Digital Analysis of Vaults in English Medieval Architecture

Using digital technology to 'reverse engineer' medieval cathedrals, the book answers long-held questions about their construction. With over 200 illustrations, it is ideal for digital architecture, architectural history, and building conservation.

Alexandrina Buchanan is an archivist and architectural historian in the Department of History at the University of Liverpool. She specialises in the study of the material past, both archival and architectural, with a particular interest in the history and historiography of medieval architecture including vaults. James Hillson is an art historian who worked as Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Tracing the Past: English Medieval Vaults project at the University of Liverpool. He specialises in the study of architectural design practices and international artistic exchange in Northwestern Europe during the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. Nicholas Webb is an architect and lecturer at the Liverpool School of Architecture. His research focuses on the application of digital tools and techniques to enhance our understanding of historic works of architecture, particularly methods enabling new information that would not have been possible in a pre-digital context.

Introduction 1. Groins and ribs Case study 1: Norton Priory Case study 2: Gloucester Cathedral Digital diary 1: surveying techniques 2. Experiments with ribs Case study 3: Lincoln Cathedral Case study 4: Chester Cathedral Case study 5: Ely Cathedral Digital diary 2: rib tracing 3. Plans Case study 6: Wells Cathedral Case study 7: Ottery St Mary Digital diary 3: orthographic representations 4. Curves Case study 8: St Mary's, Nantwich Case study 9: Norwich Cathedral Digital diary 4: generative design tools 5. Stonecutting Case study 10: Exeter Cathedral Case study 11: Westminster Abbey Digital diary 5: detailed analysis and 3D modelling 6. Webs Case study 12: Pershore Abbey Case study 13: Tewkesbury Abbey Digital diary 6: studying webbing Conclusions Bibliography Glossary Index