Notre-Dame de Paris: a student competition to turn construction site fences into works of art

What if the Notre-Dame building site became an open-air art gallery? The City of Paris and the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement are launching a student competition to transform 400 meters of palisade fencing into a giant fresco. Get creative, get your paintbrushes: it's time to make history!

What if the palisades of the Notre-Dame de Paris construction site were transformed into a giant fresco? The City of Paris and the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement (CAUE) are launching an ultra-inspiring student competition:"Dressing the palisades of the Notre-Dame construction site". The aim? To transform 400 metres of construction walls into a veritable open-air gallery. Creative minds, it's time to show your talent!

A construction site that inspires creation

The mythical cathedral continues its renaissance: following the completion of interior restoration work in December, it's now time to give its surroundings a facelift. A green forecourt, redevelopment of the basement, opening onto the Seine. .. The work, scheduled to run from autumn 2025 to 2028, promises to be colossal. But in the meantime, it's time for art!

The challenge? To give life to the palisades that will adorn this major urban facelift, telling the story of the site's past, present and future through a strong visual identity. Architecture, urban planning, graphic design, applied arts, anthropology, cultural mediation... It doesn't matter what the brushstrokes are, as long as there's emotion!

A life-size field for expression

Working in multi-disciplinary teams, the students will be given carte blanche to transform one of the eight lines of palisades, between the forecourt and the tip of theÎle de la Cité, into a veritable work of art. Collage, photomontage, typography, computer graphics... any medium will do to create a visual dialogue with the cathedral's 29,000 or so daily visitors.

To hone their concept, themed conferences and visits are scheduled for April and May, before a final presentation to a jury of experts from the world of architecture, design and urban art.

An XXL exhibition and a handsome prize in the bargain

The eight winning projects will see their creations displayed in large format on 30 to 80 meters of hoarding, for a period of 7 to 17 months. Each winning team will receive 2,000 euros, plus unique visibility in the heart of the capital.

The official launch of the competition will take place at an evening event on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Entries will be open from April 10 to May 27, 2025. So, are you ready to draw your palettes and graphic pens to give color to Paris' most iconic building site?

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