iarc blog: Reading Response 9: Classic Forms Made Modern

St Paul's Cathedral:London

Old St Paul's Cathedral~Gothic

The current St Paul's Cathedral in London was designed by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire in London, 1666. Wren was tasked to design a protestant cathedral that would rival St Peters in Rome, on the site of the Old St Paul's Cathedral. The area around St Paul's was developed and populated which meant that the English model of church building was inadequate and great care would need to be used while the building was under construction.

Bird's eye view of St Paul's Cathedral

Bird's Eye~Development around Cathedral

Wren's original design for St Paul's was unlike anything built in England to that point but he faced strict opposition to his design from the bishops in the church. They wanted the Cathedral to be built in the Gothic style that it had been before but Wren wanted to employ the latest design and technology from Europe. An agreement was reached between Wren and the clergy; the cathedral became a Latin Cross plan and the church agreed to a "modern exterior but insisted on a Medieval-style section, with low side aisles and a tall nave (Ching 570)."

Front Facade of St Paul's Cathedral~2nd Story

Using neo-classic styles, Wren designed St Paul's with precision and care. To visually balance the enormity of the dome, Wren designed a false second story. The second story gives visual mass to the structure of the building, maintaining proportion between the dome and the structure. The facade of the cathedral bares neo-classical motifs in a modern way for 18th century England. Wren paired a series of Corinthian columns on both stories, emulating Bernini's use of columns at the Louvre in Paris. Additionally, Wren borrowed aspects of Mansart's dome at Invalides by dividing it into three courses. It is interesting to note that the towers on either side of the front facade were an addition, by Wren, when the cathedral was close to completion.

St Paul's dome in section

The dome rests on a course of buttresses that appear to be columns. There is a conical shaft between the interior and exterior walls of the dome that allows light from various angles to shine through the occulus. The light enters the shaft via eight light wells in the exterior wall of the dome.

Cornice over the main entrance of St Paul's Cathedral

The interior is well lighted, considering its massive size; a great deal of light comes in through the dome. The ornamentation and decor in the cathedral is grand and rich but not overstated, as we see in examples of French Baroque.

Interior view~from south side looking toward altar

Looking directly into dome

Looking east toward the altar and choir

The building of St Paul's Cathedral was funded by a tax levied on sea coal. During this time in history, we witness buildings commissioned and funded by the government instead of wealthy, private patrons.

The dome of St Paul's from the east side of the Thames~Millennium Bridge

The dome as an architectural feature was not new in the design and building of St Paul's Cathedral, nor is it today. But as with St Paul's, the form is used, even today, and given modern twists as technologies change. The dome can still be found in contemporary structures throughout the world and conveys that we look to the past for ideas and ways to discuss our culture through architecture while always seeking innovative ways to create the "ideal."