Typically cathedrals and churches aren’t pieces of commercial architecture. Instead, they are places of worship, delivering essential community services rather than focusing on profit. However, sometimes the lines blur a little when there are charges for entry. We want to have a closer look at this today with new proposals for Notre Dame, one of the most famous cathedrals in the world.
Rising from the ashes
Construction work to build the gothic marvel Notre Dame began in 1163. It took almost 100 years to complete, with most of the building finished by 1260. Since then it has had lots of changes, including modifications, desecration, and restorations.
The cathedral became one of the most important buildings in Paris and a symbol of France itself. Not surprisingly it got a designation as a Monument Historique in 1862. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Fans say Notre Dame is one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in the world. As a result, it attracted millions of visitors every year. It was also still host to various religious services. However, a fire in 2019 meant it had to close. The blaze was massively destructive. While much of the structure was saved by the heroic effort of firefighters, the fleche (spire) collapsed and large parts of the roof were destroyed.
There was an instant wave of support to save the cathedral. Now, five years later, restoration work of the spire and roof is almost complete. The hope is Notre Dame will be able to reopen in December.
Controversy
The controversial thing here, and overlap with commercial architecture, is the French culture minister, Rachida Dati, is proposing the introduction of an entrance fee. In the past it was free for visitors to enter Notre Dame. People only had to pay to access certain areas in the cathedral.
There is some support for the entrance fee. In fact, many countries in Europe charge people to enter historical cathedrals, churches, and other monuments. Generally the idea is not to make a profit though; in most cases the money goes into retaining and protecting the structures.
However, there has been a negative response to the plans for an entrance fee too. Members of France’s Catholic Church argue the charge could deter visitors and local worshippers. They say it is against the ethos of a church offering sanctuary and inclusivity.
The situation puts the spotlight on a tricky situation. It is costly to retain cathedrals, churches, and other monuments. Sadly, in many cases there is simply not enough funding. In fact, the stats say that around 5,000 churches in France are deteriorating. Almost 500 have had to close because they are not safe to enter.
So, it will be interesting to see if the entrance fee does get introduced for Notre Dame. If not, it is important to find an alternative solution that would help to maintain the cathedral.
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Coffey Architects can provide fantastic services for clients. We have experience with all kinds of buildings, including period properties and brand new builds. Our goal every time is to deliver the most stunning designs. We can even take the time to look ahead, ensuring buildings will be easy to maintain to maximise the sustainability.
So, if you want some help with any commercial architecture or other properties, feel free to speak to us. We can even do conversions and upgrades while retaining original features.