Flying buttresses let a stone cathedral open more of its walls to glass

Gothic cathedral flying buttresses and glowing stained-glass windows above a garden

Flying buttresses let a stone cathedral open more of its walls to glass

A stone vault pushes both downward and outward. Flying buttresses carry that outward force across an arch to heavy supports outside, so the wall between them can hold tall windows.

The stone ribs stand outside so the inside can fill with color.

Source · Smarthistory ↗

Flying buttresses let a stone cathedral open more of its walls to glass — ChillScroll

Flying buttresses let a stone cathedral open more of its walls to glass