Chris d Craiker ALA/NCARB
All around the world, eyes have been focused on the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The iconic structure has survived over eight centuries of disasters, hunchbacks and gothic legends with two Oak built spires. In the catastrophic 2019 fire that ravished the spire and much of the roof structure, the international outpouring of support for the rebuilding was virtually instantaneous. Almost immediately the former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that Paris would hold an International Design Competition to rebuild and reimagine the Notre Dame iconic spire. He noted the government would seek out a new design that adopted today’s technology and met the challenges of our era. It needed to be lightweight, environmentally correct, sustainable, and a brilliant design. Many architects from all around the world submitted their ideas about how to rebuild the cathedral. Proposals from futuristic glass designs to urban greenhouse designs to beehives in the sky came forward, lush, beautiful and edgy.
However, the new Prime Minister Macron backtracked and insisted the Republic must replace the spire with the exact same design. The concept of a new and advanced concept was eliminated. After thousands of ancient oak trees were cut down and almost $750 million euros spent, the new-or rather-old spire and Cathedral are ready to tour…. well, not quite by the public.
What is truly incredible is the interior Nave sparkles with bright white walls and the incredible light from the squeaky-clean stained-glass windows is truly inspirational. This should have been done a long time ago, but now, better than never.
But the spire reconstruction is a step backwards for France, one of the world's most forward design and art thinking, Avante Gard nations. The Republic, famous for its edgy designs such as the Eiffel Tower (hated when built, today considered the most iconic structure in the World), the Louvre Museum Pyramid and the incredible Age of Impressionism Art, is turning its back on its status as the vanguard of international design.
Not only is it a significant shift for the government which had announced the international competition, but it trounced any reimagining of the damaged structure roof and spire. By placing the nation’s trust in a stodgy old architectural commission, it was a sign of the Republic’s going backwards, not only in architectural design but also in its politics as a nation. But alas, while France is going backwards, so is the United States looking backwards and neglecting it’s future.
Today France, and much of the Western World, is trying to revive its old pasts and trying to relive happy past days. It's always easier to fall back on old designs, architecture and lifestyles rather than think new. And yet Nineteenth-century France had perpetuated an old style of architecture that quickly crumbled as the Twentieth-century world changed and construction became more advanced. People wanted cleaner, more usable architecture, now known as the International Style.
My little design was only one of the 250 wonderful solutions offered, but all ignored. I'm only thankful I was able to participate but France is moving backwards, both artistically and politically.
BTW, Autodesk, a Marin based technology company, spent five years coming up with a AutoCAD vision of the Notre Dame Cathedral renovation. My concept was put together in two weeks. I wonder what they charged?
Ask The Architex
I receive inquiries all the time about issues, small and large, that might be of interest to share with our weekly readers. For example, recent rains blew down an Oak tree on our office power lines, for only the second power loss in 20 years. After removing the tree and restoring power, we discovered all of our office computers had to be recalibrated, except mine which went caput….. fried. We had it checked out and it appears that the power strip failed. It was so old it didn't protect my computer, which will cost $1000 to replace.
I learned that these devices don't last more than ten years and should be replaced every five years to be safe. Most importantly, they shouldn't just be a “power strip” but must be a qualified “surge protector” that switch off. Chances are, every home has multiple power strips, many of which are no good, too old, and non-protective. Purchase or order on line multiple units and make sure they are qualified surge protectors. Check annually and replace as necessary at the same time as your smoke alarms. What? You didn’t replace your old 1980ish smoke detectors? Think about it……..
Chris d Craiker ALA/NCARBs spire design was only one of 250 outstanding world -wide submittals for replacement of the Notre Dame‘s crown, all rejected.
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