Archinect - News

French officials float €5 tourist entrance fee after Notre Dame reopening

2024-10-29T09:59:00-04:00

The soon-to-reopen Notre Dame Cathedral might include a €5 entrance fee. The French cultural minister's controversial proposal, which The Guardian says is being "fiercely opposed" by the Roman Catholic church’s leaders, could raise upwards of €75 million ($80.8 million) annually. A 1905 law enshrining secularism in France could prevent the fee from being enacted. Ariel Weil, who represents the city center, told a radio outlet "The minister’s proposal as it stands may not be possible, but it does raise the question of the huge number of visitors to Notre Dame and the colossal investments required in our religious heritage nationwide."

Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen its doors on December 8th after a five-year reconstruction.

In the face of post-pandemic habits, U.S. cities turn to vernacular design traditions for answers

2024-09-12T07:00:00-04:00

Gone are the days when the easiest way to make an architectural splash was with a shimmering and photogenic stand-alone building, fancy forms torquing this way and that. Along with exploring new takes on regional or vernacular design traditions, the field’s top talents are taking on projects that reimagine existing institutions or public spaces — or forge new links among them.

In a new piece for The New York Times, Yale School of Architecture senior critic Christopher Hawthorne explores how architects are striving to rejuvenate downtown areas across the U.S., where hybrid work schedules and negative perceptions have led to reduced vibrancy.

While converting commercial buildings into residential spaces is a popular strategy, it's not always feasible due to structural constraints, Hawthorne argues. Architects are therefore exploring strategies to entice activity downtown by reimagining existing structures and incorporating regional aesthetics.

Related on Archinect: Foster + Partners' Three Transamerica redesign wins approval in San Francisco. Image credit: dbox, courtesy of Foster + Partners/SHVO

Throughout the New York Times piece, Hawthorne cites examples such as the Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion by LMN Architects which reconnects the city to its waterfront, the revitalized Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco by Foster + Partners aimed at attracting ...

In a turnaround, French officials say Notre Dame’s restoration will not be ready in time for the Olympics

2023-03-06T17:38:00-05:00

Notre-Dame Cathedral's spire will be back in place by the end of the year, but a full reopening following the devastating fire of 2019 will not happen before next year's Paris Olympic Games. The reconstruction is still on track for completion by the end of 2024, the culture ministry told AFP. But the sharp spire, added by architect Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc during the cathedral's redesign in the 19th century, will be back in place by the end of 2023, the ministry said.

This setback constitutes a major blow to French President Emmanuel Macron’s lofty initial promise to have the restoration work completed in time for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. Spectators had called into question whether or not the goal was feasible or even salutary from the beginning, particularly because of the water retained in the vaulted ceilings and other structural issues related to the composition of the stone.

Previously on Archinect: France’s Culture Ministry says Notre Dame is still on track to reopen in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics

The spire itself was the subject of a debate within the country. Prime Minister Édouard Philippe’s preference for a new version that was “adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era” eventually got scrapped in favor of a more historically accurate construction made of timber and lead elements in line with the government’s mandate to restore Notre-Dame to its its “last known visual state.”

France 24 reported th...

Notre Dame's 'shocking' interior cleaning is sparking a debate about methods used in architectural restoration

2022-11-22T14:19:00-05:00

The current cleaning phase involves the application of a latex paste to the interior stonework. After a few days, the latex can be peeled off, bringing with it accumulated dust and dirt. Speaking to The Times in September Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of French national historic monuments, said that once completed the cathedral would be “luminous”.

The peel-off material is similar to the Arte Mundit product that was used controversially in a restoration of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London 20 years ago, although The Art Newspaper reported it does not include the EDTA or harmful ammonia that is often mixed in with latex as a stabilizer.

Image: David Bordes, via Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris/Facebook

The “shock” described by the restoration's leader, French Army General Jean-Louis Georgelin, that comes after its removal could prove too much for hardcore originalists, combing with equally derided LED lighting and other new age interior features designed by Father Gilles Drouin to create a Disney-like atmosphere they claim is a distortion of the 850-year-old relic and the Catholic tradition.

Image: David Bordes, via Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris/Facebook

“The really important questions in restoration are not, in essence, technical, they are aesthetic and historic and artistic,” ArtWatch UK director Michael Daly told The Times. “The quest...

France’s Culture Ministry says Notre-Dame is still on track to reopen in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics

2022-08-02T15:57:00-04:00

French President Emmanuel Macron’s vow to reopen Notre-Dame in time for Paris’ turn as host of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games still appears to be on track after France’s Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak said her office was “quite confident” in the reconstruction’s progress.

Abdul-Malak was on hand for a site inspection over the weekend alongside Phillipe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the country’s cultural monuments. The two were in Paris to inspect the recently-completed clean-up of the 859-year-old structure’s interior worship spaces, which they say represents a turning point towards the overall project’s accelerated completion.

The question is how much of the heavily-damaged cathedral will be restored and reopened to the public in time for the 2024 date set by Abdul-Malak. The controversial interior segment of the second phase of reconstruction finally began in September after lockdown-related delays and is to be followed by the replica spire’s reinstallati...

A VR game allows users to 'save' a digital model of the Notre Dame Cathedral

2022-06-21T14:03:00-04:00

Assassin’s Creed Unity is a 2014 video game set in Paris in 1789 that includes a surprisingly detailed digital model of the cathedral [...] The video game version of the cathedral wasn’t detailed enough for that kind of forensic research, but the makers of the game did find a way to put their version of Notre-Dame back to work. Today, Ubisoft is releasing Save Notre-Dame on Fire, a virtual reality game set inside the cathedral on the day of the fire.

"We’re using real elements from the architecture to create something that’s interesting for the player. We have all the immensity of the real Notre-Dame," shares Ubisoft's SVP Deborah Papiernik with Fast Company. The game was released in unison with a new movie directed by Enemy at the Gates director Jean-Jacques Annaud that depicts the real-life heroism of the Paris Fire Brigade, which managed to salvage an incredible amount of church relics, bells, and other artifacts in process of preventing a nearly total loss of the structure.

In an effort to help people understand the value and importance of the Cathedral's rebuilding efforts the game acts as a form of "edu-tainment' reports Nate Berg of Fast Company. Ubisoft's VR game release follows their $565,000 donation to the rebuilding effort back in 2019.

Notre Dame cathedral is now secure enough to start the rebuilding process, potentially in time for 2024 Summer Olympics

2021-09-22T17:07:00-04:00

Two and a half years after a fire ravaged the centuries-old Cathedral of Notre-Dame in the heart of Paris, the building has been secured enough to start the rebuilding process, which is expected to be completed in 2024, according to the French authorities.

The news was announced last weekend in a statement on Facebook by Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, the public body responsible for the conservation and restoration of the 850-year-old cathedral. This milestone and expected timeline meets French President Emmanuel Macron’s five-year plan to reopen the landmark, which would be in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

“We’re officially saying that the cathedral is now saved, that it’s solid on its pillars, that its walls are solid, everything is holding together,” Jean-Louis Georgelin, the head of Rebâtir Notre-Dame, told the French news outlet BFM TV.

Previously on Archinect: Not so fast: Following the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, heritage experts respond to Macron's ambitious five-year restoration deadline

According to Artnet News, this phase involved reinforcing the cathedral’s flying buttresses, protecting its gargoyles, and removing approximately 40,000 pieces of damaged scaffolding that had been in place for spire restoration at...

Notre Dame Cathedral appeals for additional funding as work begins to restore the church's interior

2021-06-17T13:03:00-04:00

The Parisian Archdiocese responsible for the custodianship and refurbishment of Notre Dame Cathedral is issuing an appeal for more donations after an initial push of nearly $1 billion following the devastating 2019 fire and partial collapse that captured the hearts of Catholics and culture lovers worldwide.

The church is now asking for an additional $6 to $7 million to fund the renovation of Notre Dame’s interior, which was made ineligible to receive any of the original gift following a ruling by a French court that limited use of donations to the restoration of the building’s structure and 12th-century facade.

The Archdiocese is seeking to make improvements aimed at modernizing the cathedral while at the same time conserving some of its sacred monuments in an effort to return the popular tourist destination to its original function as a place of worship and religious pilgrimage.

The Cathedral's interior before the 2019 fire. Photo: Flickr user bvi4092.

The four-part plan will start ...

Hundreds of ancient oaks needed to rebuild Notre Dame spire

2021-02-17T13:22:00-05:00

French experts are combing the country’s forests for centuries-old oaks to rebuild the Notre Dame spire that was destroyed by fire. [...] Last July, Macron announced the spire would be reconstructed exactly as it was. This is expected to require up to 1,000 oaks aged between 150 and 200 years old.

Rebuilding the fire-damaged Gothic cathedral hasn't been easy: construction crews were impacted by COVID-19 safety measures, and since French President Macron decided to ditch the modern spire and restore it to its "last known visual state" based on Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's 19th-century design, finding the right wood fit for a historic structure is a logistical challenge.

According to The Guardian, the oaks must be "straight, 50-90 cm (20-36 in) in diameter and between 8 and 14 metres tall. They must be chopped down by the end of March before the sap rises, otherwise the wood will be too humid. Before being cut into beams, the trunks will be allowed to dry for up to 18 months."

Notre-Dame cathedral: modern spire now off the table

2020-07-13T15:25:00-04:00

President Emmanuel Macron of France on Thursday dropped the unpopular idea of building a modern spire atop a restored Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, a possibility he had floated after a devastating fire sent the previous spire crashing through the roof. [...] But the idea of a modern spire never caught on with critics or with public opinion, and Mr. Macron never committed to it.

French President Macron's decision to let go of his long-championed vision of a contemporary spire for the fire-damaged Gothic cathedral comes one year after the French senate passed a bill approving the government's restoration plan under the condition that Notre Dame be restored to its "last known visual state" — including the 19th-century spire design by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

Architectural proposals for contemporary spires and novel construction methods quickly emerged after the devastating April '19 blaze, including plans to 3D-print the lost spire with its ashes.

This won't close the lid on the controversies surrounding the rebuilding efforts though as other issues remain debated, including the choice of construction materials. "The conservative restoration means that timber and lead will be used for the framework and the roofing, foregoing the opportunity to use safer, more sophisticated m...

Notre Dame jobsite prepares to reopen in early May

2020-04-24T11:43:00-04:00

Notre Dame's construction site is to reopen Monday (27 April) to allow a management team to start planning the return of employees in early May...The move begins ahead of France's gradual easing of lockdown, amid the coronavirus pandemic, from 11 May. Barriers surrounding the cathedral will be removed to allow around ten people, including the lead architect Philippe Villeneuve and company representatives involved in the restoration, to enter its base camp.

According to The Art Newspaper, the team will begin organizing the return of about 50 construction workers beginning May 4th with the goal of having all cranes removed by that day. Workers will return to dismantling the structure's expansive scaffolding also, a job that was stopped in March due to COVID-19, The Art Newspaper reports.

Tensions with Notre Dame cathedral's chief architect heat up over reconstruction plans

2019-11-24T09:00:00-05:00

A public dispute has arisen between the French officials in charge of the reconstruction of the fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who is President Emmanuel Macron's special representative on the project, stunned MPs by insulting the chief architect in charge of the cathedral, telling him “to shut his big mouth” in front of the National Assembly’s cultural commission.

Plans to restore the damaged spire of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral are well underway months after a tragic fired ravaged the Cathedral. However, conflict is brewing between General Jean-Louis Georgelin and Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect put in charge of the Cathedral.

The conflict stems over the issue of either removing the historic spire entirely or simply restoring it in place. According to Vincent Noce of The Art Newspaper, "Villeneuve, threatened to resign last month if the spire that was destroyed in April's fire were not reconstructed in its original form. 'I will restore it identically, and it will be me, or they will build a modern spire, and it won't be me,' Villeneuve said during a broadcast interview."

The debate over how the spire should be restored has caused many reactions from the public. Many seek to protect the Cathedral's historic structural integrity, while others are pushing for visible changes to symbolize the Cathedrals "rebirth" after the fire....

Charred timber pavilion proposed as temporary Notre Dame replacement

2019-08-01T18:18:00-04:00

Global architecture firm Gensler has unveiled designs for a charred timber prayer pavilion to be used while the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is underway.

The unsolicited proposal deploys Shou Sugi Ban-style charred timber structural trusses to shape a nave "replicated to the same dimensions as Notre-Dame to ensure familiarity," according to a project website. The proposal includes a roof constructed out of ETFE cushions and walls built from translucent polycarbonate.

The pavilion's charred timber trusses are designed to create a space with the same dimensions as Notre Dame's central nave. Image courtesy of Gensler.

As designed, the pavilion would be located in Parvis Square, the plaza fronting the cathedral that burned tragically in April 2019. One end of the long, rectangular nave opens up to the front elevation of Notre Dame and is aligned up with the centerline of the cathedral, according to renderings. The structure is envisioned as a multi-use space that can p...

Shigeru Ban pitches paper tube chapel as temporary Notre Dame replacement

2019-07-10T12:31:00-04:00

La Croix International reports that Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has proposed a temporary chapel to be used for gatherings and religious services in the forecourt of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris while the iconic structure is restored.

The cathedral burned in April 2019, and its future has been the subject of much speculation in the ensuing months as a series of outlandish and conflicting proposals and reconstruction efforts have taken shape.

While not formally approved, Ban's chapel would be made up of wood-wrapped recycled shipping containers and tall paper tubes tied together with wooden trusses and rope. Together, the elements would create a nave capable of holding dozens of people at at time.

The temporary pavilion would be built out of wood-wrapped recycled shipping containers and paper tube columns. Image courtesy of Shigeru Ban Architects.

The vision has not been without controversy, of course. Patrick Bouchain, a French designer who has helped other major cultural insti...

French Senate: Notre-Dame must be rebuilt to "last known visual state”

2019-05-29T14:20:00-04:00

On Monday evening, the French Senate approved the government's Notre-Dame restoration bill - but added a clause that it must be restored to the state it was before the blaze

The French senate has stepped into the fray over how to rebuild Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris by passing a bill approving the government’s planned restoration effort with the added requirement that the cathedral be rebuilt to its "last known visual state.”

Notre-Dame competition an extraordinary opportunity, says Norman Foster. https://t.co/uQxmDZgHbz pic.twitter.com/FPpQgUmckF
— Royal Fine Art (@RoyalFineArt) April 20, 2019

The move is a rebuke to French prime minister Edouard Philippe, who promptly called for an international competition to find a suitable rebuilding plan following the April 15 blaze. Norman Foster and others have weighed in on the proposed improvements, which include visions for new glass spires, evocative light installations, and other eclectic approaches.

As the government’s legislative bodies move to set a plan and gather funds to launch the restoration, a disagreement over how to proceed will be one to watch.

Notre Dame walls could collapse without immediate structural support, new report warns

2019-05-22T14:58:00-04:00

Notre Dame is not stable and urgently needs reinforcing. [...] The collapse of a part of the vaults has severely reduced the safety of its structural system, which, in the case of a Gothic cathedral, does not rely on the heavy mass of the walls, as in classical architecture, but on discharging weight through clustered columns, external flying buttresses and counter-supports—a structural “exoskeleton” that until now has been extremely effective and resilient.

A new assessment of the Gothic cathedral's structural system after the devastating April 15 fire shows that the stability has been severely weakened by various factors and warns that the walls could now fail to withstand strong wind gusts.

The morning after the incident: Notre Dame's spire is gone and the roof partially collapsed. Photo: Pierre Yves Beaudouin/Wikipedia.

"Paolo Vannucci, a mechanical engineer at the University of Versailles, has modelled the engineering of the structure," reports The Art Newspaper, "and shown that the walls of Notre Dame could collapse under the pressure of wind speeds higher than 90km per hour, while before the fire they could withstand winds of up to 220km per hour, so they urgently need temporary supports."

Dutch company wants to rebuild Notre Dame by 3D printing its ashes

2019-05-01T14:35:00-04:00

After a devastating fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral earlier this month, designers have been proposing ideas for its restoration. Foster + Partners released a controversial rendering for a glass roof addition, Studio Fuksas proposed a spire made of crystal, and the São Paulo-based architecture practice AJ6 Studio imagines one made entirely from stained glass.

Meanwhile, one company, Concr3de, is staying away from the transparent material, instead looking to the ashes and debris caused by the fire for inspiration. The dutch company—which was founded by Eric Geboers and Matteo Baldassari and specializes in 3D printing for the architecture industry—has proposed a plan that would use the rubble to 3D print parts of the gothic cathedral that have been lost.

Taking the ash, the dust and damaged stone and turning it into a 3D printable powder, the two designers want to rebuild the cathedral using the original design that has been saved in incredible detail thanks to the digital sca...

Not so fast: Following the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, heritage experts respond to Macron's ambitious five-year restoration deadline

2019-04-29T18:07:00-04:00

Heritage experts warn that restoring Notre Dame de Paris after the devastating fire of 15 April will be so complex that it could take a decade or more, despite President Emmanuel Macron’s vow to “rebuild the cathedral more beautiful than ever” within five years.

While President Emmanuel Macron has an obvious political interest in reopening the severely damaged Notre Dame Cathedral for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, experts call for patience and reject improbable deadlines.

Notre Dame's north rose window dates back to around 1250. Image: Wikipedia.

A host of engineers, scientists, and conservators will have to inspect the structural integrity of the ancient limestone vaults and oak roof beams, survey the condition of the 13th-century stained-glass rose windows, investigate the immediate and long-term destruction caused by the water used to put out the flames, and, ultimately, find enough old-growth oak trees to restore the roof timbers in a historically authentic fashion—and the appropriately trained artisans to execute this work.

The oak trees used in the complex roof framing were felled in the 12th and 13th centuries. Image: Wikipedia.

The renovation is certain to be "very long and delicate, and we absolutely can’t say it will take four, ...

Norman Foster's thoughts on the Notre Dame Cathedral restoration gets strong reaction from the public (updated)

2019-04-23T19:48:00-04:00

With the Notre Dame design competition well underway participants and submission ideas are flowing in. Although many submission ideas poke fun at the possibilities of what the new design could be, some firms are looking at the competition as an opportunity. Norman Foster of Foster + Partners shared this thoughts for what the cathedral's new roof and spire could look like. However, when the rendered image, created by The Times, based on his feedback, made its way to social media, the public took to commenting with much criticism.

The new cathedral spire is said to be made of glass and steel with the possibility of also having a built-in observation deck at the base of the spire. Foster views the competition as an opportunity to view the spire rebuild as a way to utilize the "technology of the age [...] The decision to hold a competition for the rebuilding of Notre Dame is to be applauded because it is an acknowledgment of that tradition of new interventions.” Although Foster's enthu...

As a Notre Dame Cathedral rebuild design competition is announced, we ask, "what does rebuilding the Notre Dame Cathedral really mean?"

2019-04-22T17:16:00-04:00

News of the Notre Dame fire has been an ongoing topic as of last week. Despite the loss of one spire and a destroyed roof, the cathedral still stands. The public has expressed strong views and opinions regarding the amount of attention and proactiveness many have made towards its rebuild. Social media is littered with responses of sadness, irritation, anger, optimism, and criticism towards the 850-year-old building. Much of the opinionated discussion not only revolves around the structure's historical and religious ties, but the amount of attention and funding it has received towards its rebuild. Using the cathedral's casualty as an example, is this how the general public will react to future casualties towards architecture?

After President Macron announced a campaign to raise funds for the cathedral early last week, an outpour of funds were donated. In one day alone, three of the wealthiest families in France pledged $700 million. Upon hearing of the funds raised many were quick to...

Notre Dame Cathedral's restoration is imagined through digital scans by architectural historian Andrew Tallon

2019-04-17T13:12:00-04:00

Many are still regrouping after the devastating news of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire that took place on Monday, April 15th. With cathedral updates made by our Archinect team member Justine Testado, plans for restoring the historic building is underway. Since yesterday France's president Emmanuel Macron has helped lead a significant fundraising effort towards Notre Dame's restoration. With hundreds of millions of euros having already been pledged many are curious as to how the restoration will pan out.

French Firefighters stand near the cathedral assessing the next steps during yesterday's blaze. Image courtesy of cnn.com

After a hard day of strategically planning how to contain the blaze without causing more damage to the structure firefighters were able to put out the fire and assess the damages. During the assessment, the cathedral's spire was severely affected by the fire and collapsed during the blaze. Extensive damage was done to the cathedral's roof which had to be completely ...

The cultural and historic impact of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral

2019-04-15T16:46:00-04:00

In light of the recent Notre Dame Cathedral fire, many have posted photos and stories remembering the historic landmark across social media. As news of the fire's progression airs around the world, we can not help but stay optimistic for the cathedral's recovery. Although the public eye may be focused on the structure's current state, let us take a moment to recall the historical and cultural importance of this famed Parisian landmark.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, view from the River Seine. Image © Carol Blyberg (flickr acct: smilla4)

Notre Dame Cathedral - cross section. Image courtesy of pitt.edu

Considered one of the most notable structures in Paris, the 850-year old building is located in the center of the River Seine on a small island called Ile de la Cite. The name Notre-Dame de Paris, which translates to "Our Lady of Paris," began its construction in 1163 and took nearly 200 years to complete. It is recorded that the cathedral's completion took place during the reign of Kin...

Fire breaks out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

2019-04-15T13:42:00-04:00

The cause is not yet clear, but officials say it could be linked to renovation work. [...] Last year, the Catholic Church in France launched an urgent appeal for funds to save the cathedral, which was starting to crumble. A major operation is under way to tackle the blaze, which broke out on Monday afternoon, and an area surrounding the building in central Paris has been cleared, officials said.

8:18 PM EST:

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to have the beloved landmark rebuilt, and announced that a fundraiser will be launched tomorrow.

The Paris prosecutors' office says investigators are treating the fire as an accident and have ruled out arson, “including possible terror-related motives for starting the blaze”, the Associated Press reports.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted that major art pieces and relics were saved from the fire, including the Crown of Thorns, the Tunic of Saint Louis, and several other major works that are now in a safe place.

A spokesman for Paris police has said that the fire is now under control, CNN reports.

6:07 PM EST: Cathedral saved from “total destruction”

Multiple reports state that the cathedral has been saved from “total destruction”, but it will take a minimum of three or four hours to contain the fire.

Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media that the cathedral sustained “colossal damage”, and that its marveled Medieval wo...

Notre Dame is falling apart and relying on US donations for major repairs

2018-08-15T14:21:00-04:00

One of Europe’s most visited sites, with about 12 million tourists a year, is in dire need of repairs. Centuries of weather have worn away at the stone. The fumes from decades of gridlock have only worsened the damage. “Pollution is the biggest culprit,” says Philippe Villeneuve, architect in chief of historic monuments in France. “We need to replace the ruined stones. We need to replace the joints with traditional materials. This is going to be extensive.”

Notre Dame faces major repairs as the historic Cathedral's structure decays due largely to pollution. Funding for the repairs needed were difficult to raise as the cathedral is owned by the French government, yet their arrangement allows the Catholic archdiocese of Paris to use it for free. Both claimed the other responsible for raising funds, however the archdiocese stepped up creating Friends of Notre Dam last year.

The organization allows US citizens to make tax deductible contributions to the renovation of this historic landmark. Friends of Notre Dame hope to raise $114 million within the next five to 10 years.

Notre-Dame de Paris asks for a makeover

2017-09-29T16:42:00-04:00

Broken gargoyles and fallen balustrades replaced by plastic pipes and wooden planks. Flying buttresses darkened by pollution and eroded by rainwater. Pinnacles propped up by beams and held together with straps.

The historic French monument, Notre-Dame de Paris, has suffered due to time, rain, pollution and wind.

Built from 1160 to 1345, with restorations and additions in the mid 19th century by architects Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Viollet-le-Duc, the cathedral attracts 14 million visitors per year.

Image from WIkipedia

The cathedral's spokesman André Finot explained that the cathedral needs an extensive makeover. The cost of the restoration is estimated at 150 million euros (US $180 million).

Image from Friends of the Notre-Dame de Paris

Pinnacles appear to be melting due to atmospheric corrosion.

Image from Friends of the Notre-Dame de Paris

Several gargoyles are highly damaged by rain, pollution and wind.

Image from Friends of the Notre-Dame de Paris

Flying buttresses are one of the most urgent and concerning issues due to their structural function. If one was to collapse, the consequences would be disastrous.

Image from Friends of the Notre-Dame de Paris

The Friends of the Notre-Dame de Par...

Archbishop of Paris launches €100 million campaign to save the chipping gothic arches of Notre Dame

2017-08-30T16:55:00-04:00

Church officials, who have created what they are calling a “stone cemetery” from fallen masonry, say the cathedral remains safe to visit. Entry is free and the French state, which owns the building, devotes €2m (£1.9m) a year to repairs. But that is not enough to embark on major restoration works, the last of which were carried out during the 1800s, officials at the cathedral and charity said.

The archbishop of Paris launched a €100m fundraising campaign for Notre Dame's extensive restoration works. The 12th century cathedral on the Seine river—one of Paris' biggest landmarks, is visited by up to 14 million people visit per year.

“Gargoyles are what people want to see when they come to Paris. If there are no more gargoyles, what will they see?” said Andre Finot, Notre Dame’s communications chief.

New Notre Dame School of Architecture building breaks ground

2016-11-16T18:48:00-05:00

The University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., has broken ground on a new home for the university's architecture school. [...] The new building will enable the university’s School of Architecture to add two graduate programs: historic preservation and real estate development. Walsh Family Hall will be the second element of a planned arts quadrangle. [...] The hall is designed by John Simpson Architects of London; Stantec is the architect of record.

Learn more about the new building— a prime example of New Classicism— on the School of Architecture's website.

Get Lectured: University of Notre Dame, Spring '15

2015-01-22T13:30:00-05:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Winter-Spring 2015

Archinect's Get Lectured is back in session! Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back frequently to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

The next featured poster comes from the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

Unless otherwise noted, lectures are held on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. in 104 Bond Hall. Attendees are eligible to receive AIA/CE credits.

Jan 28
Michael Imber / Principal - Michael Imber Architects, San Antonio, TX
"Building with Landscape, Culture and Craft"

Feb 18
Maxim Atayants / Principal, Maxim Atayants Architects - St. Petersburg, Russia
"From Single Building to Urban Fabric: the Way to Build Classically in Russia"

March 4
Michael Lewis / Faison-Pierson-Stoddard...

HdM's Triangle skyscraper continues to divide Paris over its historic identity

2014-12-22T12:54:00-05:00

Alexandre Gady, conservationist, historian of French architecture and professor of modern architecture at the Sorbonne, argues that changing or “renewing” Paris diverts from its real need to look outwards. Paris, he says, is a “finished” city that does not need improving or anything more doing to it. “It’s not that we should be doing this or that – we should not be doing anything in central Paris ... any plan is a diversion from the need of the city to grow outwards,” [...]

Previously: Paris row after HdM's Triangle skyscraper rejected

Michael Graves named 2012 Driehaus Prize laureate

2011-12-14T15:16:00-05:00

American architect Michael Graves has been named the recipient of the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame. Winner of the university's 2012 Henry Hope Reed Award is writer and landscape preservationist Elizabeth Barlow Rogers.

Archinect - News

French officials float €5 tourist entrance fee after Notre Dame reopening

In the face of post-pandemic habits, U.S. cities turn to vernacular design traditions for answers

In a turnaround, French officials say Notre Dame’s restoration will not be ready in time for the Olympics

Notre Dame's 'shocking' interior cleaning is sparking a debate about methods used in architectural restoration

France’s Culture Ministry says Notre-Dame is still on track to reopen in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics

A VR game allows users to 'save' a digital model of the Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame cathedral is now secure enough to start the rebuilding process, potentially in time for 2024 Summer Olympics

Notre Dame Cathedral appeals for additional funding as work begins to restore the church's interior

Hundreds of ancient oaks needed to rebuild Notre Dame spire

Notre-Dame cathedral: modern spire now off the table

Notre Dame jobsite prepares to reopen in early May

Tensions with Notre Dame cathedral's chief architect heat up over reconstruction plans

Charred timber pavilion proposed as temporary Notre Dame replacement

Shigeru Ban pitches paper tube chapel as temporary Notre Dame replacement

French Senate: Notre-Dame must be rebuilt to "last known visual state”

Notre Dame walls could collapse without immediate structural support, new report warns

Dutch company wants to rebuild Notre Dame by 3D printing its ashes

Not so fast: Following the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, heritage experts respond to Macron's ambitious five-year restoration deadline

Norman Foster's thoughts on the Notre Dame Cathedral restoration gets strong reaction from the public (updated)

As a Notre Dame Cathedral rebuild design competition is announced, we ask, "what does rebuilding the Notre Dame Cathedral really mean?"

Notre Dame Cathedral's restoration is imagined through digital scans by architectural historian Andrew Tallon

The cultural and historic impact of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral

Fire breaks out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Notre Dame is falling apart and relying on US donations for major repairs

Notre-Dame de Paris asks for a makeover

A​rchbishop of Paris launche​s €100 million campaign to save the chipping gothic arches of Notre Dame

New Notre Dame School of Architecture building breaks ground

Get Lectured: University of Notre Dame, Spring '15

HdM's Triangle skyscraper continues to divide Paris over its historic identity

Michael Graves named 2012 Driehaus Prize laureate

Archbishop of Paris launches €100 million campaign to save the chipping gothic arches of Notre Dame