The grand dame set to be topped with a new wood roof

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Since the devastating April 2019 fire that crumbled major sections of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, discussion has been intense about how the 800-year-old landmark should be rebuilt.

When it comes to the roof and iconic spire, French President Emmanuel Macron tends towards a more contemporary slant. A public competition attracted designs ranging from the subdued to the surreal, with suggestions for the spire and roof to be constructed out of metal, concrete or even stained glass. Ultimately, the French Senate decided that any “experimental” ideas would amount to sacrilege for the beloved structure. A bill was passed by Parliament declaring that Notre Dame is to be rebuilt exactly as it was.

Image: Getty Images

Eric Wirth, Vice President of the Guild of French Architects told the parliamentary hearing that had the cathedral featured an iron roof, it would have held up for around half an hour during the blaze. It would then have twisted, pulling on the walls and bringing the whole building crashing down.

Mr Wirth explained that wood is “the most modern material, the most ecological today. It is the only one that traps carbon.” He went on to note wood’s natural fire resistance and the fact that the great weight of the wood – in lieu of lighter weight modern materials – works because cathedrals such as Notre Dame feature arches on which heavy masses rest comfortably.