Geometric and constructive study of the Mediterranean Gothic Architecture with virtual models: Church of San Francisco in Morella

Abstract

In the final years of the 13th century and throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, Gothic architecture became increasingly present in southern Europe, including northern regions of Valencia. This type of architecture is known as Mediterranean Gothic, where buildings show the heritage of Romanesque architecture and a profound interest in developing new plans based on complex geometries. An example dating back to this period in Spanish architecture is located in Morella, where the Church of San Francisco was built attached to the convent of the same name. Historical figures such as Benedict XIII stayed there in the early 15th century, when the Western Schism was resolved. Thanks to modern data collection methodologies, such as laser scanning or photogrammetry, it is possible to produce a highly accurate and faithful three-dimensional model, which can be used to carry out geometric analyses on these constructions, as well as on the development of the construction processes employed in this type of Gothic architecture. Complete graphic documentation of each of the elements that make up the church discussed are developed throughout this comprehensive study along with similar examples, which form part of a virtual archive of architectural heritage built in Mediterranean areas in the Gothic period.