The project of a temporary cathedral for millions of believers and tourists at the time of the reconstruction of Notre Dame has been presented by architects of the Gensler bureau, based in Paris, Dezeen reported.

The Pavillon Notre-Dame project was a response to the call of Notre-Dame's rector, Bishop Patrick Chauvet to build a temporary home for the congregation of Notre Dame, badly damaged in a fire in April of this year.

According to the France-Presse, the project is approved by the Parisian authorities and it will take about six months to create a temporary pavilion, the area of which will be 1.7 thousand square meters.

According to the project, the building could be used not only for religious services but also for holding exhibitions and concerts.

“Pavillon Notre-Dame would replicate the exact dimensions of the nave of the cathedral so that it feels familiar.

The roof would be made from Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (EFTEC) cushions, a lightweight plastic membrane, and the walls from translucent polycarbonate panels. 

Panels behind the altar could be removed to give those inside an unobstructed view of Notre-Dame's west face. These moveable panels could also be added, rotated or removed at ground level to enclose the Pavillon space for religious ceremonies or open it up for markets and performances. In a symbolic gesture, its frame would be made of charred timber,” the source noted.  

As reported earlier, the large fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris broke out in April, the shaft of its towers collapsed, and its support structure was engulfed in flames, but the collapse of its façade and two towers were prevented.

The start of this fire is explained by the fact that restoration works were underway at the basilica, and these are considered one of the possible causes of this fire; that is why the building was surrounded by wooden scaffolding.

More than 400 firefighters were working to put out the fire. But due to the fear of the collapse of the building, they did not use aviation to fight against this fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe arrived at the scene of the fire. The Head of State stated that the Notre Dame Cathedral is the center of the life of all French people, and of French history that has burned down. He assured, however, that the cathedral would be restored. Paris authorities have said that some of the relics kept in the cathedral were saved.