Notre Dame

[MikeG]

..........d possibly sparks.....

I've already linked to the initial conclusion that the cause of the fire was an electrical fault, not associated with the renovations.

 

[CliffordPope]

A thought-provoking sentiment . . .

“I know a lot of you are really upset about the Notre Dame fire in Paris and I’m really sad, too. To see something so beautiful and so carefully constructed be damaged by forces out of your control is very painful. As a scientist who studies species that are going extinct right now, this is the feeling I grapple with more often than I’d like. The irreplaceable work of art that I worship is nature and to watch it senselessly crumble to the ground every day hurts my heart. I highly respect your feelings about what happened today and I hope the parallel described can help you better understand how many of the people who have devoted their lives to conservation feel quite often. We know you get tired of us shouting about species going extinct and we’re sorry for the broken record but we’re surrounded by burning cathedrals built across millennia and no one seems to care.”
~Jonathan Kolby (National Geographic)

Interesting comparison.
And of course the "species" involved here is a very recent one - the iconic features of Notre Dame were 19th century additions, intended to gothicise the building,largely in response to Victor Hugo's campaign to repair, or "restore", the neglected building.
If creating a new icon in the style of one century is valid, perhaps similarly designing a 21st century spire would actually be the more authentic treatment today?

 

[Flyfisher]

. . . the iconic features of Notre Dame were 19th century additions, intended to gothicise the building,largely in response to Victor Hugo's campaign to repair, or "restore", the neglected building.
If creating a new icon in the style of one century is valid, perhaps similarly designing a 21st century spire would actually be the more authentic treatment today?

Interesting point and I’m sure there would be some support for that approach. But, as someone mentioned previously, there is ‘fashion’ to take into account and the prevailing fashion these days seems to be to revere things simply because they are old. So while the new spire will have to be new my bet is it will take its design cues from something old and backwards-looking rather than a futuristic, forward-looking design. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

But no doubt eminent architects around the world are furiously scribbling their designs for a new spire even as I write. I wonder what the selection process will be?

 

[d49xc]

New spire should be a minaret - all in the spirit of religious inclusiveness of course...(or some such rubbish)
Perhaps as a finial they should stick Macron's head on a spike at the top.

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I'm sure the Pope would love that!

..........d possibly sparks.....

I've already linked to the initial conclusion that the cause of the fire was an electrical fault, not associated with the renovations.

"Initial conclusion" meaning complete guess?

This report suggests a possible problem with the fire sensors, which would be somewhat ironic, and that they're also investigating the elevators built for the construction (destruction?) workers.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/20/europe/notre-dame-fire-investigation-intl/index.html

This report also speculates about an error in the fire sensing/reporting system delaying any response to the initial fire.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-cause-computer-glitch-rector-today-2019-04-19-live-updates/

But of course it's early days yet and I'd expect they are looking at pretty much everything as a 'possibility' at this stage. probably the most sensible things I've read so far was from that last report: "we may find out what happened in two or three months."

Still, at least we know the bees survived by some miracle . . . . er, the 'miracle' being that they were 100 feet away from the fire. Gotta love 24 hour rolling news :wink:

 

[plasticpigeon]

Still, at least we know the bees survived by some miracle . . . . er, the 'miracle' being that they were 100 feet away from the fire. Gotta love 24 hour rolling news :wink:

People have been canonised for far less!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

..........d possibly sparks.....

I've already linked to the initial conclusion that the cause of the fire was an electrical fault, not associated with the renovations.

Well, you shared to a single news website that reported;

"A French judicial police official said investigators think an electrical short-circuit most likely caused Notre Dame Cathedral fire."

Not even an initial conclusion, just an anonymous source briefing as to an idea that was doing the rounds.

 

[Feltwell]

But no doubt eminent architects around the world are furiously scribbling their designs for a new spire even as I write. I wonder what the selection process will be?

Ohh, that's easy. In order of priority:-

1) Are you French?
2) Were your Mother & Father French?
3) Were your Grandparents French?
4) Are you Catholic?
5) Ohh yeah - nearly forgot - are you an architect?

:wink:

 

[plasticpigeon]

and the prevailing fashion these days seems to be to revere things simply because they are old.

Eh?

 

[Feltwell]

and the prevailing fashion these days seems to be to revere things simply because they are old.

Oyyy! Don't change that! I could do with some reverence as I get increasingly old & decrepit :wink:

 

[Me!]

Ohh, that's easy. In order of priority:-

1) Are you French?
2) Were your Mother & Father French?
3) Were your Grandparents French?
4) Are you Catholic?
5) Ohh yeah - nearly forgot - are you an architect?

:wink:

Well, they did let the Brits get involved in designing this, which I do think is beautiful.

 

[DJH]

The gases of choice for leadworkers is oxy acetylene Mike. The high temperature generated is ideal for homogeneous (have I spelt that correctly :?: ) welding and the small blowpipe/torch such as the Model 0 and the range of different size nozzles, lends itself to achieve very strong welds in all situations.

I suspect that most plumbers or roofers who carry out leadwork only occasionally could hardly justify either the rental cost of the two bottles required along with the correct two stage regulators, hoses and torch when they wouldnt need them daily. Propane or Mapp gas torches are available with small welding jets which are not easy to use but can achieve reasonable results.

Ivor, heat has nearly always been used to join lead sheet together. The first whatsit on page one of the Whatsit Topic shows an early plumbers iron. Almost all details can be formed in lead sheet by bossing or beating the material into the desired shape and corners can be formed by what we called 'dogearing'

I can't vouch for using oxy acetylene to make creme brulee.