The two factors that could delay the reconstruction of Notre Dame

The lack of skilled craftsmen and the debate on how to rebuild the cathedral Notre Dame of Paris are presented as the main challenges for the Titanic work, says an architect who participated in the restoration of the castles of Windsor.

"Find enough craftsmen capable of working with stone, wood, lead, glbad (…) is a challenge for the sector across Europe", declared to AFP FRance Maude, director of architecture studio Donald Insall Associates, based in London.

"Other big projects face the same difficulties, like the Palace of Westminster, where we work in London", highlighted

This lack of manpower "This could be a key element that will determine the pace and maybe some of the decisions made in the restoration process" of Notre Dame, added the architect, whose study was commissioned to work on the restoration of Windsor Castle (West London).

The favorite residence of Isabel II, a medieval castle begun in the 11th century, was devastated by a fire in 1992. The reconstruction lasted two years, with a bill of 36.5 million pounds.

The most beautiful pieces have regained their original state, others have been modernized.

For Maude, the theme of respect for the original architecture of Notre-Dame could provoke "serious discussions" for its reconstruction.

"Some will think that the only way to restore Our Lady is exactly as before," Is holding.

But the restoration could to inspire post-war works in the cathedral of Reimswhose roof has been restored with fire-resistant steel.

Notre Dame Cathedral has also changed over time, Maude recalled, citing the work of the French architect Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc in the nineteenth century.

Parts of Paris Cathedral could be modernized, to make it more secure.

But it will probably be several months before the cleanup is complete and the damage is badessed to determine what can be done.

"There is a particular difficulty that comes to my mind: the fact that the cathedral is built largely with limestone", Maude continues.

Limestone, exposed to temperatures above 800ºC, "It is decomposed by chemical reaction (…) and then it is difficult to reuse it".

"I imagine that much of the historical area of ​​work will be lost, but There may be more stones in the walls that can be reused. "

The relatively empty interior of the cathedral could play in favor. According to Maude, in Windsor, various changes have taken place over the centuries, creating a complex network of empty spaces behind the walls.

The fire will be "maybe a symbol of renewal" for Notre Dame, he says, evoking the possibility that restoration can translate the expression "an artistic temperament of our time".