Final answer:
The great mosque at Cordoba and Romanesque churches like Sant Climent de Taull and St. Foy at Conques demonstrate the relationship between nave bay composition and vaulting. The structure comprises various levels of diminishing arches and vaults, visually unifying and supporting the space.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a church where the composition of the nave bay is structurally and visually related to the system of vaulting is the great mosque at Cordoba. In Romanesque churches, the structural system of the nave bay is of great significance as it supports the intricate system of vaulting, necessary for the immense weight of the stone structure. By examining the geometrical logic of the arches, one can appreciate the repeating shapes and proportions that unify the space from the ground up.
Particularly in Romanesque and Gothic architecture, nave elevations commonly feature three levels—large arcades on the ground floor, smaller second-level arches, often in pairs with a column between them, and even smaller third-level elements such as a clerestory. This rational diminution aligns with the structural requirements as the mass of the building needs to be supported.
In the context of vaulting, Romanesque churches, including Sant Climent de Taull and St. Foy at Conques in France, exemplify the profound relationship between vaulting techniques such as barrel and ribbed vaulting and the nave structure, where they provide not only necessary support but also enhance the visual narrative of these sacred spaces.