Sondergotik
The special German Gothic architecture is a term of the customer. However, thanks to its strong ideological coloring he has become controversial. It was introduced by the homonymous book by Kurt Gerstenberg in 1913 and referred to a special form of Gothic architecture, which was developed in Germany in the 14th and 15th centuries. The term national independence of German development opposite the French Gothic should be pointed out. One of the first members of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Schwäbisch Gmünd, where the family of master builders Parler many elements of German Gothic Special designed for the first time.
The German special Gothic is characterized by elements that are quite unusual in France, the country of origin of the Gothic. Of the French models and their system, it differs both by reductions as well as by enrichments.
In the architecture of the mendicant orders, but also outside this is dispensed in various European countries in the implementation and further development of the Gothic founded in France in many places on elements of the full Kathedralbaus. This of German art historians (Georg Dehio ) as " reduction Gothic " designated style trend spreads around 1300 and creates certain conditions for the " special German Gothic ". The reductions include the elimination of the ambulatory, chapels and triforium, further omitted ( after the construction of the Strasbourg Cathedral and the Cologne Cathedral ) on the gables. Capitals missing. The use of simple round or octagonal columns instead of complicated clustered columns soothes the appearance. The adjustment of the height of the aisles of the nave, that is, the development of the hall church with its broad, balanced interior creates a new type of space that appears as an alternative to the basilica Kathedralbau. As highlights of the hall churches apply as in Annaberg and Schneeberg in Saxony and Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen in Bavaria. Customary in France twin towers of the episcopal churches are facing the Eintürme the parish churches. The ever higher increased tower is considered special feature of German development. Enrichments occur mainly in the late Gothic period. They concern in particular the ever more complex forms of the vaults, services and ribs. Are typical star, network and Schlinggewölbe and helical piers.
The classified into the German special Gothic buildings can be divided into three groups:
- Hall churches
- Mendicant (after a basilica scheme)
- Brick buildings
While the naves are in northern Germany under individual roofs, in Bavaria and Baden- Württemberg, the entire church is covered by a single roof.
Although Gerstenberg's thesis of a special Gothic hall space has long been recognized as epochal special performance of a Germanic "race" as one-sided and social history misses, the term became part of the vocabulary of the late Gothic research without being scrutinized more closely.