A modern Notre Dame

THE proposed rebuilding of Notre Dame will require the sacrifice of thousands of oak trees.

Looking at images of the stunning interior as it was, there seems to be little in the way of timber on display. Instead, it is the hidden framework supporting the roof and ceilings. When originally constructed, the architects and builders would have designed and constructed to the limits of the technology available to them.

If they’d had access to steel, surely they would have used it, so why not incorporate it now? To do so would save thousands of oak trees and form a lighter framework that could be erected more quickly and cheaply.

Visually, the cathedral would recapture its appeal, while only the hidden elements would be modern. BRIAN HORSEMAN, Teignmouth, Devon.