pointers

In Durand's _Recueil et parallèle des édifices de tout genre, anciens &
modernes, remarquables par leur beauté, par leur grandeur ou par leur
singularité_, 1800, where a 'history' of architecture is presented via plans
and elevations all drawn at the same scale and categorized by type (ie,
temples, churches, palaces, theaters, etc.), the only building/structure
larger than St. Peter's Basilica is the Great Pyramid of Giza--the Great
Pyramid originally reached a height of 480 ft.; St. Peter's reaches 452 ft.;
the U.S Capitol reaches 287.5 ft. From this 'record', it is likely safe to
say that St. Peter's is the largest hollow stone/masonry building.

ok. Thanks.
Where are the Bourges, Koln and Nevers cathedral listed in this Durand
Recueil ?

what about more "modern" buildings / structures? ( The Koln cathedral was
finished after 1800 I think)

are some industrial  or skyscrapers included in some other  relation
available ? 
not only for  their height but  also the ground surface they re-cover ?
(supposing we refer here to one continuous volume, hollow constructions, not
the WTC , but eventually the Lourdes relatively underground cathedral ,
f.i.)

When I compared the profiles of St. Peter's and the Pyramid(s), it was more
just the notion of both examples having a broad base that progressively
reaches a single point at a great height.
 
with diferent schemes / ways /  of  "pointing" to their  respective heavens.
is the notion of  "pointing to the  sky" a necessity  in the architect
/designer concept or just a structural , physical solution to enhance
resistance ? or the two ?

probably the gizeh pyramids are pointed because constructed with the
obligation to use  obliques with one point of fusion at the top, and the St
Peter cathedral use rounded blossoms as coupoles... with one added symbol
like a cross.
Could there be also a kind of Macho/sexist-like concept in some  very
"pointed" buildings ? in the minarets of Santa Sofia in Istanbul  and the
towers of the London Towers or bridge ?

So then how would we define the "inspiration" , if any, of those flat roofed
buildings like the wtc?

 saludos
¼at




--