Summary
The Final Remodel of Notre Dame
When the final remodel of Notre Dame is complete, it will look a bit different than visitors remember. The plan, which is being led by landscape architect Bureau Bas Smets, will feature an enlarged square behind the cathedral, a new park, an underground walkway, and a canopy of trees.
“The project rethinks the emblematic public spaces around Notre Dame as a sequence of climatic atmospheres,” the firm wrote, adding, “Compressed and imbricated around the Cathedral, these spaces frame new views towards Notre Dame, establish a new relationship with the Seine, and offer new activities. The Ile de la Cité becomes the epicenter of Paris once again.”
Increased Vegetation and Eco-Friendly Design
The plan includes over 30% more vegetation for the area, which will help fight climate change. Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo told The New York Times that the city plans to install a cooling system capable of sending a thin sheet of water down the square during heat waves. This system aims to lower temperatures without causing potential flooding, according to reports.
Notre Dame “had to be left in its beauty and have everything around it be a showcase for that beauty,” Hidalgo explained. However, she emphasized that “a city like ours can no longer think outside of climate change.”
Moreover, the new design will transform an underground parking lot into a walkway that provides access to a welcome center and an archaeological museum, ensuring a holistic visitor experience.
Reconstruction Timeline and Future Plans
Notre Dame, one of the most Instagrammed UNESCO World Heritage Sites, was devastated by a fire in April 2019. Since then, officials have worked diligently to reconstruct the damaged areas and reopen sections of the famed cathedral.
In 2020, the city reopened the crypt beneath Notre Dame, which remained unaffected by the fire but was impacted by lead dust. The public plaza in front of the cathedral’s main entrance was also reopened.
Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that his goal was to have Notre Dame complete by the 2024 Olympics, which will be hosted in Paris. While most of the reconstruction will likely be finished by then, the NYT noted that work on the cathedral’s outskirts is set to commence “in earnest” only after the scaffolding is removed and is expected to be completed by 2027.
