Vaults on the Water: A systematic analysis of the vault construction in the Wasserkirche Zurich

Abstract

This paper examines the vault construction in the Wasserkirche in Zurich, Switzerland with regard to its geo-metrical design and the structural engineering in the building itself. Similar to numerous vault constructions in the Late Gothic period, the vault pattern of the Wasserkirche appears rather simple in its ground plan, but un-folds a highly complex geometry in its spatial configuration. In the following, the complexity of the vault construction is analysed, deciphered and simplified with state-of-the-art technical equipment and precise re-verse engineering techniques. To provide additional support and better illustration, various visualisation methods are applied. In a final step, the results obtained are brought into a historical context by comparing them with contemporary and regional vault constructions.