Monday - Class Day
We have a lot of material to cover in the first few days so the site visits will make more sense.
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The first class lecture was on construction and medieval architectural styles. Professor Kinder explained the dynamics of post-and-lintel construction, a significant contribution of the Romans (the rounded arch), various systems for covering a building in stone (barrel, groined and ribbed vaults), and finally, the technology of flying buttresses that made the soaring height of the great Gothic cathedrals possible.
But theory is never enough, so the structure was illustrated by "building" a cathedral – with students. First, the walls have to be straight (no leaning in - that would lead to a collapse in the walls), then by creating the ribs (crossed wrists, palms together). The class assures that the walls remain straight by shout-outs if there is any flaw in the posture of the participants.
In order to strengthen the ribbed vaults (the men's arms), flying buttresses were added at the precise point where the wall are weakest. The vaults are then "loaded" and the structure stands strong.
Another class was on timber construction, widely used in the Middle Ages. In an experimental archeology video, we learned about the strength of withies, which were used in construction and are amazingly strong.
You can watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhYei2QgWsw
Tomorrow we will have morning classes and then our first field trip - to the city of Auxerre.