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.
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 King Louis VII in 1345. Since it is completion, the cathedral has endured moments of joyous triumph as well as moments of tragedy. A significant historical monument not only for France but for the world, the Notre Dame Cathedral has been a part of significant world events. The cathedral has witnessed many coronations, wars, and restorations. From the crowning on Henry VI of England in 1431, Napoleon's crowning in 1804, and to the honoring of Joan of Arc in 1909, the cathedral's prominence in European world history is quite apparent.
Structurally, the cathedral showcases traditional French Gothic characteristics. It is considered one of the first structures to feature flying buttresses. Key to classic French Gothic architecture the cathedral presents beautiful examples of ribbed vault ceilings and pointed arches. During the time of its initial planning and construction, the cathedral was built to represent Paris' economic, political, and cultural power in France. Thanks to King Louis VII of France and Bishop Maurice de Sully these two men helped initiate the construction of the cathedral. During its construction, the cathedral has been built under four different architects.
Other than its stunning interiors, rose windows, and stained glass windows, the cathedral is highly recognized for its iconic west facade. With the cathedral being a place of worship under the Roman Catholic church, the decorative details revolve around several biblical scenes. The facade is adorned with three portals that showcase a brilliantly detailed tympanum. The architectural term is defined as a triangular or semi-circular wall surface that rests over an entrance featuring highly decorated images. Many have awed at the facade's detail. Even famed architect Le Corbusier was noted describing the cathedral's west facade as "pure creation of the spirit."
It is easy to agree that one visit to the cathedral would not be enough to experience the structure's grandeur. The historic landmark generates close to 13 million visitors a year, a prominent structure not only seen in architecture but within art history and literature as well. Many may associate the cathedral with Victor Hugo's famed literary novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. One must also not forget about the must-see gargoyles perched on top of the cathedral. Before the recent fire that sparked today the cathedral was already in a state of repair.
Stay tuned for Archinect's coverage of the cathedral fire.
27 Comments
What a tragedy.
fortunately the majority of the cathedral will be saved and can be rebuilt, for the sake of all man kind.
I’m glad much of the structure was saved. Though if you’ve seen the Sagrada Familia, you know the new parts will look weirdly new.
At some point we will have to address the idea of neglect ... when the pop media (NYT) covers more burning buildings than buildings, we have a massive cultural problem
I hope this tragic event sheds some light on how significantly important Architecture is to our built environment and to the culture of the human race.
There’s something attention grabbing about tragic events that gravitate the masses to a moment, where they can reflect on their thoughts. Architecture should be playing this role in our society without these events.
Very nicely put.
On a side issue, Hugo's novel Notre Dame de Paris (Hunchback) has become a sudden bestseller in France, and English translations at Amazon are out of stock. From translator John Sturrock's introduction:
"Notre-Dame is thus meant in part as a redemption of an architecture in eclipse. Hugo redeems it not simply with his applause and the attention he pays to its visible merits, but also by associating it with the Romantic spirit of the age, with the congenial movement of the contemporary mind towards a greater flexibility of thought. The Gothic style, for Hugo, is one of populism, aspiration and caprice. The Gothic, in which the rounded arch has been replaced by the pointed arch or ogee, is, on the contrary, a freer style, encouraging licence and dissent from authority.
"There is something else besides in the Gothic which he esteems and on which he capitalizes, and that is the part it allows to the grotesque, as in the gargoyles on the cathedral of Notre-Dame. Hugo felt much solidarity with an art form which had realized a part of his own Romantic programme by acknowledging that reality was compounded of both the beautiful and the ugly and had given the ugly at least a token part to play in a harmonious whole. This was to enlarge the art and at the same time to popularize it, for Hugo is clearly right to maintain that the inclusion of such motifs is a blow against the élitism of classical styles."
Circa 1973. Note the skyscraper in the background—I'm not sure if it's the hated Tour Montparnasse or La Tour Super-Italie.
definitely montparnasse
Strictly speaking, I now read these guys are not gargoyles but chimeras or grotesques, and they were carved in the 19th. century. Gargoyle refers to the water spout, which could be shaped in the form of a monster, which I assume the original Notre Dame had.
Lighten up people, nobody died, sure the building stood proud even before Columbus was born or the United States were even founded but that doesn't mean you need to be all hysterical. Totally agree with Greta Thunberg, people are lining up to save that bloody symbol of oppression but can't be bothered to do anything for a better future of the planet.
I'm mostly on your side with this one. Certainly the artistic and historical value of the building far exceed it's dumb religious associations. I wonder how much can be rebuilt on only thoughts and prayers?
Just the three richest families in France have pledged $700 million for rebuilding so far. In one day.
But since the artistic and historical value is being used for dumb religious purposes, maybe it's a sacrifice worth making ;-) Great central location for some nice brutalist social housing.
Yes, Notre Dame is an example of egregious oppression - as is most every major structure in the world from the Pyramids to the World Trade Center. To reinforce the point you'll never see Louis Vitton put up 200m to help the poor.
But ND remains a valuable historical reflection of human culture and an amazing piece of architectural, engineering, and craft.
One of the things you take a way from a visit is the obscene wealth necessary to produce such a structure, pretty much like a lot of projects we work on today.
Rando, how long until we see a proposition to turn ND, excluding the 2 towers, into some sort of shipping container hipster market? 900million euros savings right there.
rando is right of course.
This functional work of architecture was a symbol of oppression:
The Bastille. The French tore it down.
Whatever abuse happened in the church has to be balanced against the benefits it brought. I'm not going to do either. I have no interest in getting religious. I will note, however, that almost everyone took the religion seriously. It textured their lives and gave all a place, in spite of the contradictions and hypocrisies.
But even if the religion was at times oppressive, that doesn't mean the building itself represents oppression. It would take volumes to review and analyze all that Notre Dame includes and suggests, and that has been done. Its design raises as many questions as it answers yet contains both, which is part of its power. Notre Dame gives rise to many diverse reflections, such as Hugo's above, not in the least oppressive, in fact the opposite.
Architecture can make us think about who we are and what matters in any larger scheme. When it fails that, it suffocates us.
Without vision the people perish.
religion only "at times" oppressive? You're being far too generous.
Religion poisons everything.
I've used the fire as motivation to read Hunchback. Thanks for the nod. It's a fascinating meditation on architecture, not just of Notre Dame but of the whole city of Paris, past, 15th. century, the time of the novel, and Hugo's present, the 19th. Sensitive, detailed, and sympathetic. I strongly recommend. Get the full version, not edited texts.
Of hybrids such as Notre Dame, built over time, he says:
"They make us aware to what extent architecture is a primitive thing, demonstrating as they do, like the cyclopean remains, the pyramids of Egypt, or the gigantic Hindu pagodas, that architecture’s greatest products are less individual than social creations; the offspring of nations in labour rather than the outpouring of men of genius; the deposit left behind by a nation; the accumulation of the centuries; the residue from the successive evaporations of human society; in short, a kind of formation. Each wave of time lays down its alluvium, each race deposits its own stratum on the monument, each individual contributes his stone."
Reason enough to preserve it.
Some here might appreciate his comment in his second preface:
"Yet there is today so much life, so much potential, so much what one might call predestination in our young artists that, at this moment, particularly in our schools of architecture, the professors, who are execrable, are creating pupils who are excellent not only without knowing they are doing so but altogether in spite of themselves."
He's reacting against the I assume dogmatic instruction of the academies and rigid classicism of his time.
I thought Macron's plan to have the Notre Dame restoration finished by the Paris 2024 Olympics was about as misguided as you can get. The extent of the damage hasn't even been determined.
This gargoyle (grotesque) at Southwell Minster Cathedral, Nottinghamshire, 14th. century, has drawn attention lately:
I haven't yet found proof it's a hoax. We should stick one on the ass of democracy, just so we don't forget.
I'm in the mood for a gothic revival. It better fits these dark times.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b2egJ6tPyyQ
Gargoyles are the carved stone creatures fitted with a pipe to carry drain water away from the side of the building. (It shares the root word with gargle). Chimera are the carved stone figures absent the waterspout. The gargoyles of Notre Dame are pretty much original with the building while the chimera were added in one of the later restorations. The Donald (above) looks more like a chimera to me.
Thanks—and I noted this above. Languages morph, and the chimeras will always be known popularly as gargoyles. Actually, I'm not sure the Donaldus is a chimera, since he's not a fantastic creature. He would be a grotesque.
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