- Building Futures is about identifying projects, ideas and innovation that will create lasting positive change within the building community and the communities it serves.
- This BF reviews how the rebirth of the Notre Dame took place after the fire.
In 1979 and 1980 when I was an exchange student in Versailles, outside of Paris, I spent a lot of time hanging out in and around Notre Dame. In fact, one of my extra credit classroom assignments was studying the acoustic characteristics of gothic cathedrals, which simply meant I waited inside various cathedrals until they were empty and would play my guitar. Then I would write a report on my acoustical experience. Not very scientific, but one of the more amazing musical experiences. All the hard surfaces of the stonework allowed the music to continue to bounce off the surfaces creating a very full sound for a single acoustic guitar. I probably played in 6-10 different cathedrals and although my report to my professor was lackluster, the experience was fun and inspiring.
The point I am trying to make is that because of these and other personal fun experiences close to Notre Dame, the building has played a larger than normal impact in my life.
When it burned down on April 15, 2019, it hit me in a similar way that the destruction of the Twin Towers on 09/11 did. I was very glad when Macron (the president of France) and people from around the world made the necessary funds and resources available to rebuild the structure. It was originally constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries. So, it took approximately 200 years. The clean-up and re-construction work has taken approximately 5 years. Craftsmen and women from around the world were hired to bring their traditional skillset to bear on structural beam woodwork, stonework, stained glass, amongst many others, and then to integrate 21st century technology seamlessly into the stone, wood and lead chassis that comprises all cathedrals built in that era. I have watched a couple of documentaries and read a number of articles on the rebuilding of the cathedral, and it became obvious to me that many people from around the world have developed similar attachments to the building, and through their good wishes, financial and skillset support were instrumental in bringing the Notre Dame experience back to the City of Paris.
Although, my wife and I have many places in the world to se on our bucket list, and in addition to living in the region for over a year and visiting multiple times since then, going back to Paris and visiting the newest rendition of Notre Dame is something we continue to look forward to.