The Pantheon
The original design was proposed by Jacques- Germain Soufflot who was fascinated by Gothic architecture. He proposed a design that used the Gothic system of forces held in equilibrium rather than that of direct load bearing supports to create a classical church, to fulfill the vow created in 1744. The Gothics approach to interior design allows Soufflot to design for a spatially complex structure. Wooden form was used to hold the dome in place whilst the concrete set.
Similarly to St Peters and Paul's the design was accepted on the basis that the nave was lengthened to coincide with the generic cathedral fashion. He created a similar system to that in St Paul's including concealed flying buttresses. The design of the dome, buttresses and walls allow a sophisticated transfer of the weight density into the piers below. The weight of the cupola was carried by numerous free standing columns. The use of arches and pendentives allows for the transfer of the domes weight to the transepts corner pillars and columns, the complexity of the structure is hidden within the interior by structural features such as parapets.
Once the construction had reached the drum of the dome Soufflot died. After considerable analysis the columns where inadequate of supporting the loads present in the structure and therefore required strengthening. The scheme, although necessary darkens the classical interior however the oculus provides a source of natural light, illuminating the church to show off the elegance of the interior design.
The use of the Pantheon varied between secular and public and is now used as a monument and visualised as the largest and most famous unreinforced concrete dome to date.
Similarly to St Peters and Paul's the design was accepted on the basis that the nave was lengthened to coincide with the generic cathedral fashion. He created a similar system to that in St Paul's including concealed flying buttresses. The design of the dome, buttresses and walls allow a sophisticated transfer of the weight density into the piers below. The weight of the cupola was carried by numerous free standing columns. The use of arches and pendentives allows for the transfer of the domes weight to the transepts corner pillars and columns, the complexity of the structure is hidden within the interior by structural features such as parapets.
Once the construction had reached the drum of the dome Soufflot died. After considerable analysis the columns where inadequate of supporting the loads present in the structure and therefore required strengthening. The scheme, although necessary darkens the classical interior however the oculus provides a source of natural light, illuminating the church to show off the elegance of the interior design.
The use of the Pantheon varied between secular and public and is now used as a monument and visualised as the largest and most famous unreinforced concrete dome to date.