Gothic fashion is back. Such houses conquer the hearts of romantics; the Gothic mysticism amazes the imagination. Today, country houses in the Gothic style are no longer gloomy medieval castles, but unique buildings erected in an exclusive format. But fundamentality and reliability are the features that have survived to this day. Without question, country house in Gothic style will fit perfectly into the environment, will look harmonious and represent your tastes favorably. And here a professional approach is important - you need a strong, solid building that clearly corresponds to the given concept, and the garden landscape, in turn, must highlight everything favorably.
How Gothic appeared
The date of birth of the Gothic style in architecture is precisely known. Abbot Sugeria started rebuilding the dilapidated church at the French Abbey of Saint-Denis. Upon completion of the reconstruction, in 1144, a temple appeared before the world, built in a hitherto unknown style, later called Gothic.
The abbot revealed the symbolism of the unusual appearance of the church. According to his idea, the temple is a ship that carries the flock to the mountain heights. The analogy lay on the surface - the vaults resembled sails that caught the wind, and the high columns resembled ship masts. The nave (the space highlighted by columns) is translated from Latin as “ship”.
The first Gothic church was in keeping with the spirit of the times, it was at the same time significant, sublime and impressive. Success caused the spread and further development of Gothic architecture, first in France, and then in Germany, Italy, Britain and other countries.
Interior of Exeter Cathedral Source farm2.static.flickr.com
In its approach to construction, Gothic architecture was fundamentally different from the previous, Romanesque style. Architects discovered a new way of influencing the load on a building, in which the weight and pressure of the masonry were not distributed along the entire perimeter, as before, but were concentrated at certain points. At the same time, the load on other parts of the structure was minimal.
The discovery made it possible to replace the usual cylindrical vault with a new, rib vault, which received its name from the characteristic protruding ribs - ribs that carry the load in the Gothic frame cross vault. The revolutionary frame system opened up impressive possibilities for the construction of the highest and at the same time mystical-airy temples, some of which exceeded the height of the Cheops pyramid.
Structure of the frame system Source cf.ppt-online.org
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the installation of fireplaces and stoves
Seville Cathedral. Seville, Spain
The Cathedral of Seville (The Cathedral in Seville) - Cathedral of Santa María de la Sede - a temple building in Andalusia, in the city of Seville. This is the tallest cathedral in Spain. The length of this Gothic building was 126 meters, width - 82 meters.
Seville Cathedral. (1402-1506) Erected on the site of a destroyed mosque during the Reconquista.
On the site of the cathedral during the occupation of Spain by the Moors, there stood the Muslim Almohad Mosque, which was destroyed during a strong earthquake in 1356. After the expulsion of the Moors, on its foundation and using the materials remaining from the destroyed buildings, the construction of a Christian temple began, which was supposed to become a symbol of wealth and forces of Seville. Construction began in 1402 and was completed in a relatively short time - by 1506. However, even despite the short period of construction of the Gothic building, elements of the Renaissance are already noticeable in its architecture. Next to the cathedral is the Giralda bell tower (from the Spanish “girar”, which means “to spin”), richly decorated with ornaments and patterns. This building was rebuilt from a former minaret in 1560-1568. architect Hernan Ruiz, who built the minaret with additional tiers, tapering upward. On the lower tier there are 25 bells, on the last tier there is a bronze figure-weathervane with a banner (1568 sculptor Bartolome Morel).
Style development
The canons of the Gothic style in architecture differ somewhat from country to country. In general, European Gothic is usually divided into three types, according to the following intervals:
- Early (lancet). Between 1140 and 1250, the transition to the Gothic style, exemplified not so long ago by Notre Dame Cathedral, was completed. A characteristic feature of the buildings is the combination of powerful walls, a majestic portal above the entrance and high arches. This is how mainly churches and cathedrals are built, and a little later castles.
Notre Dame de Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral Source www.ediscover.ru
- Tall (mature). The period lasted for two centuries. From 1194 to 1400, early Gothic improved, the frame structure became more complex, and the number of stained glass windows and sculptural groups increased. The Gothic style is gaining recognition as a trend in European urban architecture; its merits can be judged, for example, by the cathedral in Reims.
- Late (flaming). Covers the period from approximately 1350 to 1550. Much attention is paid to decorative details, the style becomes more refined and ornate (hence the name). A new development was achieved in the form of sculptural compositions on religious and secular themes. Late Gothic buildings include the Milan Cathedral.
Milan Cathedral Source wikimedia.org
Manufacturing technology of soldered stained glass
Step 1 . On a template fixed on the desktop, mark what color each element of the picture will be. You can apply marks with colored felt-tip pens or sign with a simple pencil.
Step 2. Select a piece of glass of the desired color and place it on top of the corresponding part of the picture.
Transferring details to film
Cut out the film and lay it on the glass
Step 3. If the lines of the design are clearly visible through the glass, draw along the contour of the part with a glass cutter. If the lines are hard to see, draw them on the glass. When working with a glass cutter, you must adhere to the recommendations of stained glass art masters:
- the glass surface must be clean (if necessary, it must be degreased);
- the cut should be fast enough and uniform, without excessive pressure;
- when the cut is performed correctly, the characteristic sound of glass cracking should be heard;
- 5-7 mm before the final cutting point, you need to release the pressure on the glass;
- You cannot use a glass cutter several times along the same line.
Cutting out the details
Breaking off the part
Breaking glass
Step 4. Turn on the grinding machine and bring the edge of the glass to the rotating head. Lightly touching the mechanism, grind the part. During work, they perform a “fitting”: they place the cut element of the design on the template and check the conformity of the dimensions and curves of the lines.
The part needs to be ground on a grinder so that the edges are smooth.
Grinding
Step 5. The ground piece of glass is wrapped with adhesive foil tape. To perform this task, you can use special tools: rollers. But you can do without them. The tape is glued so that its edges cover the glass on both sides, protruding 1 mm beyond the edge. Therefore, the width of the tape must correspond to the thickness of the glass, taking into account this requirement.
Wrap the edges with foil
Laying out the details on the sketch
All parts are packed
Step 5. When part of the drawing is ready and all its cut-out glass elements are laid out on the template, begin soldering. Heat the soldering iron to the desired temperature, take a rod of solder and apply it to the junction line of the two pieces of glass.
Step 6 . Touch the solder with a soldering iron and “drive” the solder along the line of the drawing.
We carry out soldering
Step 7 . After all the joints between the elements of the template have been worked out, the glass sheet is turned over and the same work is done again: solder the pieces of glass to each other.
Step 8. When several modules of the drawing are ready, begin to connect them using broaching. At this stage of work, an H-shaped profile is used. It is flexible enough to join glass even with complex curves.
Step 9. After assembling the stained glass window, it needs to be installed in the frame. If the fabric turns out to be quite lightweight, you can use wooden glazing beads with a slot. In this case, you will need a Y-shaped profile, the narrow part of which is inserted into the slots.
For heavy stained glass windows, wooden or metal frames with a U-shaped section are used. The width of these strips should correspond to the thickness of the glass, taking into account two layers of solder and adhesive tape.
Step 10. The stained glass window in the frame is installed in the window opening.
Main features of Gothic architecture
The medieval cathedral was the center of city life, and was built to accommodate the entire city population. Preachers spoke on the square in front of the cathedral, traveling artists staged performances, and professors and students held discussions. The Gothic style in architecture owes its external charm and performance qualities to the following characteristic features:
- The Gothic style is the characteristic, skyward appearance of all parts of the structure, including spiers, elongated stained glass windows, and narrow turrets.
- Frame construction system. Thanks to its appearance, buildings began to grow higher, and the thickness of the load-bearing walls became smaller.
Buttresses and flying buttresses Source i.pinimg.com
- Pointed arches. They coped well with the load of the upper arch, redistributing it to the lower structures. Thanks to the arrow-shaped arches, it became possible to do without many internal walls, which was impossible in the Romanesque style.
- Additional designs. Arches in the form of arcs and crosses, as well as hanging external semi-arches that can transfer the load outside the building.
- Various decor of the Gothic facade: archivolt (frames of arched spans), wimperg (pointed gable above a window opening or portal), “big rose” (central window of the cathedral), facade decorated with carvings.
Stained glass in a modern interior Source lunev-design.ru
Unique Features
The Sky Fall project is distinguished by the following unique features:
- Compact dimensions of the castle with maximum dimensions of 13.6m x 13.6m.
- The optimal and comfortable area of the house is 300 m².
- A spacious living room with a dining room with a total area of 63 m² with a fireplace, panoramic windows, a bay window and 2 m of light.
- 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, of which 3 master bedrooms are on the 2nd floor with their own private dressing rooms and bathrooms, which corresponds to the premium class of country housing, one of the requirements of which is that each bedroom must have its own bathroom.
- No expensive basement floor. Instead, the project provides for a foundation slab and 3 more economical, comfortable and bright above-ground floors.
- Despite the apparent complexity of the architecture, the project minimizes the material consumption of the main capital structures, which means the cost of building a castle frame is lower: 1) Only 1 internal load-bearing wall. 2) All external walls, partitions between windows and places where bay windows are laid are designed in multiples of the dimensions of the aerated concrete block 400mm x 625mm. Entire blocks come into the corners of the bay windows. The castle is designed in a pattern of blocks not so much to save money, which, by the way, is also good, but to make masonry more convenient and of high quality. If the implementation of a capital structure or assembly is simple, then this means there is no room for errors, and the result of the work will be as reliable and durable as possible. 3) In order for a panoramic window in the 2nd light zone to cost adequate money, and its design to be reliable, the project provides for a monolithic beam that divides the window into 2 identical parts, while closing the monolithic belt with a reinforced concrete interfloor ceiling.
- The angles of the large and small bay windows are made strictly at 135°, which is important for the subsequent simple installation of gutters with the corresponding standard corner elements.
- Staircases in castles are often designed with winders and traumatic steps. The Sky Fall project features a convenient flight of stairs with turning platforms.
- If desired, additional structures can be included in the castle project, as was done at the facility in the Moscow region: a garage for 2 cars, a spa area, a swimming pool, and a terrace.
Main features of the interior
The combination of architectural innovations made it possible to significantly expand the internal space, which also did not go unnoticed. Thanks to the high pointed arch, reminiscent of a tree with branching branches, the interior of the Gothic building seems weightless and mysterious, despite the fact that the main building material was stone.
A characteristic feature of the Gothic interior is the skillful use of direct and diffused light. The huge space of the cathedral needed high-quality lighting. The required amount of light was provided by large lancet windows decorated with stained glass, ornaments, and turrets.
Windows made of colored glass played an important decorative role, showing parishioners colorful illustrations of biblical and secular subjects. The vaulted ceilings also contributed; their device made it possible to diffuse the light so that there were no shadows.
Knight's Hall Source i2.wp.com
Gothic is a distinctive style that has influenced all aspects of people's lives. The interiors of castles and town houses are moderately modest and, to the taste of a modern person, romantic. They are characterized by the following design techniques:
- Wooden panels were used to cover the stone walls, which were decorated with bright paintings, wood engravings and carpets. Windows in medieval houses were glazed, but no one had ever heard of curtains.
- The flooring was boards, stone, and later tiles. In the living area, the floor was covered with carpets.
Modern interpretation Source i.pinimg.com
- The traditional medieval ceiling had a beam structure with open rafters, while false ceilings were common. They were lined with boards or slats, and often decorated with paintings.
- A luxurious, richly decorated fireplace is a sign of French and English interiors. In Germany and other northern countries, from the mid-15th century they began to be replaced by tiled stoves.
Recreation area Source vseznayko.com
- The furniture, hewn with an ax from solid wood, is characterized by heavy proportions. In the 15th century, after the advent of the technology of making sawn boards, almost all modern types of furniture appeared. By the middle of the Middle Ages, furniture was richly decorated with carvings, gilding, and painting.
- The set of Gothic furniture included carved cabinets, tables and chairs, armchairs and beds with a canopy that protected from drafts walking through the spacious room.
- A familiar and extremely useful interior detail was a chest in which things were stored and on which people sat.
Late Gothic furniture
Sleeping on four-poster beds
Gothic furniture is made of wood or metal. It is distinguished by its massiveness and good quality frame and is decorated with complex carvings. In fact, large-sized furniture (beds, wardrobes, tables) does not look awkward, but rather graceful and elegant. Gothic beds have columns on which a canopy made of thick textiles is installed. Now the columns and canopy are being replaced by a tall, beautiful headboard.
Photo: bedroomfurniture.club
Photo: imagebin.me
Photo: postfreehome.com
Video description
About the Gothic style in interior design in the following video:
Examples of interior in the Gothic style: photos
Gothic bedroom Source oir.mobi
Office in a large mansion Source oir.mobi
Modern living room Source www.lalulalang.site
Bedroom in dark colors Source mykaleidoscope.ru
Gothic living room in pastel colors Source mykaleidoscope.ru
Room on the attic floor Source static.tildacdn.com
Cabinet in Gothic style Source mykaleidoscope.ru
Hall in a large mansion Source mykaleidoscope.ru
Gothic in a modern interior Source vitospb.ru
Fireplace in the interior Source hthomedecor.com
For those who love dark notes in the interior Source tapety.tja.pl
Living room in an old style Source mykaleidoscope.ru
Gothic in the kitchen Source jackwharperconstruction.com
Modern Gothic with a combination of dark and light tones Source vasha.com.ua
Kitchen with island in Gothic style Source images.homify.com
Installation of false facade
In order to give the building a Gothic flavor, it is necessary to decorate the facade in the appropriate style. Before starting work, it is recommended to carefully examine photos of Gothic cathedrals and castles and select decorative elements suitable for a particular building.
Gothic is characterized by gloomy gray tones. Therefore, facade panels that imitate natural stone masonry are suitable.
vinyTherm facade panels
Vinylit facade cladding panels with natural stone chips
You can install polyurethane false columns and arches, which will create the impression of massive openings and vaults characteristic of the Gothic architectural style. But it should be noted that polyurethane foam is a white or other light-colored material. All of them are unusual for Gothic. Therefore, the columns and arches will need to be painted gray or another chosen color.
Tops of columns of a gothic English cathedral
Prices for types of false facades
False facade
Decoration of the facade with false columns
When choosing polyurethane foam decorative elements, you need to take into account that most of the false columns offered by manufacturers have an openwork frame. These decorative elements are suitable for decorating a facade in the Baroque style. Gothic style is characterized by simplicity and laconic lines. Therefore, you need to choose those elements that have as few frilly curls as possible.
Molded decor made of polyurethane
The whole complex of work can be divided into three stages:
- façade preparation;
- installation of decorative elements;
- coloring of polyurethane foam.
Prices for ready-made stucco columns
Stucco columns
Preparatory stage
First of all, you need to visually inspect the walls and make sure that they do not require cosmetic repairs. If the situation is the opposite, proceed to preparing the facade.
Step 1. Remove the old finishing layer from the walls.
Step 2. If there are cracks, clean them, simultaneously removing all loose particles.
Removing old coating
Step 3. Dust the surface using a rag or vacuum cleaner.
Step 4. Prime the walls with 1-2 layers, using special compounds for treating facades.
Padding
Step 5. Seal the cracks using a cement-sand mortar prepared in a 3:1 ratio (one part of cement of a grade not lower than M400 and 1 part of quarry sand).
Repairing cracks
Step 6. In those places where it is necessary, apply a layer of plaster and level it. Then the plastered surface is grouted using a special tool: a grater. This approach will ensure smooth walls.
Prices for popular types of plaster
Plaster
Neo-Gothic and modernity
Interest in the Gothic style in architecture was revived at the end of the 18th century and was marked by the emergence of a new direction - neo-Gothic, characteristic, for example, of the campuses of reputable educational institutions. Secular buildings also appeared, for example, the city council building in Munich or Berlin.
The Gothic interior design of the houses of noble Europeans took shape towards the end of the 19th century, when the fashion for lush and at the same time gloomy decor in the style of a knight's castle appeared. Today it can hardly be called universal: it is of little use for decorating a standard living room, but it looks good in a spacious room in a country estate. To embody the modern Gothic style, one cannot do without a certain stylization and the following elements:
- Spacious room with high ceilings and large windows.
Gothic bedroom Source i.pinimg.com
- Use of natural materials: wood, stone, metal.
- Characteristic palette: blue-black, golden, brown, violet, emerald, dark blue, rich red and silver.
Interior with fireplace Source roomester.ru
- To prevent the interior from becoming too gloomy, the palette is diluted with light colors, or, as an option, mixed with other styles.
- Furniture with medieval charm: heavy, carved, with forged parts, decorated with gilding and painting. Upholstery made of luxurious fabrics, velvet or brocade in dark shades will look harmonious.
Light Gothic Source kstudiosdesign.files.wordpress.com
- Accessories. Details are an important part of the medieval setting. Don’t forget about stained glass windows, themed tapestries, and bronze candlesticks. The worn leather chest looks like an atmospheric detail.
- Lighting. The finishing touch will be a forged chandelier with lamps in the shape of a candle in the wind, which will be complemented by suitable lamps and sconces.
Kitchen-dining room Source roomester.ru
Decorate the house with stone, brick, wood, marble
The Gothic style favors natural materials. And this is understandable, because in those distant times there were no others. The interior was decorated with stones, both polished and unpolished, treated wood, unplastered brick, forged metal, multi-colored glass, and in rich houses - marble. Now each material can be replaced with its artificial analogue or imitation, for example, wallpaper with a stone or brick look. You can also play with zoning the room through different textured wall decorations. For example, in the living room, decorate one wall with brick, cover the rest with wallpaper for painting or plaster. And don’t forget to install a marble fireplace with a wrought iron grate. This is a mandatory detail of a Gothic interior. Flooring materials - slate, sandstone, granite, marble, parquet boards, ceramic tiles.
Photo: cheatersutopia.com
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Photo: toimages.com
Photo: living.cz
Video description
About design ideas in the spirit of a medieval castle in the following video:
Photos of modern houses in the Gothic style
Small modern house Source upload.wikimedia.org
Country house Source stroimnovyidom.ru
French Gothic in modern houses Source proekt-sam.ru
Black Gothic house Source i.pinimg.com
A mixture of modern and Gothic style Source mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net
Small modern house in neo-Gothic style Source i.pinimg.com
Gothic house in a snowy garden Source i02.fotocdn.net
Wooden house in black Source i.pinimg.com
Modern Gothic in the Czech Republic Source cdn.jhmrad.com
House with bay windows Source silka.com.ua
Small country house Source stroimnovyidom.ru
Gothic mansion with terrace Source smarthomemaking.com
Brick country house Source cdn.jhmrad.com
Two-story building with an attic Source i.pinimg.com
Eastern Gothic Source i.pinimg.com
Installation of false columns
Polyurethane foam decorative elements have a smooth back surface. It should be adjacent to the façade wall. Any column consists of two main parts:
- trunk;
- capitals.
The capital is the figured part crowning the trunk. The installation of the column is carried out in stages: first, the main part (trunk) is attached, then the capital.
Step 1. Marks are applied to the façade to determine the location of the decorative elements.
Step 2. Perform “fitting”: apply the part to the facade. If the height of the house is such that the length of one false column is not enough, cut off the missing part from the other column. To complete the task, use a hacksaw with a fine tooth or a jigsaw with a similar file.
Step 3. Mark the locations for drilling holes in the wall that are necessary for installing the column. Fasteners must be at a distance of at least 1 cm from the ends of the part. Holes in the wall are drilled in increments of 40-50 cm. Use a drill (perforator) and a drill bit with pobedite tip. The optimal depth of the holes is 7-8 cm.
Step 4. Use metal pins or dowel nails as fasteners. In the first case, you will need to drill holes on the back side of the column. The depth is determined depending on the thickness of this decorative element.
If you decide to fasten the trunk using dowel nails, a plastic part is driven into the holes in the wall: dowels.
Step 5. Place the column against the wall or either place it on metal studs pre-installed in the holes, or secure it by screwing self-tapping screws into dowels.
Step 6. To connect the two parts of the barrel together, you will need metal corners. The lower part of which is attached to the horizontal section of the lower part of the trunk, the side – to the wall of the building.
Step 7 . The upper part of the column is fastened: the capital. Use the same technique as when installing the barrel.
Step 8 . Use moisture-resistant putty to mask the screw heads.
Measure the height of the walls and, if necessary, adjust the column body
When installing a column, three parts are used: base (bottom), body (base, trunk), capital (top). Before installing the column, check all elements and their dimensions
First attach the capital to the body using polyurethane joint adhesive. Let the glue dry
Also connect the base and body using joint glue. Column assembled
Even when assembled, the column is light in weight, making it easy to install
Having installed the column in a pre-selected place, wait until the glue in the places where the elements join is completely dry. After this, you can paint the decorative element
Video - Installation of polyurethane columns
Tower construction options
Structurally, it can be erected:
- round, created as a living room. Very often, spiral staircases leading to the upper floor or attic are installed in them. The walls of such a tower are topped with small window openings. A new trend in home construction is the construction of glass towers. This direction is just in its infancy, becoming increasingly in demand;
- square, which is created as a bedroom or office. In some projects, a square tower is used as a living room;
- rectangular, which can perform the same functions as a square tower.
They can be built at different heights and be smaller than the building or have the same height as it. The number can also be unlimited, but the most common are houses with two towers.
A small round tower, suitable only for an observation room
Square observation tower on the roof of a house
Rectangular tower with high windows
Bright red and white house with a small round residential turret
About everyday life
To better understand the conditions in which people lived, it is worth considering the dirt of the cities of that era. City residents poured slop directly onto the streets. Populated areas were buried in mud. Thus, one historical anecdote features a knight who drowned in the center of the city in a puddle of mud while riding a horse.
The architecture was also unique. Cities were built with houses of several floors, which were crowded together to increase living space. Since there were “canopies” over the streets, they were very dark and narrow. Lighting here was provided by torches. Often the combination of these factors led to fires.
The rich part of the population built castles. The interior decoration of the medieval castle was also brutal and primitive.
These structures were built of stone and had many rooms. In the center there was a hall, a hearth. This area acted as a living and dining room. The decoration of a medieval castle will amaze any modern person with its meagerness.
Most often the floors were earthen. And only the richest people could afford to cover the floor with stones. Sometimes the interior of a medieval castle was complemented by a mosaic floor.
Materials used
What building materials to use is a personal matter for the developer
Expensive or cheap does not matter, because for a stylized medieval building it is important that all materials are of natural origin
The use of alternative types of building materials will not be able to make the conceived idea of building a castle a reality. With such materials, the design will only have similarities, but will in no way resemble a real castle.
Interior walls can be treated with cladding material or decorative wallpaper resembling marble or brick.
Designing a castle house may include the use of wood panels.
