Michael Kimmelman

And to see really what the building now represented to people, what this potential disaster—I mean, it was certainly a disaster, but there was the fear, of course, that the building would disappear, that this would be the moment after— almost 900 years that we were living at that moment when this building would go away.

And to see really what the building now represented to people, what this potential disaster—I mean, it was certainly a disaster, but there was the fear, of course, that the building would disappear, that this would be the moment after— almost 900 years that we were living at that moment when this building would go away.

Well, I think, Michael, you have to step back and say, what is the meaning of a building? I mean, for me, architecture is really the world we built and are building. I think a lot of people have talked about it as a kind of aesthetic thing, and that is one aspect of it for sure. And I think the conversation around architecture for a while sort of saw it as a branch of sculpture.

Well, I think, Michael, you have to step back and say, what is the meaning of a building? I mean, for me, architecture is really the world we built and are building. I think a lot of people have talked about it as a kind of aesthetic thing, and that is one aspect of it for sure. And I think the conversation around architecture for a while sort of saw it as a branch of sculpture.

You know, whether buildings were cool looking. They were fetishized, aestheticized. And there's definitely an aspect of that that's important in architecture. But... I've always felt that really architecture is much larger than that. Buildings are living things. They exist in our lives, in our neighborhoods, communities, cities. And they're there whether we choose to look at them or not.

You know, whether buildings were cool looking. They were fetishized, aestheticized. And there's definitely an aspect of that that's important in architecture. But... I've always felt that really architecture is much larger than that. Buildings are living things. They exist in our lives, in our neighborhoods, communities, cities. And they're there whether we choose to look at them or not.

They have to be used. And so really they raise these questions of what do they say about us as a society? And in the case of Notre Dame, it's been speaking. It's meant things to people over generations, over centuries, for almost a thousand years.

They have to be used. And so really they raise these questions of what do they say about us as a society? And in the case of Notre Dame, it's been speaking. It's meant things to people over generations, over centuries, for almost a thousand years.

Well, I think, you know, the building has had a lot of meanings over time. You, first of all, have to see where it sits geographically. It sits at the center of Paris on an island in the middle of the Seine River. And that island is where what came to be called Paris started.

Well, I think, you know, the building has had a lot of meanings over time. You, first of all, have to see where it sits geographically. It sits at the center of Paris on an island in the middle of the Seine River. And that island is where what came to be called Paris started.

Literally. It had been a prehistoric settlement and then was an ancient settlement. The Romans settled there. It was a Gallo-Roman town called Lutetia, occupied by the Parisi. I didn't know any of this. There you go. You're welcome. I hope it's true. And then when the church was there, there was original religious buildings and sanctuaries built on the island over centuries.

Literally. It had been a prehistoric settlement and then was an ancient settlement. The Romans settled there. It was a Gallo-Roman town called Lutetia, occupied by the Parisi. I didn't know any of this. There you go. You're welcome. I hope it's true. And then when the church was there, there was original religious buildings and sanctuaries built on the island over centuries.

It was invaded by Vikings. And then eventually in the 12th century, a bishop of Paris decided that they should build a Gothic cathedral there. And this was the new style. It was a little like the pyramids in the sense that these were buildings of an incredible scale and ambition and weirdness and majesty, complexity.

It was invaded by Vikings. And then eventually in the 12th century, a bishop of Paris decided that they should build a Gothic cathedral there. And this was the new style. It was a little like the pyramids in the sense that these were buildings of an incredible scale and ambition and weirdness and majesty, complexity.

So they tore down some of the old church buildings, which were on the east end of the island, and started erecting this building. And since then, that was in the 1160s, the building has remained the center of the city. It's essentially witnessed the growth of the city. It's been the sun around which the city has revolved. It's the place from which all distances in France are measured, literally.

So they tore down some of the old church buildings, which were on the east end of the island, and started erecting this building. And since then, that was in the 1160s, the building has remained the center of the city. It's essentially witnessed the growth of the city. It's been the sun around which the city has revolved. It's the place from which all distances in France are measured, literally.

There's a plaque on the plaza in front of it.

There's a plaque on the plaza in front of it.

That's right. In a sense, everything circulates around it. But I think also it has witnessed a lot of important events in French history. Mary, Queen of Scots, was married there. Napoleon was coronated there. And when the revolution happened, you had, you know, the insurgence of the revolution, they ransacked Notre Dame. It was a symbol. They hated the church.

That's right. In a sense, everything circulates around it. But I think also it has witnessed a lot of important events in French history. Mary, Queen of Scots, was married there. Napoleon was coronated there. And when the revolution happened, you had, you know, the insurgence of the revolution, they ransacked Notre Dame. It was a symbol. They hated the church.