Valuing research, creativity and knowledge-sharing.
On the subject of the heritage of Notre-Dame de Paris, one often hears about the beginning of the physical construction of the cathedral, in 1163 – a date frozen in time. One also hears about Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, in the middle of the 19th century, who altered (with Jean-Baptiste Lassus) the physical fabric of Notre-Dame, ‘restoring’ it according to the architect’s definition.
But what is less spoken of are many living – intangible – processes of documentation and analysis, of craft-based and artistic creation, and of dissemination, which are integral parts of the value – and values - of Notre-Dame for present and future generations.
Indeed, this evolution of knowledge, these developments of creative practices and this sharing of knowledge, directly or indirectly affecting the physical fabric of the building, are at the heart of the intangible heritage of Notre-Dame de Paris.
In this experimental ‘Transformations’ project, it is the dynamism of this living heritage that is in the spotlight, by exploring the intangible qualities of the Cathedral through the project ‘Notre-Dame de Paris, L’Art de la Charpente’.
What is intangible heritage ?
UNESCO officially* identifies five categories of intangible heritage:
– Oral traditions and expressions;
– Performing arts (eg: traditional music, dance and theater);
– Social practices, rituals and festive events;
– Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and
– Knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
This ‘Transformations’ project touches on the last three categories of the above list: knowledge sharing through social exchanges (Act III), research and transmission of knowledge regarding the nature of materials and their environments (Act I), and the practical application of traditional craftsmanship (Act II).
By recognizing the value of these living processes, this research project sets out to promote a creative knowledge-sharing dynamic, to allow the world of construction to evolve towards a more sensitive, better-informed, and more sustainable future, fed by the ancestral knowledge at our disposal.
Sources:
* https://ich.unesco.org/en/what-is-intangible-heritage-00003
* https://whc.unesco.org/en/faq/86/
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