CHIPPING AWAY WITH THE BIM CHISELS

Recent work, leading up to and overlapping with this lockdown period.

First of all, a cut through the nave, where it meets the crossing (image below).  We are looking East.  I have implemented the “flying arch” that we first noticed in a recent post.  Straight ahead you see "door 1" that leads outside from the end of the triforium gallery.  On the left, "door 2" which takes you back into the building, and via some steps up to the bridge that runs across beneath the North rose window.


Then at the base of the two corner columns at the east of the crossing, a more careful setting out of the clustered ribs.  Higher up these ribs belong to the various arches that sprout from the columns in different directions.  Modelling the lower portion as a single element helps during the setting out process, and also results in a cleaner cross-section in plan views.

Switching to the bell towers at the west end.  There are spiral stairs projecting out to the north and south that lead up to the base of the bell chambers.  From there you have to transfer horizontally to stairs in the corners of the upper towers than end at roof level in cylindrical structures with conical roofs.  Quite a bit of trick modelling to fit these in.

Then at the back corners of the towers, adjustments to the buttresses creating a more continuous slope stretching all the way down to the roof over the aisles which must drain through the base of this “canyon”.

This shows up clearly in the next image, an annotated Enscape3d render.  


1)  tall thin windows inserted on the north & south faces of the towers. 

2)  the “canyon” 

3) & 4)  increased depth higher up on the buttress family, to create a more even stepping effect.

Next came modifications to the three door families that represent the portals of the West end.  More of a minor upgrade than a complete overhaul.  Just hinting at the division into horizontal bands with different treatments, and defining a “lintel” band below the tympanum. Not yet ready to tackle the figurative sculptures that give these three entrances such intensity of artistic and spiritual expression.

Always good to pause and view the model in Enscape3d.  In the lower portion you can see the more elaborate versions of the four sculpture niches that help to express the buttress positions.  I do love the ease with which you can vary the time of day in Enscape. I have always admired the way that buildings seem to glow in those brief moments after the sun has set and before the full darkness of night descends upon us.


Probably good to end it there.  Save something for the next post.