gothic Laon
The alternate-support system, hugging the ground in the Ottonian times and rising to dominate nave walls in northern romanesque, has lost it's footing at Laon and, like the solid masonry of Romanesque walls, is about to evaporate. Important changes in the design of the church exterior were also part of the early Gothic experience.

Laon Cathedral

Who- Gothic Architect
What- Stone
When- 1190
Where-France Why- Alternate support system alternating bundles of three and five shafts have their origin above the level of the main wall support.
Back to Time LineNext- Back to Home Page -
--