Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – 15 February 2026
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Story of the Restoration workshop and exhibition organized in collaboration between the University of Kurdistan Hewlér (UKH) and the French Institute in Erbil.
The event was opened by Noor Jasim, Manager of Public Relations and External Engagement at UKH, setting the stage for an inspiring academic and cultural exchange.
We were honored to host Delphine Sivilay, Associate Professor at Sorbonne University, who presented her team’s extensive research on the restoration study of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Mr. Simon Brelaud, Director of The French Institute of the middle East, shared valuable insights into restoration experiences within the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the importance of cultural heritage preservation.
The programme concluded with an engaging presentation by Ms. Nareen Riyadh, Assistant Lecturer at the Architectural Engineering and Sustainability programme at UKH, alongside her students, exploring Notre Dame Cathedral’s history, architectural assets, and the major restoration projects undertaken throughout different periods.
Students and guests also had the opportunity to explore the accompanying exhibition, designed by the public institution Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris, which serves as the project owner of the restoration works on Notre Dame Cathedral.
Later, at the French Corner in UKH library, they experienced the cathedral through VR technology, virtually immersing themselves in the architectural and spatial grandeur of Notre Dame.
An inspiring dialogue bridging heritage, academia, innovation, and international collaboration.
