Archivist of Christ Church Judith Curthoys discusses Oxford's grandest college, and its unusual foundation -- first by a cardinal, then by a King. www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk
I've never really understood why the windows and arches in the main old Quad don't line up - There are more window units than arches. Why not design it from the start with symmetry and consistency? That's what gives architecture great power. And between the arches, the windows just look randomly placed without any overall plan. Seems a bit sloppy.
It was originally meant to be a massive cloister, that's why there were arches designated. For some reason, that didn't happen, so there are just Windows and doors that look out of place.
I've never really understood why the windows and arches in the main old Quad don't line up - There are more window units than arches. Why not design it from the start with symmetry and consistency? That's what gives architecture great power. And between the arches, the windows just look randomly placed without any overall plan. Seems a bit sloppy.
It was originally meant to be a massive cloister, that's why there were arches designated. For some reason, that didn't happen, so there are just Windows and doors that look out of place.