They think each step should be carefully considered in order not to make mistakes when rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral reconstruction rendering by Studio NAB. Source: Artforum
More than 1,150 artists, curators, academics and conservators have signed an open letter calling on French president Emmanuel Macron to abandon his plan to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in five years, Artforum learnt from Le Figaro.
Authors of the letter say it’s dangerous to rush reconstruction. The reconstruction plan includes an international architecture competition and a new law that would allow bypassing heritage regulations. They think the desire to complete the reconstruction by the 2024 Olympic Games is not worth the risk of making a mistake:
“You have said, Mr. President, that you want to restore Notre Dame. It’s our desire too, but in doing so, let’s not do away with the complex thought that must go into this for the appearance of efficiency. Let’s take time to evaluate. . . . We know that the political calendar requires quick action, we know how much a mutilated Notre Dame weighs on the image of France. Nevertheless, what will happen at Notre Dame in the years to come concerns us all, far beyond that calendar.”
The international architecture competition has already attracted companies and architects. Dozens of restoration projects have been offered, including variants close to the original one and radical projects reflecting the new time. It has sparked a debate over how the restored cathedral should look like.
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