Its chief architect talks about rebuilding France’s ‘heart’ in five years | Wilnesh News

The day after the hell attack Notre Dame de Paris April 15, 2019Philippe Villeneuve walked dejectedly into the ruins of his cathedral. Smoke choked the spring air, the steeples were reduced to rubble and the nave was littered with charred beams. “We lost three parts: the frame, the roof, the spire and the vaults,” said Villeneuve, its chief architect since 2013.

Yet just hours earlier, President Macron issued an extraordinary decree: Notre Dame would rise again in just five years. “There’s just one (problem),” Villeneuve said in an interview with The Associated Press, “the deadline.”

It feels impossible. However, when Villeneuve stepped over the ruins in confusion, he was startled. Despite the horror of seeing the charred remains of this 861-year-old Gothic treasure, a beacon of hope emerged.

“All the stained glass windows survived, the great organ, the furniture, the paintings – everything was intact,” he realized. “It’s doable.”

historic restoration

Macron’s decree became the driving force behind France’s most ambitious restoration in modern history. The announcement – to restore a tower that took nearly 200 years to build in just five years – sparked unprecedented global support. Donations quickly approach $1 billion.

However, other obstacles cropped up. First, The fire sparked an immediate lead contamination crisis that halted work for a month and awakened the world to the dangers of lead dust. Then the pandemic hit, forcing workers off site. The weather seemed to be conspiring, too, with heavy rain delaying the removal of the charred scaffolding that had become woven into the skeleton of the disaster.

But Villeneuve persevered, working with his team on what he called the “presidential construction site” to redefine what was possible under extraordinary conditions. He lobbied to push the eventual reopening date from April this year to Dec. 8 — the Catholic holy day celebrating the sinless conception of Mary — a symbolic choice that felt both achievable and sacred.

His irreverent sense of humor – expressed in expletives and a childlike smile that belied his 61 years and a mop of silver hair – seemed to have carried him through these five years of relentless work.

But as reopening looms, Villeneuve acknowledged his lingering anxiety.

“I’m not calm – not at all. I’m stressed out,” he said. “This is not just about restoring a building. This is about restoring the heart of France.”

more beautiful than before

There is a positive side. The fire left serious scars on the cathedral, but also exposed its hidden brilliance – which many knew A glimpse of the restored interior was given last week Said they were even more majestic than before the disaster.

“(The fire) is scary to say, but every dark cloud has a silver lining,” Villeneuve said with a smile. “The stone is glowing now. It almost glows.”

The heat and falling debris left a toxic layer of lead dust that required careful cleaning of every surface. Dirt and soot were carefully removed from the sculptures, walls and organ pipes. Showing a brilliance not seen in a century.

Wandering among the medieval wooden beams of the reconstructed frame (so intricate it was called “the forest”) or under the newly restored spire, Villeneuve said the work was so seamless that it seemed as if hell might Will never happen.

“This is success,” Villeneuve said. “If I can make (cathedral visitors) doubt that there was a fire, then I’ve taken away the fear.”

ink dedication

While his restoration faithfully followed Eugène Violet-le-Duc’s historic design, Villeneuve found a deeply personal way to mark his connection to Notre Dame.

He knew he couldn’t carve his name in stone, so he chose to get a long, bold tattoo on his forearm and call himself “The Rock.”

It depicts Viollet-le-Duc’s original minaret – the one that collapsed during the fire – instead of Newly restored version of the crowned golden phoenix cum cock.

Complementing it is another tattoo on his chest, formed into a rosary design inspired by the stained glass of the cathedral. “It had nothing to do with me,” he said, “but I made my mark in my own way.”

Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century spire is a careful recreation of medieval aesthetics and remains the centerpiece of the restoration. “He’s a genius,” Villeneuve said of the architect. “My role is to ensure that this vision endures.”

Fire mystery remains

Although the restoration of Notre Dame is progressing with precision, Villeneuve still faces the question of the cause of the fire and a frustrating investigation into one of France’s greatest mysteries in living memory. Despite considerable effort, funding and interest, authorities still have not identified the cause of the fire. Initial theories suggested a short circuit, possibly related to ongoing renovation works, but the exact cause has not yet been determined.

As the cathedral approaches its reopening, lingering uncertainty still plagues Villeneuve. It was personal, especially since he was the one in charge when the fire broke out.

“This is something that bothers you. It’s not the fault of the fire – I’m very clear that I don’t take personal responsibility for that,” he said. “At least, that’s what I think.”

“But I don’t know that it pisses me off.”

In the aftermath of the disaster, lessons were learned and steps were taken to ensure Notre Dame’s protection into the future. Villeneuve and his team installed a state-of-the-art fire safety system at the cathedral to prevent similar disasters from happening. The loft is now divided into three fireproof zones – choir room, transept and nave – equipped with state-of-the-art thermal cameras, smoke detectors and a revolutionary water mist system. Unlike traditional sprinklers, the system releases tiny water droplets designed to extinguish flames while minimizing damage to fragile wood and stone.

“The fog saturates the air, lowering the oxygen levels to extinguish the fire without harming the wood or stone,” Villeneuve explained. “These are the most advanced fire safety systems in French cathedrals. We have to learn from what happened Lessons learned. We should prepare for the future.”

Notre Dame victory

Standing on the banks of the Seine, with the spire of Notre Dame once again reaching into the Parisian sky, Villeneuve allowed himself to feel a sense of quiet pride as he accepted questions and compliments from passers-by – enjoying his new “celebrity” status. For Villeneuve, this journey – his life’s work, just before his retirement – is both personal and monumental.

“The cathedral burned, she fell, I fell on the same day,” he said of the monument in heartfelt, human terms. “As she stood up, I gradually stood up as well. As the scar started to close, I felt better. Now I’m ready to be discharged.”

He said the nation’s wounds are healing as reopening approaches. With an expected 15 million visitors a year – 3 million more than before the fire – Villeneuve’s work will continue to resonate both in stone and in spirit.