International Symposium, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg,
DFG Research Training Group 1913 »Cultural and Technological Significance of Historic Buildings«
Organized by Anke Wunderwald and Paula Fuentes

Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst, 30 Nov 17
Besucherzentrum auf dem Gutshof Branitz, 1 Dec 17

Some of the most impressive achievements in Gothic construction were erected in the Mediterranean area. Partially influenced by Roman architecture and mixed with the new concepts of the French Gothic style, they appeared as the result of several centuries of technical progress, representing an important example of technology transfer in combination with contemporaneous transformations.
This is the context, against which outstanding buildings were built, featuring some of the highest and widest vaults raised in the Middle Ages.

Despite analysing these buildings from a stylistic point of view, we still know little about historical sources, structural behaviour and building techniques.

This Symposium will bring together international experts on this topic. Their varied backgrounds will provide different approaches to finding and answering unexplored questions. Presenting some examples, such as the cathedral of Mallorca, the complex processes of medieval construction and the transfer of technology will be discussed, broadening our knowledge of how these impressive monuments were built as well as the construction techniques that were employed.

Programme

Thursday 30th November 2017
Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst, »dkw«, Großer Veranstaltungsraum, Uferstraße / Am Amtsteich 15, 03046 Cottbus

19:00

• Wider, Lighter, Faster. Building Vaults in the Medieval Mediterranean Countries
• Arturo Zaragozá Catalán (Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos de Valencia) & Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares (Universitat Politècnica de València)

The lecture will be followed by an informal reception

Friday 1st December 2017
Besucherzentrum auf dem Gutshof Branitz, Kleiner Veranstaltungssaal, Robinienweg 5, 03042 Cottbus

9:30: Welcome address: Klaus Rheidt (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg)

9:45: How to Design and Build Complex Rib Vaults from A to Z: Principles, Practices, and the Geometric Processors Used in the International Late Gothic :David Wendland (TU Dresden)

10:30: Vaulting with Clay Jars (10th-15th c.): Antique Traditions and Further Uses: Jean Michel Poisson (Université Lyon)

11:15 Coffee break

11:30: Reflection on Design Details of Gothic Vaults in Joseph Gelabert’s Manuscript: Enrique Rabasa Díaz (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)

12:15: Mediterranean Paths: The Construction of Vaults in Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia (15th-16th c.): Marco Rosario Nobile & Emanuela Garofalo (Università degli Studi di Palermo)

13:00 Lunch in the Cavalierhaus

14:30: The Vaults of Mallorca Cathedral: Rising to a Technical Challenge: Paula Fuentes & Anke Wunderwald (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg)

15:15: Construction Analysis of Particular Gothic Vaults in the Cathedral of Mallorca: Guillermo Reynés (Catedral de Mallorca)

16:00 Coffee break

16:15: Mechanics and Equilibrium of the Cathedral of Mallorca: Santiago Huerta Fernández (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)

17:00: Closing discussion

Presentations will be in English. Attendance is free of charge.
Pre-registration is required until 25th November 2017 at: albrecht.wiesener at b-tu.de