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THE ADAPTIVE MONUMENT: AUTHENTICITY AND ADAPTATION IN NOTRE-DAME’S POST-FIRE REVIVAL
Watt, Ivy
Watt, Ivy
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Abstract
The 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral fire ignited critical debates about architectural preservation and authenticity. This research examines how preservation theory evolved from 19th-century Romantic ideals to modern international standards, particularly those established by UNESCO and ICOMOS, tracing the influential contributions of four key theorists: French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's interventionist approach, English critic John Ruskin's conservationist philosophy, Italian architect Camillo Boito's scientific methods, and Austrian art historian Alois Riegl's value-based framework. This evolution in preservation theory marks a transition from pursuing idealized historical appearances to understanding monuments as carriers of accumulated cultural meaning through time, informing contemporary preservation approaches. Through comparative analysis of Notre-Dame's successive restorations, this study uses historical records, preservation charters, and modern media to trace the cathedral's architectural history and theoretical debates, challenging the perceived conflict between innovation and tradition in preservation theory. The cathedral that burned in 2019 was already a testament to centuries of architectural adaptation, where each era's modifications preserved and transformed the structure. The current restoration, integrating traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, demonstrates how these seemingly opposing forces have always coexisted in architectural preservation. This research contributes to ongoing discussions about authenticity in historic preservation, offering a framework for future restoration projects facing modern challenges like climate change and disaster prevention.
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Submitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honors
Date
2025-04-29
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Department of History, University of Kansas