Notre Dame proposals envision 'green' roof, glass spire, beam of light

Architects have pitched a slew of bold proposals for the fire-ravaged cathedral.

May 18, 2019, 9:26 AM

PARIS -- Two days after fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral, swallowing both the wooden roof and the spire, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced an international competition of architecture to decide whether to rebuild under the same conditions or endow it with a new spire "adapted to the techniques and issues of our time."

Ever since, architects, landscape artists and graphic designers from France and beyond have answered the call, imagining the Notre Dame of tomorrow.

The proposal from landscape artist and architect Clément Willemin features a garden roof with walking paths around wild-looking bushes, plants and flowers. It received immediate reactions and has been viewed online 7 million times, receiving 70,000 likes.

We could produce the famous 'nectar of the gods' in the heart of the new spire.

But others' views have been mixed.

"Some people insult me, others tell me, ‘I pray for you,’” Willemin says.

He doubts that his project will be picked, saying "my point was more to feed the debate than anything."

Architect Clement Willemin says the goal of his proposal for the Notre Dame design was, "more to feed the debate than anything."
BASE
Architect Clement Willemin says the goal of his proposal for the Notre Dame design was, "more to feed the debate than anything."
BASE

Brazilian architect Alexandre Fantozzi told ABC News he was celebrating Easter with his family when he thought of a roof and spire totally covered with stained glass windows -- "the biggest Gothic feature," Fantozzi said.

Brazilian architect Alexandre Fantozzi says he was celebrating Easter with his family when he thought of a roof and spire totally covered with stained-glass windows.
Alexandre Fantozzi
Brazilian architect Alexandre Fantozzi says he was celebrating Easter with his family when he thought of a roof and spire totally covered with stained-glass windows.
Alexandre Fantozzi

Graphic designer Anthony Séjourné told ABC News he wanted to contrast the heaviness of the original spire, which crumbled to the ground in the fire, with a projecting beam of light that would pierce the clouds, thus keeping the original spiritual symbol of wanting to get to the heavens.

Graphic designer Anthony Sejourne wanted to contrast the heaviness of the original spire which crumbled to the ground, with a projecting beam of light, piercing the clouds, keeping the original spiritual symbolism of wanting to reach the heavens.
Anthony Sejourne

Parisian architect Alexandre Chassang told ABC News he imagines a glass shard-looking spire.

PHOTO: Parisian architect Alexandre Chassang imagines a glass spire resembling a shard.
Parisian architect Alexandre Chassang imagines a glass spire resembling The Shard, in London.
Alexandre Chassang/Getty Images

For NAB design founder Nicolas Abdelkader, Notre Dame’s reconstruction is an opportunity to tackle social and environmental issues, "values dear to the Church and presumably to the French state," he told ABC News.

He makes the roof a greenhouse dedicated to training the unemployed in urban agriculture, horticulture and permaculture, and makes the spire into a giant hive for the bees miraculously saved during the fire.

"We could produce the famous 'nectar of the gods' in the heart of the new spire," Abdelkader said.

NAB Design founder Nicolas Abdelkader's proposal would turn Notre Dame's roof into a greenhouse dedicated to training the unemployed in urban agriculture, horticulture and permaculture.
Nicolas Abdelkader
NAB Design founder Nicolas Abdelkader's proposal would turn Notre Dame's roof into a greenhouse dedicated to training the unemployed in urban agriculture, horticulture and permaculture.
Nicolas Abdelkader

While the projects are creating buzz on social media, some reactions are downright brutal. The architects said they received dozens of insulting emails and abusive comments following the publication of their project.

Just like late I.M. Pei’s pyramid of the Louvre 30 years ago, the discussion over Notre Dame’s reconstruction is triggering passions, dividing France in two camps: the debate between modern and old.

According to a recent poll, 55% of French people dislike the idea of an international competition because they want the spire to be rebuilt "as it was." Conservative congressman Nicolas Dupont-Aignan even issued a petition urging to "build identically" and "not disfigure Notre-Dame."

When Denis Laming first saw the flames atop Notre Dame from his apartment window, he told ABC News that he knew that the roof was lost and that a quarrel between conservatives and modernists would ensue. The architect famous for the French theme park Futuroscope then imagined a roof identical from the outside, but with a sliding mechanism that reveals glass windows to reconcile the nostalgics with the modernists.

Architect Denis Laming calls his Notre Dame design, "Cathedral of Light."
Denis Laming

Laming's project was awarded Thursday with a UNESCO label for best reconstruction project on Notre Dame.

For now, no announcement on the international competition rules and starting date has been set, but Laming says that his Cathedral of Light design is being "presented to the relevant institutions."

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