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Aisle & Apse Read the building

Features / Walls, arches & windows

Walls, arches & windows

Pointed arch

An arch of two curves meeting at a point. It carries load more steeply than a round arch and can be made taller or wider for the same span: the signature shape of Gothic building.

Where to look
Door, window and arcade heads that rise to a point.
Styles
On the drawings
Not marked on the drawings.

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Cross-section of a vaulted building with a nave, two aisles and flying buttresses. Each label links to its feature. NAVE AISLE AISLE RoofPinnacleFlying buttressButtressAisleRib vaultClerestoryTriforiumArcadePierNave
Cross-sectionFor orientation: Pointed arch is not drawn here.