Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Expressing Support for Architecture

San Sulpice

Notre Dame 

 Musee D'Orsay

Eiffel Tower

 Pompidou

One of the great highlights of a recent trip to Paris was seeing how architects over the course of history dealt with the issue of supporting their structures.  From Romanesque arches to vaulted ceilings, these buildings express their physics in ways that are both functional and beautiful.  The awe-inspiring feats of holding up the roof are a testament to the complex relationship architecture and engineering have with a desired aesthetic outcome while pushing the limitations of reality.  Each of these structures redefined architectural possibilities and in turn, defined a magnificent city.