A Self-contained Stellar Vault Construction Method. The Vault of the Matthias Oratorio in the Inner City Parish Church of Budapest

Abstract

In the present study, we analysed the laser-scanned point cloud of the stellar vault of the Inner City Parish Church of Budapest's Matthias oratorio. Our analysis concerned the global geometry of the rib network, as well as the webbing. During the study of the rib system, we reconstructed a probable construction method of the late 15th – early 16th-century vault, which seems to be a self-contained construction system in regard to the rib system's plan, the height of the junction points and the curvature of the individual ribs. We found, that to the latter the widely known "Prinzipalbogen" theory applies, however, the "theory of the longest route", which is often mentioned together with the former, most likely was not used. Mapping the webbing and the ribs allowed us to examine the building technique of the webs too.