Monday, August 05, 2013

Structure

It's fun to get a peek every now and then of what's under all the fancy packaging that we are meant to see, to get a look at the parts of a building or a machine that we're not intended to see. In a lot of architecture, structure is apparent. It's built in as part of the external design. Think vaulted ceilings or flying buttresses in a gothic cathedral. Form follows function and all that.

That's some serious woodwork, called "la charpente" in French.

In many cases, a building's structure is hidden by ornament or other more practical and protective materials, like siding or roof coverings. I was fascinated by the heavy timber framing under the towering cupolas at the Château de Chambord. So I took a picture, naturally.

8 comments:

  1. Great series on Chambord; interesting and informative. We haven't visited for more than 20 years so perhaps it's time to pay a return visit!

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  2. That is a lot of timber framing under the cupola, something we don't see or think about normally. I'm always impressed by the workmanship that went into these architectural beauties.

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  3. Interesting that the French word for the woodwork is similar to the English word carpenter.

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  4. So unusual (to me). Is that the way it would have been originally constructed or would that be more contemporary reinforcement? Either way, fascinating to see.

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    1. mitch, it may be a reconstruction of the original (the wood looks to be in good shape) but I'd bet it's very close to, if not exactly, what was there before.

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  5. Those timbers are probably what's holding it up.

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  6. Thanks for the very informative underbelly photo of that cupola's structure! Who would have guessed?

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