Rebuilding History: How 21st-Century Tech Can Save Medieval Notre Dame
Popular Mechanics,
by
Tim Newcomb
Original Article
Posted By: earlybird,
4/17/2019 1:21:50 PM
As flames rose from the timber roof of the historic Notre Dame de Paris, the world watched the 850-year-old landmark’s tallest spire and roof succumb to the heat. (Snip) Vassar College Art History professor Andrew Tallon, who tirelessly 3D laser scanned the entire Notre Dame cathedral and other Gothic treasures throughout France. Although Tallon passed away from brain cancer in 2018, his work wasn’t lost. Ochsendorf, who worked with Tallon on the project, says “such a 3D model can provide crucial information about the geometry and materials.” Tallon’s laser scan process used a Leica ScanStation C10 laser beam
Reply 1 - Posted by:
SALady 4/17/2019 1:30:07 PM (No. 36786)
My greatest fear is that, once the initial shock and heartbreak passes, the Socialists in the French government are going to try to ruin this.
They will support rebuilding Notre Dame, but it will have to get rid of all that "nasty Christian stuff" (like crosses, altars, icons, statues, relics, etc, etc). It won´t be a "Cathedral" so much as a museum and national monument.
Also, to be "inclusive" for all French people, they will have to have a wing honoring Muslims, and another honoring Atheist-Secularists.
And the stained glass windows will need to be replaced with rainbow stained glass to honor all the French LGBT people.
I wish I was joking, but I have seen just how evil Socialism is, and how it takes advantage of everything that it can to destroy what is good and pure and right -- especially Christianity!!!!!
23 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
dman 4/17/2019 1:40:07 PM (No. 36783)
The tech will help, but faithful restoration will still take painstaking effort - and time.
Even if we build AI robots to do the restoration, will they imbue the passion and "soul" of the original artisans? If that is possible, than what are we? Who is God?
6 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 4/17/2019 2:10:50 PM (No. 36788)
The former contractor/current insurance agent in me says that not much , if any, of this building has structural integrity after the intense heat. You could warm your hands by holding them close to the TV.
9 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
DVC 4/17/2019 2:52:03 PM (No. 36790)
#2, "AI robots" are a fantasy. People built that and people will rebuild it.
I was watching some stonemasons and stonecarvers working on new facade stones at Rouen cathedral a couple of years ago - they had the workmen out under open tents where people could watch them carving. The work was being done with exactly the same tools as they were carved with in the 12th century when the current Rouen cathedral was built. Sure, better alloy chisels, some air chisels for some work, but mostly chisels, hand work by skilled stone carves. They are replacing much of the exterior stone details, chipped and eroded by time and the elements, with new, identical ones - good for another 800 years.
The question I still pose is, "Should more modern structural materials, aluminum, steel, or even composites, be used for the roof framing instead of the original oak?" Unquestionably, the exterior appearance should be unchanged, but the oak framing is entirely hidden to all except workmen. Should it be made better? Or duplicate the original, at least with fire suppression systems added?
These alternative materials are far more fire resistant, but some (entirely invisible) originality is lost. Who decides and do they choose with their heads or their hearts?
Notre Dame WILL be back in her full glory, and sooner than many think, I will bet.
Built by the hand of man, it can be exactly rebuilt by the hand of other men.
11 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
ladydawgfan 4/17/2019 3:01:59 PM (No. 36787)
Except that heat rises, keeping the majority of the stone structure insulated from the damage. Also, photos shown after the fire show the candelabra next to the altar with all candles intact and unmelted.
It seems to me that the most important task now is to remove the burned rubble from the top of the stone ceiling vaults to prevent them from collapsing under the added weight, given the they might have been damaged themselves in the fire. A temporary roof can then be constructed fairly easily after that to weatherproof the structure while repairs are being made and the Cathedral is restored.
8 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
droopydog 4/17/2019 3:13:00 PM (No. 36789)
Yeah, yeah, where´s my tape measure?
8 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Skeptical1 4/17/2019 3:39:44 PM (No. 36791)
It´s good to see people viewing this as a project instead of a tragedy. Personally, I would vote to retain the appearance but with modern materials and methods. Forget trying to find suitable oak timber. I think an homage is more respectful, and sensible, than a replica.
7 people like this.
I remember reading about laser-dimensioning of our national monuments and historical buildings shortly after 9/11.
Unfortunately for Professor Fallon, I just heard that the French government is soliciting designs from architects around the world for a new spire. Uh oh.
8 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
DVC 4/17/2019 5:07:12 PM (No. 36785)
#8, the spire over the transept was originally built as a bell tower. It was rebuilt in the recent (almost said ´current´, oops) style only in the 1850s.
So, there are at least TWO possibilities for rebuilding "as it was". One great thing is that the 1850s bronze statues of the disciples had already been removed for the renovation work, so if it is decided to put it back in the 1852 style rather than the 12th century bell tower style, they at least have the bronze statues intact.
As far as "retaining the original architect´s vision" as some sort of an absolute commandment, that train left the station centuries ago. Witness Chartres cathedral as a particularly striking example. Cathedrals have been being re-architected by Jacques-come-latelies for literally many centuries, it is now an unfortunate tradition of it´s own.....that I disagree with. Seems like ´fair´s fair´ and the original architect should ges his design, but - they are not going to ask me.
I think that #1´s fears are well founded, and if Macaroni is really in charge, rather than just running to the front of the parade and pretending to lead it, that is a very, very bad thing.
11 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
The Remnants 4/17/2019 5:12:43 PM (No. 36784)
#1- Just heard Rush, and he agrees with you that some in France might want to change the concept of a Cathedral honoring the Mother of God to one - less Christian - more secular - that would erase that concept all together. I always knew that Rush was pro-life, but I was not aware that he is such a committed Christian; though I think he mostly keeps that to himself.
I am sure that Our Lady´s Son is not well-pleased with what has happened to His Mother´s beautiful cathedral, and I don´t think it would be wise to offend Him anymore by messing with the design. Thought it was interesting that the golden cross on the high altar survived. Great metaphor for what´s happening nowadays.
12 people like this.
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Created a 3D image of Notre Dame that Tallon said was accurate to within 5 millimeters.
The images with the article are very interesting...