Celebrating the past – Imagining the future

France’s month in heritage has been eventful, to say the least. As the Chateau de Chambord invites architects to reimagine the site for its 500th anniversary, historians fret for the future of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the art world celebrates the ground-breaking audacity of Leoh Ming Pei and his Louvre Pyramid.

These three events in fast succession are rocking the cultural community in France and abroad, which brings us to wonder - what is the impact of contemporary architecture on our heritage? 

500 years ago, works began on what would become the most astonishing construction of the French Renaissance - the Chateau de Chambord. So ambitious was the project that it has never been fully completed. To celebrate the Chateau’s 500th anniversary, the call is out to architects to envision the design for its future. 

160 years ago, Viollet-le-Duc was putting the finishing touches to the new Notre Dame Spire, building upon a structure first laid 1163. A controversial addition at the time, it is now beloved by Parisians, tourists, historians and parishioners alike. Its destruction by the fire of 15 April moved many across the globe. Conservators, historians and experts are asking French President Emmanuel Macron not to bypass heritage laws in a rush restoration.

30 years ago, the late Leoh Ming Pei’s Pyramid installed at the Musée du Louvre sparked controversy and resistance. Again, the once-criticised addition became an iconic landmark, an emblem both of the museum and of the City of Lights. Shortly following the 30th anniversary celebrations, Pei passed away aged 102.

When does audacity become genius? Can the fruits of genius become terrible mistakes? The balance between preservation and innovation is a tough one to pin down.