Functionalism and caprice in stonecutting. The case of the Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral
Author
Alonso Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel; López Mozo, Ana; Palacios Gonzalo, José Carlos; Rabasa Díaz, Enrique; Calvo López, José; [et al.]Knowledge Area
Expresión Gráfica ArquitectónicaSponsors
This paper is part of a research project funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (BIA 2006-13649).Publication date
2009-05Publisher
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus. Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban PlanningBibliographic Citation
ALONSO RODRÍGUEZ, Miguel Ángel et al. Functionalism and caprice in stonecutting. The case of the Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral. En: International Congress on Construction History (3º: 2009: Cottbus, Germany) Proceedings of the Third International Congress on Construction History, 20-24 May 2009, Cottbus, Germany. Cottbus: Brandenburgische Technische Universität. Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, 2009. Pp. 31-38. ISBN 978-3-936033-31-1Keywords
CanteríaCapilla de la Natividad de la Catedrál de Burgos
Estereotomía
Stonecutting
Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral
Oval Vault
Stereotomy
Bóvedas ovaladas
Abstract
Starting from the inaugural text of Philibert de L'Orme, stereotomic treatises and manuscripts are
subject to the opposing forces of reason and fancy. The Nativity Chapel in Burgos Cathedral provides an
outstanding case study on this subject. It was built in 1571-1582 by Martín de Bérriz and Martín de la Haya,
using an oval vault resting on trumpet squinches to span a rectangular bay. Bed joints and rib axes are not
planar curves, as usual in oval vaults. This warping is not capricious; we shall argue that it is the outcome of a
systematic tracing method. As a result of this process, the slope of the bed joints increases slightly in the first
courses, but stays fairly constant after the third course; this solution prevents the upper courses from slipping.
Thus, in the Nativity Chapel of Burgos Cathedral, the constraints of masonry construction fostered a singular
solution verging on capriccio. It is also worthwhile to remark that the warping of the joints is not easily
appreciable ...
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