A Unique Cathedral

Laon Cathedral

Laon, France

begun ca. 1190

This cathedral is the link connecting the Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.  Rib vaulting is built on top of pointed arches, creating a tall, airy effect. This cathedral has a special feature which no other has: a triforium. The triforium is the band of arcades below the clerestory. (The third row of columns from the bottom.) It has no structural use, as the spaces only open onto the more stone.  As my teacher said, it was just an “intricately framed void.” It’s only function is to break up flat wall surfaces. This 4-level elevation style is distinctly ‘Early Gothic.’  At the bottom is the name arcade, then the vaulted gallery, then the triforium, and finally the clerestory windows.  Later on, large cathedrals were built with taller arcades, galleries, and clerestories, but they lacked the triforium.  This is really a shame, because if it were up to me I would have kept them.  They could have been turned into secret passage ways, or places to display art and statues. Or, they could have just provided a nice view for over-flow congregation members, running late for church.