St Paul’s London

St Paul’s

• The Cathedral is one of the most famous andmost recognizable sights of LONDON, with itsdome, framed by the spires of Wren's CityChurches, dominating the skyline for 300years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was thetallest building in LONDON from 1710 to1962, and its dome is also among the highestin the world. In terms of area, St Paul's isthe second largest church building inthe UNITED KINGDOM after LIVERPOOLCathedral.

Architect

Sir Christopher Wren was the Architect Who Rebuilt London.After the Great Fire of London, Sir Christopher Wren designed new churches and supervised the reconstruction of some of London's most important buildings.

• Born:October 20, 1632 at East Knoyle in Wiltshire, England

• Died: February 25, 1723 in London, at age 91.

• The St. Paul is constructed in BAROQUE STYLE.• A style of architecture and art originating in ITALY in the early 17th

century and variously prevalent in EUROPE and the New World for acentury and a half, characterized by free and sculptural use of theclassical orders and ornament, by forms in elevation and plansuggesting movement, and by dramatic effect in whicharchitecture, panting, sculpture, and the decorative arts oftenworked to combined effect.

Length 555ft (160m)Nave width 121ft (37m)Width across transepts 246ft (75m)

Details

The WHISPERING GALLERY runs around the inside of the dome 99 feet (30.2 m) above thecathedral floor. It is reached by 259 steps from ground level. It gets its name because of theacoustic effects peculiar to domes; a whisper against its wall at any point is audible to a listenerwith an ear held to the wall at any other point around the gallery. A low murmur is equallyaudible.

Specifications

Height 365ft (111m)

Dome height (outer) 278ft (85m)

Dome height (inner) 225ft (68m)

Dome diameter (outer) 112ft (34m)

Dome diameter (inner) 102ft (31m)

Structural Features

Buttress given for extrastrength for screen walls.

Deep recesses in the walls for windows.

Thick walls are provided internally.

The large crossing dome is composed of three layers: the first triple domeever to be constructed. The inner and outer layersare catenary curves, but the structural integrity to support the heavystone structure atop the dome is provided by a intermediary layer whichis much steeper and more conical in shape. The dome is restrained roundits base by a wrought iron chain to prevent it spreading and cracking.

Structural Features

Vault

Number of towers 2 Tower height 221ft (67m)

• Details of the towers at thewest end (illustration, left)and their dark voids areboldly scaled, in order toread well from the streetbelow and from adistance, for the towershave always stood out inthe urban skyline. They arecomposed of twocomplementary elements, acentral cylinder risingthrough the tiers in a seriesof stacked drums, andpaired CORINTHIANCOLUMNS at thecorners, with BUTTRESSES above them, which serve tounify the drum shape withthe square block plinthcontaining the clock.

Description

• The base of the inner dome is 173 feet (53.4 m) above thefloor. Its top is about 65 m above the floor, making this thegreatest height of the enclosed space. The cathedral is some574 feet (175 m) in length (including the portico of theGreat West Door), of which 223 feet (68 m) is the nave and167 feet (51 m) is the choir. The width of the nave is 121feet (37 m) and across the transepts is 246 feet (75 m). Thecathedral is thus slightly shorter but somewhat wider thanOld St Paul's.

Corinthian columns

• The clock mechanism wasbuilt in 1893 by Smith ofDerby incorporating a designof escapement. clockmechanism is 5.8 meters longand is the most recent of theclocks introduced to STPAUL'S CATHEDRAL over thecenturies.

Group Members

VARUN BRAMMADATHAN

HARI PRASAD