France opens the question: should Notre-Dame be rebuilt as it was?
President Emmanuel Macron wants the cathedral rebuilt in five years while prime minister says there may be a case for a more modern spire
Paris — France will open the redesign of Notre-Dame cathedral’s historic spire to international architects after Monday night’s catastrophic blaze that gutted the oak-framed roof and sent the towering spire crashing through the vaulted ceiling. The government’s announcement on Wednesday added to a question many are asking as France grieves for its damaged national symbol — whether the familiar outline at the heart of the capital should be restored exactly as it was or given a modern twist. President Emmanuel Macron pledged in a prime-time address to the nation on Tuesday that Notre-Dame would be rebuilt within five years. Tycoons and international firms have promised financial and expert help. The cathedral was built over nearly 200 years starting in the middle of the 12th century, although it was only in the mid-1800s that architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc added the lead-covered spire during restoration work. “The international competition will allow us to ask the question of whether...
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