As Frank Lloyd Wright said, the mother art is architecture. Without architecture, we have no soul of our own civilization. Arts symbolize the ideals of the society at a certain time in history. Although, it is only architecture that truly bridges the gap between formal representation of ideas and reality of life as a beautiful scene. Architecture, since its early beginnings, has depended upon two major factors: the people’s mentality and the development of building techniques. Both science and art, the aim of architecture is to achieve a perfect match of esthetic and technological standards, in accordance with people’s needs.
It is often architecture who offers us the most accurate historical accounts about the civilizations of the past. For this reason, Gothic architecture teaches us to approach buildings not as an end in themselves, but as an answer to the human needs, expressing a harmonious relationship between people and environment, not only as far as physical requirements are concerned, but also in terms of culture and spirituality.
Understanding the past is the key for creating a better future. Therefore, studying Gothic architecture is a lesson of how creativity and artistic sense combine in order to satisfy both social and esthetic needs, creating masterpieces that remain a great inspiration over the centuries that passed and also the ones to come.
