Don’t expect to see the roof of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral adorned with an infinity pool or a greenhouse filled with exotic plants in the near future.
After a fire destroyed the building’s spire and much of its roof on the evening of April 15, ideas from both professional and amateur architects and designers alike have been presented for how to restore the centuries-old building. While some have been more realistic than others, the French Senate has decided to put a stop to any theorizing of what is to come.
See Also: Notre Dame fire highlights danger of renovating historic structures
The Senate recently approved the restoration bill passed by the French Parliament, but added a clause that states the Cathedral must be rebuilt and restored to its last known visual condition. Additionally, the bill allows work on the project to be completed before the Paris Olympics begin in 2024, a timeframe that some fear is too accelerated and concerned more with politics than careful historical restoration.
Due to the changes made in the bill, the Senate and the Assemblée nationale must now come to an agreement on a version of the bill before it can become law, according to The Local, a European news site.
Related Stories
| Nov 5, 2013
New IECC provision tightens historic building exemption
The International Energy Conservation Code has been revised to eliminate what has been seen as a blanket exemption for historic buildings.
| Oct 30, 2013
15 stellar historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovation projects
The winners of the 2013 Reconstruction Awards showcase the best work of distinguished Building Teams, encompassing historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and renovations and additions.
| Oct 25, 2013
Hoffmann Architects announces launch of U.S. Capitol Dome restoration
The Architect of the Capitol will undertake comprehensive restoration of the 150-year-old cast iron Dome, which has not undergone a complete restoration since 1959-1960.
| Oct 23, 2013
Manhattan's landmark Marble Collegiate Church modernized
Helpern Architects, Structure Tone led the Building Team in a multi-phase project.
| Oct 22, 2013
Slow-growth economy continues to boost renovations over new construction
Major renovation projects—those costing more than $100,000—climbed as a share of total nonresidential construction as the recession began and haven’t yet come down, breaking from historic patterns.
| Oct 15, 2013
Historic LA YMCA-turned apartment building wins World Architecture Festival award
A major renovation of an historic YMCA in Los Angeles to an apartment facility was named the 2013 World Architecture Festival Housing Award recipient.
| Oct 7, 2013
Nation's first glass curtain wall exterior restored in San Francisco
The Hallidie Building's glass-and-steel skin is generally recognized as the forerunner of today’s curtain wall facilities.
| Oct 7, 2013
Lenders want better data to fund more green building retrofits
The CEO of Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance says lenders want better data to justify loans for green building retrofits.
| Oct 1, 2013
Renovation of historic Winchester, Va., buildings uncovers Civil War cannonball, bullets
The renovation of a set of historic downtown Winchester, Va., buildings led to the discovery of several historic artifacts including a Civil War cannonball and bullets, a variety of old baseball cards, and a 1940s-era newspaper embedded in the drywall.
| Sep 24, 2013
Hersheypark Arena ceiling renovation brightens interior, improves acoustics
Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pa., unveiled a new look following a $500,000 ceiling renovation.