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Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has designed a space rocket launch pad for Notre-Dame in an "act of creative one-upmanship" to demand an end to architects' proposals

Sebastian Errazuriz ridicules Notre-Dame proposals by turning cathedral into rocket launchpad

Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has suggested turning Notre-Dame Cathedral into a space-rocket launchpad in an "act of creative one-upmanship" designed to stop architects producing more proposals.

Chilean born, New York-based Errazuriz posted the dramatic set of images on Instagram, alongside an open letter asking architects to stop coming up with concepts for the cathedral, which lost its roof and spire in a dramatic fire last month.

"This is not a serious a proposal for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame," said Errazuriz.

"This is an act of creative one-upmanship designed to ridicule every remaining, rapacious architectural firm still circling the carcass of Notre-Dame with an 'idea' for a new roof proposal."

Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has designed a space rocket launch pad for Notre-Dame in an "act of creative one-upmanship" to demand an end to architects' proposals
Sebastian Errazuriz has designed a launchpad for Notre-Dame

Errazuriz hopes that this proposal will stop architects and designers creating more proposals. Suggestions from architects for a replacement roof and spire so far have included an aquaponic farm, a swimming pool, and a greenhouse.

"This is not a serious design, but instead a flippant artwork painstakingly and lovingly designed to exhaust the audience's patience," he said. "Extinguishing any remaining curiosity to review yet another starchitect's superfluous proposal for a new glass eco-roof."

Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has designed a space rocket launch pad for Notre-Dame in an "act of creative one-upmanship" to demand an end to architects' proposals
Errazuriz hopes his rocket proposal will exhaust the audience's patience

Errazuriz admitted he had been tempted to join in with a serious design of his own, but ultimately came to the conclusion that the there should be no rebuilding work done at all.

"Notre-Dame's roof must be left unfinished. Open to the skies, the rain and the conditions. Like Rome or Greece's battered monuments, France too could embrace history and bear with pride it's new wound," he said.

"A nation's choice to designate the billion dollars in funds raised for the cathedral's reconstruction to the future of France's youth. A symbol of courage to kiss the past goodbye and construct the future."

Designer Sebastian Errazuriz has designed a space rocket launch pad for Notre-Dame in an "act of creative one-upmanship" to demand an end to architects' proposals.
The designer hopes the ironic design will prompt architects to use their creative energies elsewhere

For his satirical launchpad Errazuriz designed the rocket to be the same height as the lost spire.

He gave the a rocket a pattern of red and white squares around its base in a nod to the illustrations from a volume of The Adventures of Tintin. Belgian cartoonist Hergé drew a red and white space ship for the Destination Moon comics.

"Drop your pens, let this proposal go and focus your creativity on something else. The world needs your ideas. Notre-Dame does not," said Errazuriz.

"Besides, after seeing this beautifully ridiculous rocket launchpad, how could your design compete?"

Repairs on Notre-Dame will take decades, experts have estimated, although the French president has promised to rebuild it in just five years.