Calls to reconstruct Notre-Dame practically began before the fire was even put out this week–and it’s more than plausible that the cathedral could be rebuilt in nearly identical form, thanks in part to the existence of detail digital models of the building. But deciding whether it should be rebuilt as a replica is more complicated. It’s a question that has defined historic preservation for decades: Should architects attempt to recreate the design of the past as faithfully as possible, or think of their work as more of a conversation between past and present?
