More than 1 billion euros were donated after Paris’ cathedral was grievously damaged by fire in April. By comparison, just a few million euros were given after catastrophic flooding in Cité des Doges.
A scholar analyzed data about UNESCO World Heritage sites to explain why European cultural relics like Notre Dame are so beloved, while splendid monuments elsewhere remain relatively unknown.
Over the last 50 years, the warehouse infrastructure of Paris has been decimated. In the wake of the Notre Dame fire, transforming the cathedral into a warehouse isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem.
The biggest names in France’s luxury industry have given millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame. Questioning why they would do so overlooks the deep historical and religious roots of the industry.
The coercive Christian rule under which Notre Dame was sanctioned drove a wide exploitation of nature. Let it stand as a reminder of our environmental sins and a call to action.
The influence of Notre Dame Cathedral extended into every part of the life of Paris. The cathedral school was the training ground for medieval thinkers and the place of birth of the first university.
After the tragic fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, planning for an ambitious reconstruction is already underway – and the latest digital technologies will be at the forefront.
The Notre Dame Cathedral was long a powerful symbol of church authority - but it wasn’t static. The design kept changing to keep up with the changing times.
The fire that devastated the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on April 15 is a historic event that reminds us of the symbolic power of national monuments.
Images of Notre Dame on fire have elicited an outpouring of grief around the world and online. This response raises the question of why we feel more connected to some heritage places than others.
With modern technology, it is entirely possible for the cathedral to be recreated with near-accuracy to the original. We can do this and keep the original building’s spirit and feeling.
Professeure de management stratégique, directrice des programmes du MSc Arts & Creative Industries Management à Paris et de la partie française de l'Institut Franco-Chinois de Management des Arts et du Design à Shanghai, Kedge Business School
Senior Lecturer in Architectural HIstory and Theory, UNSW & Honorary Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage (ACAHUCH), UNSW Sydney