Flying Buttress

Arched external support for walls.

Overview

Flying buttresses, built with stone, transfer wall loads, enabling taller Gothic structures.

Core Characteristics

• Arched and external.
• Structural support.
• Gothic prevalence.

Notable Examples

• Notre Dame (France, 1345, flying buttresses).
• Reims Cathedral (France, 1290, buttress system).

Architectural Connections

• Gothic: Structural focus.
• Religious: Cathedrals.
• Gothic Architecture: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Led by Abbot Suger, it revolutionizes Gothic design.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Buttressing (technique), Structuralism (theory), Buttress (element), Neo-Gothic (movement)