The First Flying Buttresses: A New Reconstruction of the Nave of Notre-Dame de Paris

Abstract

Reexamination of the archaeological and documentary evidence preserved in the building and in pre-restoration drawings and photographs has produced a new reconstruction of the first flying buttresses in Gothic architecture, those erected on the nave of Notre-Dame de Paris. Confirmation of many of the architectural details is provided by the nave flying buttresses of St.-Martin at Champeaux which has the closest examples reflecting the original Paris scheme. Structural modeling has validated our reconstruction, as well as provided possible new reasons for the rebuilding of the flying buttresses in the 1220's.