Using New Technology to Rebuild Notre Dame
Sustainable Living: how can we have beautiful things but not have to destroy other beautiful things in the process?
A week ago, a fire destroyed part of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Soon after, it was revealed that there aren’t trees big enough in France to replace the beechwood beams that were used to create the building over 800 years ago. The trees that were used were probably 300 or 400 years old.
Experts weren’t sure replacement trees could be shipped in from other places in Europe or possibly from British Columbia in Canada. These were primal forests. It’s not something that can be grown quickly. And even billionaire money isn’t going to be able to fast-forward tree growth to accommodate the demand.
Or can it?
We have the technology to 3D print everything from useful (and useless) tchotchkes to houses to organs. Why can’t we 3D print replacement materials for a building? I know nothing will be exactly as it was. But maybe it could be replicated using something more sustainable than old growth trees, which would make it even more beautiful.
We have all the specs from video games, movies, and architects who’ve studied the building for centuries. Why not create something…
