Chinese designers add new incentive to Notre Dame rebuilding

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Notre Dame Cathedral in seen in the aftermath of the huge fire on April 17, 2019. /CFP

As restoration efforts to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral move forward, a new spire is being reconstructed in workshops that designers say will be identical to the original.

After the catastrophic fire on April 15, 2019, a design competition was held to explore new possibilities for the cathedral's reconstruction work, although the winning design will not necessarily be included in the final restoration scheme.

Two young Chinese designers, Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei, won the competition with their design, named "Paris Heart Beat," which 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 mirrored roof. Atop the spire is what the designers dubbed a "Time Capsule" – a structure in magnetic suspension that opens every 50 years.

The massive fire in 2019 devastated the Paris landmark, Notre Dame Cathedral. /CFP

The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral is set to finish before the end of 2024 according to the French Ministry of Culture, and is planned to reopen to the public then.

Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that receives millions of visitors every year.