Chinese architects win Notre-Dame design competition in the U.S.

Two Chinese architects have won the People's Notre-Dame Cathedral Design Competition out of 226 entries from 56 countries and regions.

Screenshot of the concept picture of "Paris Heart Beat" from the GoArchitect official website. [Photo: China Plus]

The competition was held by GoArchitect, an independent book publisher in Los Angeles.

Gaining more than 30,000 votes from the public, the design by Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei, called "Paris Heart Beat", was announced as the winner of the competition on Tuesday. A centerpiece of the design is a unique time capsule.

"A time capsule, designed to be open every half century, is floating at the top of the spire," Cai and Li explained in an interview with GoArchitect. "The magnetic levitation high-tech installation keeps the memory for the past and reserves the space for future story. The spire's tip, symbolizing the Paris heartbeat, moves rhythmically up and down breathing and beating together with the city."

The competition winners will receive a 1,000 U.S. dollar prize for their design, which almost certainly won't be a part of the plan for the restoration of the cathedral. GoArchitect launched the competition hoping that the French government would be open-minded when it comes to choosing a design, and consider incorporating bold and modern features.

The design by Cai and Li will be featured in a book, "Visions of Notre-Dame", containing all 226 entries.

The 850-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral was engulfed in fire in April. Its roof and iconic spire were destroyed, and the inside of the church was severely damaged.