NAME: Boon Li Ying STUDENT ID: 0323839 MODULE: Effective Public Communication [COM 30103] SESSION: September 2015 LECTURER: Mohd Ridhwan Abdullah SUBMISSION DATE: 20 January 2016

 

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

Foundation in Natural & Built Environment (FNBE)Individual Assignment

(Oral Presentation)

Religious Building Around The World

Rome, Italy

Papal Archbasilica of Saint John in Lateran“Arcibasilica Papale Di San Giovanni In Laterano”

A. Historical Background

the first church to be built in Rome the cathedral church of Rome the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, the Pope (the head of the

Catholic Church) the oldest and ranks first among the five Papal Basilicas of the

world the first among the four major basilicas of Rome, which are St.

Peter’s Basilica, St. Mary Major and St. Paul’s outside the Walls built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century

A. Historical Background

This site was occupied by the palace belonging to the rich Laterani family in ancient times

P. Sextius Lateranus, was the first to attain the rank of consul The palace was confiscated because of Plautius Lateranus

accused of conspiracy against the emperor in the time of Nero The palace came eventually into the hands of Constantine, the

first Christian emperor but it became Imperial property when Constantine I married Fausta (the sister of his enemy Maxentius), and was eventually given to the Bishop of Rome

So, Lateran Palace become the official residence of the Pope

A. Historical Background

A first basilica was built, right next to the Lateran Palace

It was consecrated ten years later by Pope Sylvester I The church was sacked twice in the fifth century but

rebuilt soon It was damaged by an earthquake but once again it was

rebuilt The Lateran Palace and the church were severely

damaged by fire So, the Palace and Basilica were reconstructed to

various degrees several times before the 16th century

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

Lateran Palace Main entrance is on the north

side There are three storeys,

rendered in orange ochre The first storey has windows

with floating cornices, while the other two storeys have alternate triangular and segmentally pedimental windows.

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

Basilica There are five doors in the

narthex, one for each nave Five naves divided by

massive columns that support large arches

Occupied by a semi-circular apse ten metres deep

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

There was a central nave with two side aisles on each side with each side aisle being half the width of the central nave

The inner side aisles were the same length as the central nave, but the outer side aisles were ten metres shorter and ended at a pair of large rectangular chambers which protruded beyond the external side walls on each side

There are five large external chapels off the nave side aisles

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

The colossal eastern façade of St. John Lateran is probably the most recognizable part of this basilica

topped with fifteen large travertine statues, each seven meters tall The central is Jesus Christ , flanked by St. John the Baptist and St.

John the Evangelist while the others statues represent Fathers of the Church

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

Loggia of Benedictions at the north façade which is the end

of the transept the edifice has two structurally

identical storeys, each with five large arched portals and separated by pilasters with a painted ceiling

flanked by two medieval bell towers

B. Structure of The Buildings (Exterior)

Cloisters accessible from the left

transept is an intermediate style

between Romanesque and Gothic

adorned with unique spiral columns of inlaid marble and contain many early Christian fragments from the basilica

B. Structure of The Buildings (Interior)

The Central Nave the main nave, from the main entrance to the throne, towards the end of the apse flanked by two aisles on each side and ending in a semi-circular apse to the west stands over the Papal Altar and the beautiful gothic style baldachin, which is

located towards the top of the altar

B. Structure of The Buildings (Interior)

The Apse decorated with large

mosaics depicting Christ

surrounded by nine seraphim

B. Structure of The Buildings (Interior)

The Papal Cathedra (throne of the Pope)

B. Structure of The Buildings (Interior)

ceiling of the Loggia of Benedictions

decorated with fresco of Saints and Angels

B. Structure of The Buildings (Interior)

decorative floor

B. Layout of The Buildings

Basic plan of the basilica, St John in Lateran

B. Layout of The Buildings (Floor Plan)

B. Layout of The Buildings 1. Apse

2. Transept 1

3. Transept 2

4. Nave 1

5. Nave 2

6. Chapel Column

7. Lancellotti Chapel

8. Corsini Chapel

9. Cloister

10. Baptistery

11. Baptistery Chapel

12. Exterior (North)

13. Exterior (East)

http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-it.html

C. Types of Ornamentation Used

12 niches in the walls of the nave 12 sculptures of Apostles, of greater than life-size to be placed in the niches selected from among the most prominent late Baroque sculptors in Rome

C. Types of Ornamentation Used

St. Andrew St. James the GreaterSt. Bartholomew St. James the Lesser

C. Types of Ornamentation Used

St. PaulSt. Jude ThaddeausSt. John St. Matthew

C. Types of Ornamentation Used

St. Philip St. Thomas St. SimonSt. Peter

D. Types of Materials Used

decorated with the colossal marble statues of the Apostles

D. Types of Materials Used

decorated with gold coffered ceiling

D. Types of Materials Used

the Lancellotti Chapel decorated with the stucco

angels, putti, medallion and garlands of stucco roses above the altar niche

D. Types of Materials Used

most of the Lancellotti Chapel dome decorate with stucco work

E. Other relevant information

Lateran Obelisk is the tallest obelisk in

Rome, and the largest standing Egyptian obelisk in the world

located at the north-west of the basilica

E. Other relevant information

Lateran Baptistery is the oldest baptistery in

Rome located next to St. John

Lateran and the Lateran Palace

E. Other relevant information

Location of St. John in Lateran

References

1. http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/index_it.htm 2. http://romanchurches.wikia.com/wiki/San_Giovanni_in_Laterano 3. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-san-giovanni-laterano 4. http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/sangiovanniinlaterano.htm 5. http://www.digital-images.net/Gallery/Scenic/Rome/Churches/Lateran/lateran.html 6. http://www.piercedhearts.org/treasures/holy_sites/st_john_lateran.htm

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