This alternate proposal to the former spire on Notre Dame roughly approximates Violet le Duc's 19th century design in form and size but with one important change.  Light. Instead of a dark solid spear like object, the alternate design is an octagonal lantern consisting of an intricate pattern of traditional stain glass pieces to be detailed by the finest French crafts persons.  In daylight an internal arrangement of frosted glass panels inside the conical spire catches sunlight and reflects it back through the glass, most dramatically on the sides furthest from the sun; at night the same internal frosted glass panels are artificially illuminated to provide an overall even illumination of all eight sides of the stain glass spire providing the most stunning effect.  A strong light shines up through the top of the spire symbolizing Christ's ascension to heaven and by inference hopefully ours.   The wrought iron top exhibits symbols relating to the Sacred Lady as does the stain glass with its three shades of blue from a deep lapis lazuli to two lighter shades plus a light green symbolizing life toward the middle.  The very middle of each of the eight sections has clear glass reading as white from the internal frosted glass.  The sections with the four general colors are further divided into small pieces of glass with slightly varying colors, patterns and detail layout design by stain glass crafts persons.  The frame of the spire is composed of metal sheets cut to form flying buttresses and Gothic arches in the two base tiers.  All metal parts are to have a green copper patina to better tie in to the aesthetic feel of the ancient church.   We feel that the delicacy of this new stained glass spire is in better keeping as a symbol for the Virgin Mary and celebrates a central theme of light.

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