summer news: shepherd studio imagines a giant inflatable balloon to float above notre dame

despite the french senate’s ruling for the notre dame cathedral to be rebuilt to the ‘last known visual state’, shepherd studio presents their concept for the temporary reconstruction of the iconic landmark. the proposal, entitled ‘divine intervention’, envisions a huge inflatable balloon-like protective layer that would sit on top of the gothic monument. not intended as a permanent solution, the giant inflatable would take to the sky at night and only come down during the day.

all images courtesy of shepard studio 

the radical vision by shepherd studio contrasts heavily with its conservative context and flies in the face of the decision made on monday, 27 may, 2019, to respect the former roof and spire. instead, the bubble-like balloon takes the original volume of the structure and transforms it into a fantastical inflatable, sitting on top of the prestigious cathedral.

shepherd studio is a multi-service design practice, aiming to provide creative schemes that range from architectural, spatial, digital, and product based designs. the studio’s methodology involves a trans-disciplinary way of thinking, in a pursuit to actualise the possibilities of human imagination through analytical, rational, and logical inquiry. the practice has also worked on a number of residential, social, and cultural development projects between bahrain and the UK.

project info:

project name: ‘divine intervention’

location: notre dame cathedral, paris, france 

design: shepard studio 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom