What is the purpose of flying buttresses in Gothic architecture?

What is the purpose of flying buttresses in Gothic architecture?

• A. Structural Support by Transferring the Load to External Supports
• B. Decorative Only
• C. Insulation
• D. Timber Roof Support

Answer: (A)

Flying buttresses are structural devices that transfer the weight and horizontal thrust of the vaulted roof away from the nave walls to external supports. By directing the load through an arched channel from the wall to a detached buttress, they relieve the wall of the outward push and anchor the system to the ground. This lets builders raise taller walls and install large stained-glass windows, creating the bright, airy interiors Gothic architecture is known for. They are not decorative, nor insulation, nor a timber roof support.

Flying buttresses are structural devices that transfer the weight and horizontal thrust of the vaulted roof away from the nave walls to external supports. By directing the load through an arched channel from the wall to a detached buttress, they relieve the wall of the outward push and anchor the system to the ground. This lets builders raise taller walls and install large stained-glass windows, creating the bright, airy interiors Gothic architecture is known for. They are not decorative, nor insulation, nor a timber roof support.