[core-questions]

>Since we have to build something, let's at least build something reflecting our time.

I don't buy this idea. The original design was so beautiful that it inspired pilgrims for hundreds of years to make a trek to see it. Modern architecture is bland, glass-and-metal, uninspired crap; shiny jewels with no staying power that will be torn down within a century to make room for something else, or brutalist monstrosities put here to punish us with their brooding ugliness.

[dagw]

The original design was so beautiful that it inspired pilgrims for hundreds

The original design is not the cathedral that stood there before the fire. People have been adding modern touches to the cathedral for centuries, why not continue that tradition?

[simias]

The spire that collapsed had been inaugurated in 1859, so it's relatively recent compared to the age of the cathedral. I don't really have a strong opinion on the subject but dismissing modern architecture as a whole before we've even seen the first proposals doesn't seem very... constructive.

[kakwa_]

1) The spire rebuilt in 1859 by Viollet-Le-Duc didn't have XIXe century look, it was heavily inspired by the one of the Orleans cathedral

2) Even with that, Viollet-Le-Duc is somewhat criticized for it's restoration works as he generally chose what looked "nice" as opposed to historical accuracy or significance.

Rebuilding the spire in a modern style would be a mistake in my opinion, or at the very least, a huge risk of style disunity of the building, rebuilding in Gothic style maybe boring but it's safe.

As to which technics could be used, that's another matter. Notre-Dame would not be the first cathedral to be rebuilt using the technics of the day.

Reims was rebuilt using concret, and the result is actually quite beautiful:

https://img.aws.la-croix.com/2019/04/17/1301016385/charpente...

Others were rebuilt using steel, Metz Cathedral for example.

[chr1]

Perhaps it would be better to build something that the original designers would build if they had our technology. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/vincent-callebaut-no... looks like a good direction to me (needs to use more coloured glass and mosaics).