Time Scanners: St. Paul's Cathedral

Dominating London's skyline for centuries, St. Paul's Cathedral was the wonder of its age, eventually becoming a symbol of British pride and endurance. Filmmaker Jay Taylor's documentary—from the PBS-aired Time Scanners series—examines this majestic cathedral, from its imposing outside to its complex maze of alcoves and tunnels within. Builder Christopher Wren was not just an architect, but also an astronomer and mathematician. Begun in 1675 to replace a medieval cathedral that was destroyed in London's great fire, the new edifice was a product of basic hand tools, brute strength, and human ingenuity. Structural engineer Steve Burrows and his team here take viewers under the famous dome, using mobile laser scanners to give a 3D perspective to a "masterpiece of deception." Wren used optical illusions to create symmetry and hide supporting columns, thus creating a picture of strength and permanence, in spite of its clay foundations. The documentary also explores the builder's "great model," a large life-like reproduction, which Wren consulted as the work progressed (in the end, St. Paul's took over 30 years to build). In modern times, the nation held its breath during Germany's WWII air Blitz, as a voluntary fire brigade stood watch at all times (a bomb actually pierced the dome, exploding within the church, but fortunately the damage could be repaired). Wren is buried in the cathedral crypt, where the epitaph on his tomb famously invites any visitor wondering about Wren's legacy to simply look around. A fine combination of history, science, and architecture, this profile of one of the world's most notable structures is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)