Christopher Wren Cathedral

This paper will describe the impact Sir Christopher Wren had in England’s architecture during the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. It will illustrate why his work is highly recognised around the entire world, and is now considered one of the most important architects in England’s history. It will also investigate the subsequent events generated after The Great Fire in London 1666, which led him to become into the great architect he is now considered, focusing on the culmination of all his work, his masterpiece, St Paul’s cathedral. The paper will explore the building in detail, going through his initial and final designs, the inspirations achieved from other architects, studying all the spaces enclosed inside
However over the course of history there have been some grand domes. The Pantheon in Rome with the largest dome in the world, with a diameter of 43.3 metres and built between 118 and 125 AD by emperor Hadrian. This building was frequently illustrated and this is how Wren learnt about Roman and Italian architecture. The next greatest dome could be the one in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, with a span of 31 metres, but with its attached half-domes on each side enclosed much more space the Pantheon. It was built by the emperor Justinian in 532- 537 AD. Both structures inspired the Renaissance and its first great architect Brunelleschi, whose greatest work had been the dome of Florence Cathedral. His dome was composed of two shells of bricks, one inside the other, joined together by ribs of brick and strengthened wooden chains. Then next greatest dome that was built before St Paul’s was St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Imitating Brunelleschi’s work, consisted of two shells closely linked by ribs which were cut completely out of stone . After studying Brunelleschi’s work, Wren came up with a triple dome structure he used in his
Three skulls indicate the entrance to the crypt, the burial chamber of the cathedral. The Victorians began the tradition in which the crypt should be viewed, therefore replaced the plain earth ground floor where the coffins were buried with a stone placed on top, for a proper floor that was laid. E.M Cummings provides some information in respect to the crypt in his 1849 book: “The crypt, like the body of the cathedral is divided into three avenues by massive pillars, forty feet square. It is comfortably warm and dry, and with the exception of the area underneath the dome, it is tolerably well lighted and ventilated by windows opening into the church-yard” . Furthermore he indicates that the crypt under the eastern part of the old St Paul’s was used for “ the divine