**Etymology and Types of Spires**:
– The term ‘spire’ has been used in English since the 1590s, derived from Middle Low German ‘spir’ and Old English ‘spir.’
– Spires are tall, slender, pointed structures on building roofs, with shapes including square, circular, and polygonal.
– Gothic spires originated in the 12th century as simple pyramidal structures, evolving to become taller, slimmer, and more ornate.
– Crown spires have exposed arches resembling medieval European crowns, supported by buttress structures and known for intricate design and structural support.
– Needle-spires are tall and narrow structures emerging from towers, while Hertfordshire spikes are shorter spires with parapets, both commonly found on church towers.
**Notable Spires**:
– Burghley House spire is on a non-religious building.
– Lincoln Cathedral held the title of the world’s tallest building for 238 years.
– Salisbury Cathedral boasts the tallest church spire in the British Isles.
– St Mary’s Church in Stralsund briefly held the title of the world’s tallest building.
– Cologne Cathedral has the tallest pair of spires.
**Religious Symbolism and Architectural Characteristics**:
– In Gothic architecture, spires symbolize heavenly aspirations and the power of religion.
– Spires offer a visual spectacle of extreme height and are associated with Gothic cathedrals and churches.
– Splay-foot spires have roofs that flatten at their base, creating eaves above the tower supporting the spire, adding unique architectural characteristics.
– Spires resemble a spear point in their symbolism and are known for their intricate and varied designs.
**Complex Spires and Clad Spires**:
– Some Gothic spires combine masonry and openwork elements, while Baroque architecture also features complex spires.
– Christopher Wren’s churches offer examples of complex spires, with Chartres Cathedral featuring a notable north spire.
– Clad spires have a wooden frame and may be clad in metal, tile, or shingles, often standing on towers of brick or stone construction.
– Various architectural styles feature complex and clad spires, adding aesthetic and structural diversity to buildings.
**References and Recognition**:
– Curl and Wilson’s Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture is a notable reference for spire information.
– The Online Etymology Dictionary provides insights into the history and origin of spires.
– Encyclopædia Britannica offers detailed information on spires and their architectural significance.
– UNESCO recognizes Cologne Cathedral as a World Heritage Site, highlighting the cultural and historical importance of spires.
– Robert Odell Bork’s work explores the significance of spires in religious and political contexts, providing a deeper understanding of their symbolism and impact.
A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires are typically made of stonework or brickwork, or else of timber structures with metal cladding, ceramic tiling, roof shingles, or slates on the exterior.
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Since towers supporting spires are usually square, square-plan spires emerge directly from the tower's walls, but octagonal spires are either built for a pyramidal transition section called a broach at the spire's base, or else freed spaces around the tower's summit for decorative elements like pinnacles. The former solution is known as a broach spire. Small or short spires are known as spikes, spirelets, or flèches.
Definition from ChatGPT:
Spire:
A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a building, typically a church or cathedral, that tapers to a point and is often used as a decorative element. Spire can also refer to a tall, pointed formation of rock or ice in a natural landscape.