Apple shop designers offer the Notre Dame glass roof

There were a lot of ideas for the reconstruction of the Paris cathedral: from the apiary on the roof, through the garden, to the unrealistic ideas like the pool. Both reconstruction in accordance with historical plans and a modern interpretation of historic architecture were proposed.

Studio Eight Inc., along with Steven Jobs, created the concept of Apple stores, according to which salons are created all over the world. Architects are very close to modern minimalism, similar in spirit to the design of the famous giant from Cupertino. How to move it to the reconstruction of the Paris icon? The architects' proposal takes into account the last act of the French Senate, in which it was stated that the cathedral must return to the visual condition from before the fire. However, it was decided on a very modern material - structural glass. - "I believe that this example of French Gothic architecture requires a deep respect and recognition for the history and assumptions of the original design," said Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight Inc. - "Its proportions, scale and detail brings life to the architecture," he added. "It should not be about the ego of a new architectural expression but a solution to honour this historic structure". Just like in Apple stores, the whole construction is to be transparent. Structural glass is much more durable than standard glass, so there would be no need to build a support frame. As the architects emphasize, glass is an ideal material not only from a technological but also a spiritual point of view: it emphasizes both the impermanence of architecture and the impermanence of human life.