A Restoration, perhaps?

I stopped by Notre Dame this week to find it completely encircled by high temporary construction walls. One day it’s open for you to visit almost anytime you wish. The next day it’s closed indefinitely, with life for the residents and businesses on Ile de la Cite altered considerably. Yet there was good news the other day, with lawmakers pushing for a restoration “as it was” in opposition to the hubristic “architectural competition” that was to add a second torture to the loss. No need to remake something that didn’t need to be remade. Perhaps some may even consider the odd possibility that we have something to learn from a building that stood for 1000 years. Will they be able to complete it, as they wish, in time for the 2024 Olympics? The world is watching; there’s nothing like a deadline to focus the mind.

This originally appeared on the Fleming Foundation.