Final answer:
Abbot Suger is recognized for initiating the Gothic architectural style at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, which was completed in 1144 and featured key Gothic elements such as ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and flying buttresses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abbot Suger is credited with introducing Gothic forms at the Basilica of St. Denis, located just outside Paris. As Abbot of Saint Denis from 1122, Suger began reimagining the abbey church around 1135. His work paved the way for a new architectural style characterized by structural innovations like ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and flying buttresses.
These innovations allowed for the creation of vast window openings filled with stained glass, which flooded the interiors with light, a metaphor for the divine according to Suger's interpretation.
The cathedral's new Gothic style was a significant departure from the previous Romanesque architecture, and its completion in 1144 marks a pivotal moment in the development of Gothic architecture across Europe.