In little over a week since fire devastated the Notre Dame Cathedral, there has been endless debate, numerous comments and proposed designs proliferating the internet and social media. Among the many responses, Studio NAB has presented their concept of how to restore the great architectural icon, which they hope will feed the all-important conversation and add an element of reflection as to how the building could be transformed to focus on issues concerning today’s society.

Studio NAB poses the idea of a rooftop greenhouse, allowing the Notre Dame to embrace and become part of environmental, educational and social integration. Their proposal intends to seize the intended restructuring as an opportunity to create a place where conservation, enrichment of an exceptional heritage, and the challenges of society’s ecology and equal opportunities are all taken into account.

The design proposal comprises of a huge educational greenhouse that spans over the entire roof. In addition, the destroyed spire is reimagined as an apiary, housing a large number of beehives and becoming the heart of the concept. The greenhouse is imagined as a place to enable the professional reintegration of the poor through urban agriculture, horticulture and permaculture while reconnecting children to nature and educating them through workshops.

The burnt oak framework, nicknamed “The Forest”, will be reused to create all the planters and facilities present in the greenhouse. The design also respects the original silhouette of the building and the different figures that inhabited it. The roof cover is imagined in a gold-tone steel structure and filled with glass panels, all respecting the initial sequencing of the roofs. With this project, Studio NAB aims to invigorate debate into the future restoration while also demonstrating their idea of creating a place that helps address the most pressing issues within our current world.

Via designboom | All images courtesy of Studio NAB