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The analysis of Manueline vaults (end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century) reveals innovation in Architecture, in European context. The multiplication of the ribs replaces the traditional arches by pairs of triangles and creates continuous vault surfaces across the bays. Vaults get barrel forms, abandoned in Gothic because of the important stresses distributed through walls, and reaches large spans, unique in Europe.
To understand the originality of the Manueline vaults we analyzed and compared approximately 1000 European vaults. We created a typology of ribbed vaults and a database in order to compare them. 40 vaults were registered in France, 135 in England, 256 in Germany and Central Europe, 314 in Spain and 212 in Portugal. 43 Portuguese vaults were surveyed and studied in detail (Genin, 2014).
The DataVault project aims to expand the database created, using digital technology, in order to facilitate the use of data and to reach a large number of countries (Portuguese and worldwide). We intend to invite other researchers to help creating a most complete database on ribbed vaults. For this purpose, we will create a website allowing the introduction of data to any individual people’s interest on this subject. These data will then be processed and included in the database available online, useful for further researches on vaulting systems.
Researchers
Related Publications
Voûtes à nervures manuélines. Le caractère innovant de João de Castilho. Genin, S. M., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2014.
As igrejas-salão portuguesas. A inovação de João de Castillo. Genin, S. M.; Moreira, R.; De Jonge, K., in Proceedings of the Internacional Conference La arquitectura Tardogótica castellana entre Europa y América, pp. 543-553, ALONSO RUIZ, B. (ed.), 10-12 de February 2010, Santander, 2011ISBN: 978-84-7737-558-6.
Taller de Construcción Gótica I. Palacios, J.C.; Martín, R.; Bravo, S.; Genin, S. M.; Maria, R.; Rodriguez, D., in Munilla-Leria, ISBN 978-84-942392-0-5, 249 pp., 2015.
Bóvedas de nervios compuestos. Crucerias a lo romano del convento de Cristo de Tomar. Genin, S. M., in Proceedings of the Ninth National Congress and First International Congress of Hispanic-American History of Construction, pp. 719-727, Instituto Juan de Herrera, Santiago Huerta, Paula Fuentes (ed.), 13-17 October 2015. ISBN 978-84-9728-547-6.
As abóbadas de combadas da Sé de Graga e da igreja do convento de Jesús de Setúbal. Genin, S. M., in Actas (Proceedings) do 2º Congresso Internacional de História da Construção Luso-Brasileira – Culturas Partilhadas, pp. 481-492, Póvoas, Rui Fernandes & Mascarenhas-Mateus, João (eds.), vol. 1, pp. 14-16 September 2016, CEAU – Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto. ISBN 978-989-8527-11-0. 2016.
