The Holy Alignment: Geodesic and Astronomical Fundamentals for Calculating the Adjustment of Medieval Naves

It is commonly believed that the longitudinal axes of churches extend exactly in an east-west direction. However, thorough investigations have shown that this is not always correct; rather, both southern and northern deviations of up to about 25° can occur. The angular deviation between the church axis and true east is called the Holy Alignment. This present study presents the possibility that the nave is oriented towards the direction of the sun-rising point on the name day of the patron saint of the church. If several saints share the patronage, the Holy Alignment equals the algebraic sum of the angular distances for each saint. The orientation of a nave can be analyzed by means of common mathematical relations used in geodesy, astronomy and gnomonics. In order to perform such an analysis, it is necessary to know the history of the patronage of the church; the Gauss-Krüger coordinates of the ground plan; and characteristic astronomical quantities at the time the church was built. A calculated example with the saints Andrew, James and Philip for the year 980 illustrates the analysis. An appendix deals with the influence of atmospheric refraction on the apparent altitude of the sun near the horizon.     

Towers on the steppe: compact city plans and local perceptions of urban densification in Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia

This paper examines how plans for urban densification, particularly those supported by international organisations, intersect with local residents’ perceptions of housing and land use in the developing world. The study focuses on ger districts in Ulaanbaatar, the site of numerous plans for large-scale urban transformation. Ger districts are rapidly growing areas named for the felt tents that are considered their typical housing mode. This study interviewed 120 ger district residents across central, middle and outer areas of the city. The results reveal migration patterns different from those typically reported, with the highest proportions of migrants and renters living in the central district. Interviewees generally held positive views of apartment living, while preferring low-density land use. Residents’ views of density were strongly influenced by Mongolian attitudes to land and open space. The paper concludes by discussing the reasons for, and consequences of, residents’ and international policy-makers’ different framings of urban density.