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The geometric design of Christoph Dientzenhofer’s ‘radical’ vaults

  • Christoph Dientzenhofer (1655–1722) is considered one of the most important Baroque master builders of Central Europe. From his extensive architectural oeuvre, a group of six church buildings with geometrically complex forms stands out, recognised by architectural historians as particularly innovative and influential. These churches, located in Bohemia (Czech Republic), and often collectively referred to as the ‘radical’, ‘dynamic’, ‘Guarinesque’, or simply ‘Bohemian’ group, are: St. Joseph in Obořiště (1702–11), the Castle Church in Smiřice (1702–11), St. Nicholas in the Lesser Town of Prague (1703–11), St. Clare in Cheb (1707–11), St. Margaret in Břevnov (1708–16), and the Church of the Holy Assumption in Nová Paka (1709–24). The brick vaults of these six buildings, sequences of oval domes and double-curved vault areas, are of particular interest for building research. In this study, the geometric design of the vaults of Dientzenhofer’s ‘radical’ churches is documented, analysed, and compared using 3D laser scans of the buildings asChristoph Dientzenhofer (1655–1722) is considered one of the most important Baroque master builders of Central Europe. From his extensive architectural oeuvre, a group of six church buildings with geometrically complex forms stands out, recognised by architectural historians as particularly innovative and influential. These churches, located in Bohemia (Czech Republic), and often collectively referred to as the ‘radical’, ‘dynamic’, ‘Guarinesque’, or simply ‘Bohemian’ group, are: St. Joseph in Obořiště (1702–11), the Castle Church in Smiřice (1702–11), St. Nicholas in the Lesser Town of Prague (1703–11), St. Clare in Cheb (1707–11), St. Margaret in Břevnov (1708–16), and the Church of the Holy Assumption in Nová Paka (1709–24). The brick vaults of these six buildings, sequences of oval domes and double-curved vault areas, are of particular interest for building research. In this study, the geometric design of the vaults of Dientzenhofer’s ‘radical’ churches is documented, analysed, and compared using 3D laser scans of the buildings as primary source. The 3D models generated from the scans enable a geometric analysis through the method of reverse geometric engineering, breaking down the vaults’ complex three-dimensional forms into their basic two-dimensional components: segments of circles with different radii and orientations, curved in one or two directions. These forms can be found in the architectural and stereotomic treatises that were widespread at the time. By comparing the vault geometry of the six churches with each other and with the geometric concepts discussed in the treatises, general statements can be made about the architect’s design choices. On the basis of this investigation, hypotheses are made about the design and underlying geometric ideas of the vaults of Dientzenhofer’s ‘radical group’, and the results are placed in context.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Rebecca Erika Schmitt
DOI:https://doi.org/10.26127/BTUOpen-6408
ISBN:978-0-9928751-9-0
Title of the source (English):Studies in Construction History: Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference of the Construction History Society
Publisher:Construction History Society
Place of publication:Cambridge
Editor: James Campbell
Document Type:Conference publication peer-reviewed
Language:English
Year of publication:2023
Tag:3D laser scan; Baroque; Bohemia; Christoph Dientzenhofer; Construction history; Geometric analysis; Geometric design; Reverse Engineering; Stereotomy; Vaulting
Volume/Year:2023
First Page:143
Last Page:155
Faculty/Chair:Fakultät 6 Architektur, Bauingenieurwesen und Stadtplanung / FG Bautechnikgeschichte
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