9 Ridiculously Crazy Proposals For The Notre Dame Restoration

On April 17, just a few days after the Notre Dame inferno, the French government announced it will be hosting a competition to design a new replacement for the cathedral’s burned down spire. According to Edouard Philippe, the French prime minister, the new designs don’t necessarily have to be traditional and even said the should be “adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era.” Since the announcement, artists and architects have been suggesting designs ranging from beautiful to ridiculous and even after a whole month has passed, new designs just keep on flowing.

#1 A Swimming Pool”

Image source: Ulf Mejergren Architects

Here’s how Ulf Mejergren Architects describe their unique project:

“Most proposals that we have seen puts way too much focus and effort on the spire; a rather recent addition built in the 19th century renovation.

We think that the cathedral looks much better without both the spire and the led-clad roof. Instead we let the bell towers, the flying buttresses and the rose windows do the talking.
Given that we’re in the epicenter of Paris, the world’s cultural capital and a city filled with joie de vivre, where not planning on rebuilding the roof as it was.
Instead we are proposing a meditative public space; a complementary spatial experience to the building with unmatched views over Paris..
The spire is gone, but the twelve statues of the apostles that where put away during the restoration and managed to escape the fire, are once again back at the roof, now as guardians around a large public pool that occupies the whole roof.
Maybe the pool will be replaced in a hundred years or so, becoming another layer of great stories for the future.”

Don’t forget your swimming trunks next time you’re visiting Paris!

#2 A Car Park

Image source: SmetPascal

Here’s another crazy proposal for the Notre Dame Cathedral – a parking lot. This idea was suggested by Pascal Smet, the minister of mobility and public infrastructure for the Brussels-Capital region of Belgium, as a response to the Reformist Movement political party’s traffic policies.

#3 McDonald’s Notre Dame

Image source: szentgyorgyi-csabi

This design was ironically suggested by Reddit user szentgyorgyi-csabi and goes perfectly well with the other crazy suggestions. So how about that Big Mac with a side of holy water?

#4 Dome

The Dome, supported by a protruding tree-like column, was proposed by designer Juan Françisco Ronda. The designer says he wants to send a message of tranquility and peace but for us it just looks like a giant greenhouse.

#5 Quasimodo’s Penthouse

Image source: Who Cares Design

“Due to the latest events from April 15th 2019 at Notre Dame in Paris, the most famous bell ringer of the world, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, has lost his home. His more than 600 years old accommodation, the attic of the famous cathedral of Notre Dame, burned down. His loss is tragic, but now it´s time for change.

The Hollywood star Quasimodo, by now rich and famous thanks to the royalties from countless movies about him and his story, has already dreamed about changes to his housing conditions for several years. Finally, he can follow his dream of more comfort, light and a green rooftop garden.

The architectural firm Who Cares?! accepted the challenge and created a first blueprint. Who Cares?! is well known for its nonconformist approach, its love for detail and its creative design methods. Living space is king.

The old and dark attic makes place for a modern and light-flooded penthouse with two gigantic patios including a helipad and a spa with an indoor / outdoor pool. The new loft has a living area of 8.000 sqft with two patios of 540 sqft each. One rooftop garden is located on the east and the other on the west of the building. The penthouse is accessible either via the front rooftop garden or via the helipad. The rooftop garden located on the west side will offer an amazing view onto the most iconic sights of Paris. The lavishness of the rooftop gardens continues inside to form to a gigantic, almost sacral loft,” say the designers of this project.

#6 Golden Spire

Image source: mathieulehanneur

“Some say that we should rebuild the spire as it was originally. Others say that we should design a new one. So, let’s build a new one as it was… 8 days ago,” says Mathieu Lehanneur, the author of the project.

#7 Notre Dame Circus

This proposal from an unknown author serves as a perfect metaphor for all of the ‘circus’ that ensued after the fire.

#8 Abstract Spire

Image source: kissthearchitect

Architect studio “Kiss the architect” shared this design on their Instagram page but not everyone was a fan of this idea.

#9 Louis Vuitton Notre Dame

Image source: Pedro Ribs

This design was suggested by Brazilian studio Entrequadra Novas Mídias and was inspired by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s generous €200 million donation for the cathedral’s reconstruction. If the giant LV logo is not enough for you, the whole roof is decorated with the iconic Louis Vuitton pattern.