Chinese architects' design wins Notre-Dame rebuilding competition
By Wu Yan
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The Notre-Dame Cathedral in the aftermath of a fire, April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in the aftermath of a fire, April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

The design of two young Chinese has won an unofficial competition for rebuilding the roof of the fire-gutted Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The design, named "Paris Heart Beat," stood out among 226 designs from 56 countries and regions as 30,000 people signed up online to vote for their favorite visions.

The winning design envisions a new spire consisting of multifaceted mirrors and a mirror roof. Atop the spire is what the designers dubbed a "Time Capsule," a structure in magnetic suspension that opens every 50 years.

Organized by independent book publisher GoArchitect, the People's Notre-Dame Design Competition aimed to build a vision for the cathedral's future reconstruction work, although the winning design will not necessarily be included in the final restoration scheme.

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat" by Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei from China. /Photo via designnotredame.com

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat" by Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei from China. /Photo via designnotredame.com

"Notre-Dame witnessed Paris's history for over 800 years. It burned, it survived, and it co-breathed with the ever-changing world. Every time the disaster left its impress upon Notre-Dame and that became an indelible part of history. We believe the 2019 fire will give Notre-Dame a nirvana and marks a new era," Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei wrote in their design description.

Cai, born in Hangzhou, studied architectural design at Tsinghua University, and Beijing-born Li graduated from Beijing University of Technology. They both pursued higher education at Cornell University, and currently work for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), an architectural firm in Chicago.

Their proposal consists of three parts. The crystal roof serves as a mirror to reflect the ever-changing urban landscape. "Every moment, the building will have a new look, matching the changing urban environment," according to them.

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat" by the Chinese designers. /Photo via designnotredame.com

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat" by the Chinese designers. /Photo via designnotredame.com

The inside reflection of the tower spire creates a kaleidoscope that celebrates the city views. With the colored glass dying the light and double-spiral structure expressing the shadow, the designers interpreted the beauty and logic of the rose window of Notre-Dame in an artistic and technological way.

"A time capsule, designed to be open every half century, is floating at the top of the spire. The magnetic levitation high-tech installation keeps the memory from the past and reserves a space for a future story. The spire's tip, symbolizing the heartbeat of Paris, moves rhythmically up and down breathing and beating together with the city," wrote the designers.

Commenting on the design of "Paris Heart Beat," Wang Haisong, professor with Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, told Beijing News, "The designers did not regard the fire disaster as a scar but a new starting point. The design reflects the history, uses new technology, and echoes French romance."

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat". /Photo via designnotredame.com

Screenshot of the design "Paris Heart Beat". /Photo via designnotredame.com

The cathedral was engulfed in flames in April, with the fire destroying its wooden roof and toppling its iconic tower spire. French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the cathedral within five years.

Last month, French lawmakers approved a bill to rebuild Notre-Dame, which determined the working framework for repairing the cathedral but not the specific repair plan. Earlier in May, French culture minister Franck Riester said the rebuilding must comply with relevant laws and regulations for the restoration of cultural heritage.

The Chinese duo's design was chosen along with other five from the UK, Canada, Japan and the U.S. for the final competition.