An April fire severely damaged the historic landmark Since the devastating fire that destroyed sections of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, on April 15, we?ve seen a plethora of proposed redesigns, some of which include a glassy spire, a tree-filled roof, and a cross-shaped rooftop pool. Earlier this week, however, the French Senate stipulated that the historic church must be restored to the state it was before the blaze.
The rebuilding of the cathedral has become a lighting-rod issue in France, a battleground between traditionalists who want the church to be restored exactly as it was and those who advocate a more innovative restoration.
It?s important to note that the architecture of Notre Dame has evolved over time; the spire that collapsed on April 15 was not an original component of the 12th-century design. Along with the gargoyles immortalized in Victor Hugo?s famous novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Gothic revival spire was added in the 19th-century by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. That the cathedral would be rebuilt seemed without question, as French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild even as the flames were being stamped out. The president?s timeline, however, sparked controversy, as some called the goal of 2024?when Paris hosts the Olympics?a political ploy that was far too ambitious to do the work properly.

When France?s Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said he would launch an international architectural competition to r...