Notre‑Dame Nave, Transept, Choir: Spatial Anatomy

Notre‑Dame’s interior reads like a choreography of light and movement. The nave funnels processions, the transept stages encounters, and the choir concentrates prayer.

📐 Proportions & Rhythm

• Bay rhythm: Alternating piers and colonnettes set a visual tempo.
• Elevation logic: Arcade → Triforium → Clerestory in layered Gothic tripartite order.
• Sightlines: Long axes pull the gaze to altar and crossing.

$$ ext{Proportion} approx rac{ ext{nave height}}{ ext{nave width}} in [2.5, 3.0] quad ext{(typical Gothic)} $$

🏛️ Structure Under Ceremony

• Rib vaults: Light webs ride on ribs that feed into clustered piers.
• Buttresses: External arches hold back lateral thrust at clerestory.
• Entablature as band: Heavy cornice courses act like a ring beam.

🚶 Processional Choreography

• Entry: Thresholds compress, then release into volume.
• Nave: Long axis guides assemblies.
• Transept: Lateral crossings offer encounters and views.

🔬 Spatial Metrics

📸 In Context

❓ FAQ

• Why a triforium? A shadow band that stabilizes elevation visually and structurally.
• Does geometry affect sound? Yes—vault curvature influences reverberation.

The interior is a machine for time and ritual—space sings because structure listens.