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The Notre-Dame de Paris also known as the Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. It is very much distinguishable for its antiquity, size, and architecture. Notre-Dame is located at the eastern end of the Île de la Cité and was built on the ruins of two preceding churches. The cathedra; was initiated by Maurice de Sully, bishop of Paris, who came up with the idea of converting it into a single building that is of a larger scale, the two ruins of the two earlier basilicas.

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The function of an architecture more often than not influences its form. An architecture that is made for a certain function is made in such a way that it can perform its specific function. The Notre-Dame Cathedral, just like any other architecture also possesses a certain form and function.
The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 during the reign of King Louis VII. As soon as the construction had begun, flying buttresses were added to the design of the cathedral. This design was meant to hold the thin, tall Gothic-style walls up and prevent cracks in them. The flying buttresses are meant to provide support to the structure but also add to the cathedral’s Gothic style. (Zraick and Murphy, 2019)

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Notre Dame’s facade is one of the most iconic ones across the globe. This part of the cathedral is one of the most popular as it ends up on postcards, travel guides, and different souvenirs. The cathedral’s facade was made this way for a reason: to show a distinct harmony of design, and represent a level of detailed craftsmanship that maybe no longer exists in contemporary architecture.
From Notre-Dame's vast plaza, designed by Haussmann in the 19th century, one can procure a stunning view of the facade's three elaborately-decorated portals. Also, note that the portals are not entirely symmetrical. Perfect symmetry was not always considered important by medieval architects. (Traub, 2019)

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The first part of the cathedral was meant to be built on the eastern part, or choir. This was to serve as the religious heart and core of the structure where the main altar would be located.

However, the design was consistently revised during the time span of construction. For instance, the upper wall of the cathedral, which had already been constructed, was demolished and rebuilt to give allowance for larger windows. This turned the building from a four-story to a three-story structure.

The new cathedral was largely completed by around 1245, although, construction continued in various parts until the mid-14th century. During these 200 years chapels were added along the exterior of the cathedral, some structural supports modified and the transept arms were extended, giving the cathedral a cross-like shape.

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Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Notre-Dame de Paris | History, Style, & Facts. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Notre-Dame-de-Paris (Accessed 25 Sep. 2019.)

Zraick, K. and Murphy, H. (2019). Notre-Dame Cathedral: Facts and a Brief History. Nytimes.com. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/world/europe/notre-dame-cathedral-facts.html (Accessed 25 Sep. 2019).

Traub, C. (2019). Eye-Catching Details at Notre Dame Cathedral: Highlights to Look For. TripSavvy. Available at: https://www.tripsavvy.com/notre-dame-cathedral-highlights-and-facts-1618863 (Accessed 25 Sep. 2019).

Hutterer, M. (2019). Notre Dame's history is 9 centuries of change, renovation and renewal. The Conversation. Available at: http://theconversation.com/notre-dames-history-is-9-centuries-of-change-renovation-and-renewal-115606 (Accessed 25 Sep. 2019).