UMA Proposes Swimming Pool at the Roof of Notre-Dame as "a New Meditative Public Space"

World Architecture ^ | 5/13/19

[marshmallow]

Stockholm-based architecture firm Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) has proposed a giant swimming pool that spans the whole roof of the Notre-Dame cathedral which was exposed to a devastating fire on April 15, 2019.

During the fire, the roof of the cathedral was severely damaged and the spire collapsed in front of the crowd. Following this heart-wrenching fire, the French government announced that they would launch an international competition soon to design a new spire that "is adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era".

However, although the international competition has not officially been announced yet, international architects started to work on their proposals for the roof of the Notre-Dame to imagine the historic structure in futuristic and contemporary additions.

UMA's proposal draws attention more to "publicness" of the cathedral and a giant swimming pool spans the whole structure as "a new meditative space with unmatched views over Paris."

"Our addition is a complementary spatial experience to the building that will match the awe of the great interior; a space for thinking and self-reflection," said UMA describing their project.

"The spire is gone, but the twelve statues of the apostles that where put away during the restoration and managed to escape the fire, are once again back at the roof, now as guardians around a large public pool that occupies the whole roof."

[Responsibility2nd]

More and more I’m thinking the Notre dame fire was no accident. A controlled burn. For insurance and remodeling purposes.

[Pravious]

Maybe these dopes will wanna build a volleyball court up there next, or maybe a night club.

[ex91B10]

It's a church, not an activity center.

Rebuild it as it was.

[blackpacific]

Why do the secular dirtbags of western civilization feel the need to pontificate on how that Catholic church built around the Holy Eucharist and the Crown of Thorns can be modified to suit their bizarre fetishes?

[Clemenza]

Notre Dame is owned by the French government, like all Churches in France.

[Pajamajan]

Why not make it into a Karaoke bar? (/s)

[TigersEye]

And and and maybe a water slide that loopdee loops around the flying buttresses ... and disco balls inside to reflect the colors of the stained glass!

[null and void]

Maybe a Quidditch pitch?

[freeandfreezing]

Well that’s one way to keep it from catching fire in the future....

[Veto!]

Build the swimming pool on the roof.

Then, next time someone tries to burn the church down, just pull the plug and put it out with water.

[nuconvert]

how ‘bout a roller coaster?

[logi_cal869]

Waiting for the mosque plans...

[TigersEye]

I had to look that up but ... yeah! Alternating with an Aztec ball court for special holidays.

[Karliner]

How about mosque of Notre Dame. Maybe they can say Mohammed rode the rear end of a goat to the al asqa mosque before flying to wherever hell is on his ship of the desert...just a meandering thought.

[Scrambler Bob]

Pool is giant foot washing basin.

[jz638]

Spectacular idea. Let’s put a few hundred thousand gallon of water on top of a fire compromised mideaval stone structure.

[jonascord]

What is better for meditation than a ball pit and a video arcade? I'm sure they could tuck a Starbucks in a spare apse.

Sorry, whoever suggested a swimming pool should be dragged out and beaten to death. The world's IQ would jump 10 points.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I’ve said from the beginning they’ll turn it into a mosque.

It’s why they burned it down.

[Right Wing Assault]

I demand that this architectural group turn their offices into outhouses. Think will expose them to a new atmosphere that will change the way they design buildings. Until they undergo this waking, they should not be allowed to even suggest changes to Notre Dame.