TimeLapse Go’ on the construction site of the century: Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris

TimeLapse Go’ is proud to have been selected to support the public institution responsible for the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris!

Since May 2023, our TimeLapse Boxes have been installed on the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral reconstruction site, with one objective: to immortalize the erection of the Cathedral’s new spire. Our set-up includes 2 cameras judiciously placed inside the building site, and an exterior camera offering a global view of the monument.

Together with Notre-Dame de Paris’ Audiovisual Production Manager, we scouted the site and took dozens of test shots, working together to define the best locations for capturing and showcasing the genius of the teams of artisans and craftsmen who will be building this architectural feat. First, they will assemble the formidable steel scaffolding that will frame the assembly of the spire’s components. These were manufactured and pre-assembled in the Deux-Sèvres region, at the Asselin carpentry workshops in Thouars.

The whole structure will reach a height of 100 m by late autumn 2023! This will be the cocoon in which the spire will grow, with the elements assembled at its heart. It will then be dismantled as the roofing work progresses, enabling the cathedral to reopen in December 2024.

The first of our boxes is installed in the large crane to offer a slightly low-angle view of the spire’s ascent. Another, located on the south tower, offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire roof. Both are equipped with 10mm wide-angle lenses, offering a panoramic view without distorting the image.

Our third box is positioned 700 meters as the crow flies from the cathedral, on the roof of the Pantheon! The use of SLR cameras allows us to adjust the choice of lens according to need. In this case, we installed a 120mm lens for unrivalled image quality, enabling us to maintain a high zoom capacity despite the distance.

Our installation enables the Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris teams to follow the progress of the work in real time, with each box providing a shot every 5 minutes that can be consulted in near-real time on the dedicated interface.

Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris is using our photos to communicate on its social networks, and has already published its first timelapse. This was taken after the deck was laid in April.

Since its creation, TimeLapse Go has developed real expertise in capturing work on architectural heritage, and accompanying Foundations and other monumental works. From Franck Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton pour l’art Contemporain, which was one of our first projects, we have followed Tadao Ando’s outstanding work at the Collection Pinault, as well as the transformation of the historic Hangar Y in Meudon. We are also currently working on the Fondation Cartier in Paris and the Chateau de Pierrefonds, to name but the most emblematic.

TimeLapse Go deploys all its know-how and passion to showcase the most daring projects, whether they’re new builds or renovations. We are at the service of builders, thanks to our real-time site monitoring tools, and of communicators, thanks to the outstanding quality of our TimeLapse images and films.

You can also find Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris on LinkedIn : Etablissement public Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris 

Special thanks to Panthéon – Centre des monuments Nationaux, for its collaboration and welcome.