Assassin’s Creed Unity 3D models will be used as assets to help rebuild Notre Dame

On 15th April 2019, citizens of Paris were faced with the shocking news that the Notre Dame underwent a fire accident and was badly damaged. At around 4:30 PM local time (10:00 PM IST) while the citizens were performing their evening sermons, the fire alarm inside the cathedral started ringing. Soon, everyone inside the building were evacuated and fire-fighters arrived at the scene to douse the fire. However, the cathedral suffered severe structural damage as the fire damaged its stained-glass windows and wooden interior, and then spread through the scaffolding to the roof. Fire chief Jean-Claude Gallet said the main structure had been “saved and preserved” from total destruction. However, the roof collapsed due to the damage and the spire fell down.

The roof the cathedral collapsed and its spire was toppled due to the fire.

Notre-Dame de Paris or Notre Dame, is over 800 years old and is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its initial construction began in 1160 AD and was largely completed by 1260 AD, with further construction spanning over the course of centuries.

This magnificent structure always had a special place in the hearts of the French people. As of now, the fire has been completely extinguished and investigation is underway as to what caused this unfortunate incident. French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “We’ll rebuild Notre Dame together”.

Speaking of reconstruction, rebuilding an 800 year old structure is not an easy task, even for the world’s best architects and construction workers. Notre Dame had an unique touch to its construction style and rebuilding it in the exact same way is impossible without information as to how exactly one should rebuild it. Architects and builders would be taking a very look at the cathedral’s photographs and videos to gather data so that they can reform it to its former glory.

Another source of information that the project members will be referring to is Assassin’s Creed Unity. Published by Ubisoft in 2014, this historical open-world adventure game is set in Paris during the French Revolution and features a stunning recreation of the Notre-Dame. Caroline Miousse, an artist who worked on the game said a few years ago that Notre Dame was the biggest structure in Assassin’s Creed Unity. She also stated that she spent “literally years fussing over the details of the building”.

According to a report in GPS World, 3D models of the Notre Dame from this game will play a pivotal role in rebuilding the structure back to its former self.

Anyone who played Assassin’s Creed Unity would know the amount of detail that Ubisoft put in Notre-Dame, the biggest structure in the game. Players were able to parkour up the outer walls of the cathedral as well as enjoy its inner beauty. Once the reconstruction of the Notre Dame is over, this whole story would be one for the books as a video game is about to become the reason an 800 year old structure will return back to its former glory.