Debate about the spire is intensifying with battle lines drawn between traditional and contemporary camps

The Belgian artist Wim Delvoye says that officials at Notre Dame cathedral, which was destroyed in a fire in April last year, have so far snubbed his proposal to rebuild the spire of the gutted medieval landmark. “The longer the French wait to decide—or to start a competition—the more they will need to rely on my technique and design [involving] laser-cut Corten steel,” he says. “They are going to discuss [the spire design] for ten years.” 

The 93-metre spire, which collapsed in the devastating fire, was erected in the 1860s when the cathedral was dramatically reshaped by the architect Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. Last year, Delvoye announced plans to take part in the international competition for the reconstruction of Notre Dame announced by Edouard Philippe, the prime minister of France. The National Commission for Architecture and Heritage is due to give its recommendations relating to the spire to the Ministry of Culture later this year. The Art Newspaper understands that a decision on the final design will subsequently be made next year. 

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