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."

The studio considers the cathedral not as "an isolated island" but they say the cathedral should belong to the urban fabric after this tragic fire.

"A cathedral is in our opinion not an isolated island in the urban fabric, it belongs to the city and to the people," the studio added.

"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."

Recently, heritage experts warned that five-year plan is impossible for the Notre-Dame Cathedral. See other proposals for the Notre-Dame Cathedral on France Country Page. 

UMA previously proposed a kilometre-long infinity pool to create unique public space in Stockholm’s waterfront. UMA is a highly motivated architecture practice based in Stockholm, Sweden and was founded in 2010 by Ulf Mejergren.

All images © UMA

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