Z1P1Bio

Preservation Through Reflection Harry Goacher h.goacher@hotmail.com Preservation and restoration were the predominant focuses for our set studio’s graduation project. Using the site of the Ile de la Cite in line with the recent happenings to the Notre Dame cathedral, the studio brief envisaged the concept of ‘framing’ the cathedral in relation to its preservation and restoration. Viollet le Duc’s spire was among the most damaged aspects to the structure in the 2019 fire, his restorations on historical buildings became another major focus to both the brief and our project.

Focusing on reflections as a key motive for the graduation project, I was able to design and develop a Heritage and Preservation Building that would ‘frame’ the Notre Dame cathedral through the use of materials and specific angles in order to produce a reflection to a pin point location.

From both site analysis and progressive design developments, the ideal location for the cathedral reflection concluded in Square Rene Viviani, opposite to the main site, on the Ile de la Cite.

The Viewing Tower exhibited a wider range of materials in comparison to the main heritage building. The south façade of The Viewing Tower exhibited a full green wall to promote the connection between the trees and greenery in the park. The East and West facades display positioned timber columns to graduate the green wall on the South façade to the glass curtain wall on the North Façade. This was to deliberately impair the views out of the tower until the top floor where this would be the pin-point for the best reflection and visuals to the site.