Intersecting stone ribs supported the ceiling's weight, which meant the panels between them could be thinner and the overall roof much lighter.
Focused on reaching extreme heights and maximizing window space. The "Rayonnant" (radiant) style is defined by the two-story walls of stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle and the massive scale of Chartres Cathedral . Late Gothic: Flamboyant & Perpendicular (c. 1350–1550): Gothic cathedrals : a guide to the history, pla...
These external stone arches braced the upper walls against the outward thrust of the heavy roof, allowing architects to replace solid stone walls with vast expanses of glass. Gothic cathedrals : a guide to the history, pla...