Cathedral Models

Material Tests

We wanted out massing model of the cathedral to have as much detail as possible, to contrast it with the surrounding city masses. We therefore did multiple tests on the laser cutter with different materials until we found the best balance between structural rigidity and detail quality.

Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc was the French Architect who was responsible for the restoration of Notre Dame which began in 1844. The modern concept of restoration and preservation did not exist at the time. Instead le Duc’s goal was to restore the cathedral to a state in which it may previously never have existed, rather than choosing one historical moment to return it to. Thus he intended to restore Notre Dame as the ideal French cathedral, not recreate the original structure like for like. Le Duc’s interventions saved the cathedral from certain demolition, but his additions of the fleche, (spire) as well as a sacristy and new statutes were controversial, for they were completed in a style and fashion, that whilst Gothic in nature, was decidedly different from the surviving building.