Michael Kimmelman

Yeah. Exactly, devotional to the techniques that dated back, really, thousands of years. One of the things that was going on here was to help to resuscitate what are basically artisanal, ancestral crafts and techniques. There's a group called the Compagnon du Devoir, which dates back to the 12th century, group of artisans, and there were more than a thousand applications

Yeah. Exactly, devotional to the techniques that dated back, really, thousands of years. One of the things that was going on here was to help to resuscitate what are basically artisanal, ancestral crafts and techniques. There's a group called the Compagnon du Devoir, which dates back to the 12th century, group of artisans, and there were more than a thousand applications

when the decision was made to restore the cathedral. People who wanted to participate in this project. And that was in some ways one of the most beautiful things about Notre Dame. One of the guys who was from that organization had said to me that it's a reminder of the dignity of labor and of craft. And I saw that in the workers themselves because it was not just reopening a tourist site.

when the decision was made to restore the cathedral. People who wanted to participate in this project. And that was in some ways one of the most beautiful things about Notre Dame. One of the guys who was from that organization had said to me that it's a reminder of the dignity of labor and of craft. And I saw that in the workers themselves because it was not just reopening a tourist site.

It was reviving a whole culture. It was sustaining something that had lasted for nearly a thousand years.

It was reviving a whole culture. It was sustaining something that had lasted for nearly a thousand years.

So, you know, entering the cathedral was disorienting at first. First of all, it was a construction site still. So there were, you know, people moving heavy equipment and there's still a lot of scaffolding and tarp. But pretty quickly it became clear to me what had happened. I could see suddenly that the cathedral was spanking clean, bright.

So, you know, entering the cathedral was disorienting at first. First of all, it was a construction site still. So there were, you know, people moving heavy equipment and there's still a lot of scaffolding and tarp. But pretty quickly it became clear to me what had happened. I could see suddenly that the cathedral was spanking clean, bright.

And I looked up and there had been all these famous images of the cathedral. the collapsed vaults, these giant black holes in the ceiling, and now they had been repaired. Now you had a new ceiling and it was spic and span and bright, and this kaleidoscopic light coming through these stained glass winches, which survived the fire. But what was also a kind of miracle,

And I looked up and there had been all these famous images of the cathedral. the collapsed vaults, these giant black holes in the ceiling, and now they had been repaired. Now you had a new ceiling and it was spic and span and bright, and this kaleidoscopic light coming through these stained glass winches, which survived the fire. But what was also a kind of miracle,

was that that work in creating those digital maps before the fire allowed the people reconstructing it to even reproduce the sound of the cathedral. Wow. Because every material, every angle, every quality of the building could be reproduced now. One of the organists who works there spoke to me about this. A building like that is, it's a kind of organ pipe, he said.

was that that work in creating those digital maps before the fire allowed the people reconstructing it to even reproduce the sound of the cathedral. Wow. Because every material, every angle, every quality of the building could be reproduced now. One of the organists who works there spoke to me about this. A building like that is, it's a kind of organ pipe, he said.

It's a volume that has a certain pitch and quality. He said, D major sounds really good in Notre Dame. And that is often what you experience when you come in. It's not just looking at things, it's hearing them, to feel you're surrounded by a particular sound.

It's a volume that has a certain pitch and quality. He said, D major sounds really good in Notre Dame. And that is often what you experience when you come in. It's not just looking at things, it's hearing them, to feel you're surrounded by a particular sound.

That's what I was sensing, that the soul of the building had come back, in a sense, which included not just the way it looked, but the way it felt and sounded.

That's what I was sensing, that the soul of the building had come back, in a sense, which included not just the way it looked, but the way it felt and sounded.

Yeah, Michael, you know, I think at this point, after nearly a thousand years, no one really needs me to assess whether Notre Dame's a good building or not. Three stars. Yeah. Honestly, it's a little shocking at first to go in, and I think some people will experience this. You know, when the Sistine Chapel was cleaned some decades ago, people had gotten used to looking at all that Roman grime.

Yeah, Michael, you know, I think at this point, after nearly a thousand years, no one really needs me to assess whether Notre Dame's a good building or not. Three stars. Yeah. Honestly, it's a little shocking at first to go in, and I think some people will experience this. You know, when the Sistine Chapel was cleaned some decades ago, people had gotten used to looking at all that Roman grime.

And kind of they'd become attached to that quality of the Michelangelos covered with dirt and looking sort of dark and mysterious. Aged. Aged, yeah. And then grime was taken off and everyone thought it looked like a Superman comic. It was just so bright. Now, of course, people have become accustomed to that. I think there may be some of that kind of adjustment.

And kind of they'd become attached to that quality of the Michelangelos covered with dirt and looking sort of dark and mysterious. Aged. Aged, yeah. And then grime was taken off and everyone thought it looked like a Superman comic. It was just so bright. Now, of course, people have become accustomed to that. I think there may be some of that kind of adjustment.