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April 17, 2019

Notre Dame fire highlights importance of detailed documentation for rebuilding

 

 

As reported in the National Post, the fire that swept through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday should serve as a reminder that having proper plans and documentation of valued Canadian buildings is crucial, heritage advocates say.

The blaze, which destroyed the cathedral’s roof and spire, has triggered an outpouring of unity and financial support as well as a promise from French President Emmanuel Macron to rebuild within five years.

When they do, they’ll have a wealth of information to rely on, said Martin Bressani, director of the Peter Fu School of Architecture at McGill University.

“Notre Dame is obviously the greatest historical monument in France,” he said. “It’s completely documented, every square inch.”

Bressani said most major Canadian landmark buildings and structures likely have detailed plans and documentation. “I would say yes, every major prestigious building in Canada, which is often not much older than 19th Century, is documented,” he said.

Jerry Dick, executive director of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, said the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in the province’s capital underwent a digital scan two years ago that would be of great value if the building were ever damaged. Such detailed plans are important for two reasons — restoration and reproduction but also for a historical record if rebuilding is impossible.

Every square inch of that building, inside and outside, was scanned to a very high degree, so they have the type of documentation right now that, heaven forbid, should something like that happen, they would have the information to restore or reproduce elements,” Dick said.

Other properties, often in smaller communities, may slip through the cracks when it comes to having proper files, said Ali Piwowar of the National Trust of Canada, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for heritage sites.

Keep reading in the National Post

 


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