19 ms·

The Basilica of St. Paul's in Rome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside_the_Walls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_

The Basilica of St. Paul's in Rome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside_the_Walls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_Outside...) has a very similar story. It's even older than Notre Dame (4th century) and was burned nearly to the ground in 1823 by, wait for it, an accident involving a worker repairing the roof. The church was rebuilt using contemporary methods and today it's regarded as a treasure. I foresee a similar thing happening here. A 1000-year old roof is an architectural treasure, but it's also a 1000-year old roof, with all its attendant challenges. The church will (someday) be rebuilt in a grand old classical style, but with a soupçon of modernity added as well. I think will be in some sense better off as a result.

hrktb 8y ago
An alternative approach is to rebuild a replica while keeping the original sealed (non visitable) It has been done for prehistoric caves for instance. For a whole building it's more tricky, but it could be fine to have it on a remote part of the city, and let people experience it as it was before. That would also allow to do representation or over more risky uses that could damage the historical monument but would be fine in a replica.
- pyrale 8y ago
  What is the point of preserving it if no one can visit it ?
  - hrktb 8y ago
    The same applies to painting replicas, and I think most people don’t mind if the original is kept for preservation and near perfect replicas are exposed/sold for viewing purpose in comfortable conditions.
- jacquesm 8y ago
  You can keep it 'non visitable' but it will need a roof of sorts. The quickest way to get rid of any building is to open it up to the weather.
  - logfromblammo 8y ago
    Like a human, a building standing in bad weather prefers to have a broad waterproof hat, a windproof coat, and dry boots. Which is to say a roof without leaks, walls without holes, and a foundation with good drainage.
- iguy 8y ago
  But for caves this is easy, you just add a door. Notre Dame is the grand centerpiece around which Paris has been built and re-built. There is no way it's going to be encased in a warehouse with bus tours to a replica somewhere.

hrktb 8y ago

An alternative approach is to rebuild a replica while keeping the original sealed (non visitable) It has been done for prehistoric caves for instance. For a whole building it's more tricky, but it could be fine to have it on a remote part of the city, and let people experience it as it was before. That would also allow to do representation or over more risky uses that could damage the historical monument but would be fine in a replica.

pyrale 8y ago
What is the point of preserving it if no one can visit it ?
- hrktb 8y ago
  The same applies to painting replicas, and I think most people don’t mind if the original is kept for preservation and near perfect replicas are exposed/sold for viewing purpose in comfortable conditions.
jacquesm 8y ago
You can keep it 'non visitable' but it will need a roof of sorts. The quickest way to get rid of any building is to open it up to the weather.
- logfromblammo 8y ago
  Like a human, a building standing in bad weather prefers to have a broad waterproof hat, a windproof coat, and dry boots. Which is to say a roof without leaks, walls without holes, and a foundation with good drainage.
iguy 8y ago
But for caves this is easy, you just add a door. Notre Dame is the grand centerpiece around which Paris has been built and re-built. There is no way it's going to be encased in a warehouse with bus tours to a replica somewhere.