Spatial unification of Romanesque churches in Zamora and its influence on the buttress system

Abstract

In addition to the Cathedral in Zamora there are twenty-two Romanesque churches registered, erected between the 11th and the 13th centuries. The most common typology – visible in twelve of these churches – is a single nave, with the body wider than its chevet and without a visible transept. Of the other ten churches, origin ally with three naves, only one has remained intact. The other nine at some point underwent what we refer to as "spatial unification" by removing the interior columns in the interests of providing more light and clarity. The churches of San Juan and San Ildefonso showcase this perfectly, because of their size and the diversity of solutions. The purpose of this paper is to study the consequences brought about by "spatial unification" of the buttress system, the tectonic structure and the configuration of Zamora ́s churches. Ultimately, this research includes archiving and planimetric activity, as well as focusing on structural stability.