A few days after the fire in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the French authorities announced a competition for its restoration. Then Prime Minister Edouard Philippe expressed the hope that the competition will help find a solution "adapted to the technology and challenges of our time." Architects from all over the world quickly responded to this plan and, without waiting for the official start of the competition, began to publish their projects in social networks and the media.
I must say that the majority of the public did not like these projects: someone considered them too free interpretation of the 850-year-old shrine, some admitted that they simply did not like “modern architecture”, and others believe that everything should be restored strictly “as it was”. Experts say that the situation around the reconstruction of the cathedral threatens to escalate into a major conflict - like the one that broke out in the 1980s over the construction of the glass pyramid by J. M. Pei in the courtyard of the Louvre. We offer you a look at 16 of the most notable projects for Notre Dame. Among them there are comic options.
Massimiliano Fuksas proposed to make the roof and spire from crystal. This material, as explained by the Italian architect, personifies "the fragility of history and spirituality." At night, the structure will be illuminated - which, in turn, will become a “symbol of immateriality”.
French designer Mathieu Leanner would like to restore the spire. But not in the form in which it existed for the last 150 years, but as the Parisians saw it on April 15, while the fire was raging. Leanner says he "likes the idea of a frozen moment"; and it is also one of the ways to "catch a catastrophe and turn it into beauty."
During the Gothic period, architects tried to approach the heavens with the help of spiers. Bratislava-based studio Vizum Atelier proposes to complete the work of its predecessors and install a thin, lightweight tower that will shine straight up.
The Cypriots of Kiss The Architect are ready to mount their own installation A Foolish Folly on the cathedral, consisting of an eclectic mixture of arches and balls. There will be a central staircase in the middle. Instagram users believe that the design resembles a minaret or a kitchen whisk for whipping.
AJ6 Studio from São Paulo also proposes to reinforce the Gothic beginnings of architecture and almost completely cover the spire and roof … with stained glass.
Russian architect Alexander Nerovnya made a compromise: the roof in his project is completely glass, but the spire looks quite familiar. “People will feel a powerful connection to history when they see the old and modern parts together,” explains the author of his choice. - Things are changing. Notre Dame will never be the same, no matter how well it is repaired. Why not use all our knowledge and architectural achievements to make it better?"
The French architect and artist David Deru tried to find a middle ground between the old and the new. The roof and spire, although slightly modified, still retain the original shape.
Norman Foster decided to contribute to the restoration of the temple. Its "light and airy" version involves replacing the wooden frame with a steel one covered with glass panels; the spire will be made from the same material. There is a place for an observation deck at the base.
French workshop Studio NAB believes that the roof of Notre Dame should be turned into a giant greenhouse, and the spire should be equipped with an apiary. Note that 180 thousand local bees miraculously survived the fire: since 2013, hives have been installed on the roof in order to maintain biodiversity in the city, annually priests collect about 25 kg of honey from them.
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zooming 1/3 Studio NAB Notre Dame Restoration Project © Studio NAB
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zooming 2/3 Studio NAB Notre Dame Restoration Project © Studio NAB
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zooming 3/3 Studio NAB Notre Dame Restoration Project © Studio NAB
Austrians who cares?! Proposed to make spacious apartments for the most famous bell ringer of the cathedral. "Penthouse for Quasimodo" does not at all resemble the dark attic where the literary character lived. Apartment with an area of 740 m2flooded with sunlight, surrounded by gardens on all sides, there is a swimming pool and a helipad so that the hunchback can get home without unnecessary difficulties.
Not only to restore the cathedral, but at the same time to solve one of the most pressing environmental problems - the pollution of the ocean with plastic - are offered by designers from Amsterdam. Studio Drift believes that the roof should be shingled with recycled plastic from the seas. The color for the plates was chosen blue - so that the cult building literally merged with the sky.
Dutch company Concr3de, which deals with 3D printing, is ready to restore elements of the temple from what was left at the site of the fire. Some sculptures, for example, can be made from a mixture of limestone and ash. To demonstrate their capabilities, the Dutch have printed one of the gargoyles.
The ironic project with the hashtag "better than Foster" was presented by an architect from Toronto. The key detail is the suspended ceiling.
Another Twitter user suggested that the opportunity should not be missed and “really” unleash the potential of Notre Dame for the development of the urban environment. So the cathedral turned into a trendy multifunctional building.
The French, too, are not averse to making fun of - both over their own conservatism, and over cliches with which they have to reckon. Here, instead of a spire - a baguette:
… and here is a bottle of champagne (including as a "modest homage" to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which made the largest donation after the fire):
