage they embody. Digital surveys are expensive: a partial survey such as ours would cost over £5,000 if carried out commercially, whereas we can make our data freely available. We will also share our findings with the custodians and public at sites through an exhibition and workshop series, tailored to individual sites whilst also discussing the broader results of the project.The timeliness of our project is crucial to wider academic studies on continental Europe and beyond. Our data and analysis is required to test their findings and set them in a wider historical context and vice versa; England is the only country with a significant vaulting tradition where such original research is yet to be undertaken. This country saw the earliest and/or fullest development of the techniques of tierceron, lierne and fan vaulting and the greatest experimentation in 3D geometry prior to the sixteenth century, therefore our research is unique in being directed towards the place and period where such techniques first emerged. These vaulting forms have been identified as England's main contribution to European Late Gothic and our research therefore has the potential to transform understanding of the international transmission of ideas.

中世纪建筑作品，尤其是大型教堂和大教堂的一些最显着的特征是横跨其巨大内部空间的肋状拱顶。九百多年来，它们一直激励着崇拜者和游客，他们的目光被这些迷人的建筑吸引到天堂，并促使他们问“他们是怎么做到的？”没有相应的文本或图画保存下来，但数字方法现在使我们能够提出答案。除了装饰作用之外，哥特式拱顶还具有结构功能，两者之间的相互作用值得进一步分析，以帮助理解中世纪石匠如何将其概念化。在各个地点，2D 和 3D 几何图形之间的相互作用显示出多样性和惊人的创造力水平。虽然最近的中世纪建筑研究已经开始对实用几何图形及其可能的象征意义进行新的批判性分析，但复杂的肋拱形及其相关几何图形的起源和发展仍然是一个重大的学术空白。该项目使用最新的数字测量工具调查英格兰重要地点的中世纪拱顶的设计和建造，并生成其形式的准确记录。然后使用数字分析工具以 2D 和 3D 方式对金库进行取证检查，从而可以对其设计进行新的解读，达到以前使用模拟技术无法实现的详细程度。使用这一开创性的过程，除了相关站点的趋势之外，我们还可以识别各个站点的模式，从而使现有的解释复杂化并提出我们的研究将解决的新问题。例如，在韦尔斯大教堂，我们在一个以前被认为只使用一种的空间中确定了四种不同设计流程的使用，从而支持对设计输入、施工顺序和现场管理的新解释。我们的研究对大多数先前的规范设计/符号几何研究的有效性提出了质疑，因为它在使用的基础数据方面缺乏严谨性，通过传统测量技术收集，通常不是为了几何分析的目的，并且通常通过小规模复制的计划进行分析。除了了解英格兰如何设计和建造中世纪拱顶的主要价值之外，我们的调查数据将通过考古数据服务免费向所有人开放 （ADS），作为遗产和保护目的的资产。例如，在石匠进行的修复工作中，我们的分析将确保他们更清楚地了解原始建筑技术的方法，以便他们能够更好地为子孙后代保护这些结构及其所体现的文化遗产。数字调查非常昂贵：如果以商业方式进行，像我们这样的部分调查将花费超过 5,000 英镑，而我们可以免费提供数据。我们还将通过针对各个场所量身定制的展览和研讨会系列，与场所的管理者和公众分享我们的发现，同时讨论该项目的更广泛成果。我们项目的及时性对于欧洲大陆及其他地区的更广泛的学术研究至关重要。我们需要数据和分析来测试他们的发现并将其置于更广泛的历史背景中，反之亦然；英格兰是唯一一个拥有重要跳马传统但尚未开展此类原创研究的国家。这个国家见证了 tierceron、lierne 和 fan arching 技术的最早和/或最全面的发展，以及 16 世纪之前最伟大的 3D 几何实验，因此我们的研究是独一无二的，因为我们的研究针对这些技术首次出现的地点和时期。这些拱形形式被认为是英格兰对欧洲晚期哥特式的主要贡献，因此我们的研究有可能改变对国际思想传播的理解。

项目成果

Two- and three-dimensional geometry in tierceron vaults: A case study of the cloister at Norwich Cathedral

tierceron 拱顶中的二维和三维几何：诺维奇大教堂回廊的案例研究

• 发表时间: 2021
• 作者: Webb, N.

Digital Analysis of Vaults in English Medieval Architecture - Tracing English Gothic Vaults

英国中世纪建筑拱顶的数字分析 - 追踪英国哥特式拱顶

• DOI: 10.4324/9781351011297
• 发表时间: 2021
• 作者: Buchanan A

The Analysis of Gothic Architecture: Studies in Memory of Robert Mark and Andrew Tallon

哥特式建筑分析：罗伯特·马克和安德鲁·塔伦的纪念研究

• 发表时间: 2022
• 作者: Hillson, J.

Digitally aided analysis of medieval vaults in an English cathedral, using generative design tools

使用生成设计工具对英国大教堂的中世纪拱顶进行数字辅助分析

• DOI: 10.1177/1478077119866126
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: International Journal of Architectural Computing
• 影响因子: 1.7
• 作者: Webb N

Digitally Aided Analysis: A New Reading of the Cloister Vaults at Norwich Cathedral

数字辅助分析：诺维奇大教堂回廊拱顶的新解读

• DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2023.2247379
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: International Journal of Architectural Heritage
• 影响因子: 2.4
• 作者: Webb N