On April 15, 2019, Notre-Dame de Paris was burning. The medieval carpentry, the 19th century spire and part of the vaults collapsed. The fire caused a huge emotional stir around the world, followed by a wave of solidarity and generosity.

The rebirth of the cathedral is then faced with several challenges: that of doctrine, that of technique, that of authenticity, and finally that of time.

Just before Christmas 2024, the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened its doors: The culmination of five years of a heroic and uncompromising epic carried by an uncompromising demand, which returned the majesty of the cathedral to its admirers, recovering the spirit and fervor of the great works of the Middle Ages with the means of the XXI° century.

The conversation will be conducted in English, with simultaneous Cantonese interpretation.

Speaker Professor Benjamin Mouton

Moderator Professor Chang-Xue Shu

Professor Mouton participates through the kind arrangement by the MSc Conservation Programme at the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong.

Professor Benjamin Mouton

Graduate architect (1972), bachelor of Arts (1974), Ecole de Chaillot (first in 1975), Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques (1980), Inspecteur Général des Monuments Historiques (1994).

Since 1980, Prof Mouton managed studies, projects, and conservation-restoration works on 1st listed historic monuments in Britany (Finistère and Morbihan 1980-1987), Eure and Eure-et-Loir (1987-1994); and in Paris since 1993: Arc de Triomphe (1993-1994), Basilique Saint Denis, Hôtel National des Invalides, Val de Grâce, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and Notre-Dame de Paris, till 2013. Member since 2020, of the scientific council for restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Professor of Ecole de Chaillot (1983-2014), PI professor in Tongji University (Shanghai), visiting professor in La Sapienza (Rome), Valencia, Athens, Sofia, Mons, Tournai, Tunis, Rabat, Washington, New York (Columba U), Philadelphia (U Penn), Dartmouth College (USA).

Publications: Sens et Renaissances du Patrimoine Architectural CAPA 2018. Collective works: Stable-Unstable Louvain 1988, dictionnaire de l’Urbanisme PUF 2010, l’Ecole de Chaillot CAPA 2012. Architectural reviews: Monumental, Loggia. Editor of “Patrimonial”.

Research works: Vaulted structures and their abutments; methodology for architectural conservation and reinforcements; heritage conservation doctrinal and philosophical principles; Back to the spirit of Venice Charter, ICOMOS 2018; “Authenticity-authenticities” Rome-Mons-Tokyo-Dartmouth (2020, 2022); Notre-Dame revival (since 2019).

International missions: Angkor (UNESCO), Riga (Latvia), Assise (Italy), Chengdu (China), Roumanie (Ministry of Culture), Moscow, La Valette (Malta) (World Heritage). ICOMOS Belfast, Lisbonne, Tokyo.

Past Président of Académie d’Architecture (2005-2008), of ICOMOS France (2000-2006), past vice-president of ICOMOS International (2011-2014).

Knight of the National Order of Légion d’Honneur, Officer of the National Order of Mérite, Commander of the National Order of Arts et Lettres, Commander of Romanian Order of Mérite Culturel, Polish National order Gloria Artis, Jan Zachwatowicz Award, Chinese awards, Honorary Fellow of American Institute of Architects.

Professor Chang-Xue Shu

Prof Dr Chang-Xue Shu is a historian and conservator, with a background in architecture, conservation, and history of science and technology. She is an Assistant Professor in The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and a former Marie Curie fellow under European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, hosted by KU Leuven. In the last two decades, she has practiced in World Heritage sites, national and local monuments but also uncharted historical sites in China and Europe, firstly as an architect, planner and surveyor, and later as a conservator, scientist (ICOMOS-ISCS member), and educator. She has worked on issues of material history and material culture in built environment in general. Recently she focuses on why modern science had its particular shapes in China, and how the cultural and natural environments in China shaped Western knowledge. She holds a PhD specializing in Preservation of Architectural Heritage from Polytechnical University of Milan. She is also an awarded fellow in Needham Research Institute, University of Cambridge.

Tai Kwun Conversations: Notre-Dame - A Heroic Challenge is exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

In no event shall the Funder have any liability of any kind to any person or entity arising from or related to any actions taken or not taken as a result of any of the contents herein.