The zinc roof restorers of Paris now have UNESCO Cultural Heritage recognition
UNESCO has listed the restoration techniques for the zinc roofs of Paris as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
PARIS (AP) — From before sunrise to after sunset, in slippery winters and scorching summers, the roof restorers of Paris toil away, replacing the zinc sheets that help define the city’s famous skyline.
A special spotlight is now shining on their little-noticed skills: UNESCO inscribed the zinc roof restoration techniques on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday.
″The restoration of a roof involves removing the old pieces of zinc, measuring and custom-cutting new pieces using a Parisian folding machine, and assembling and fixing the pieces onto the roof,″ UNESCO said in its citation. ″With nearly 80 percent of the roofs in Paris covered in zinc, the city is a living archive of these skills that shape the unique identity of its urban landscape.″
Most of the roofers are men, most are young. They often like heights, architecture, and working outdoors.
