Notre Dame's destructive fire left visitors without a place to worship. A pop-up center made of charred timber could offer a temporary fix.

A New York Times investigation revealed that the cathedral is lucky to be standing. If the flames had burned for much longer, the floors could have caved in and the church bells could have come crashing down, destroying objects in their wake.

In July, the chief architect overseeing the renovation told French media that the cathedral's vaults could still collapse.

Shortly after the top of the cathedral was ravaged, the team at Gensler came together to design a temporary space for visitors.

The idea for the project came directly from the firm's London office, according to Gensler co-CEO Diane Hoskins.

"There were poignant feelings of loss, thankfulness that it wasn't lost entirely, and a recognition that there was going to be a period of time where the cathedral could not be occupied," she said.

The design is still in its infancy, but the team has already solicited input from Notre Dame's rector, Bishop Patrick Chauvet, who suggested building the structure out of wood.

Gensler opted for charred timber, a material that's renewable but sturdy. Charred timber also has fire-resistant properties, since the burned outside layer helps protect the wood from getting too hot.

"When you look into the history of cathedrals across Europe, and particularly in Paris, they were first and foremost a place of worship, but also place of gathering," said Duncan Swinhoe, a regional managing principal at Gensler. "That's what the pavilion is really speaking to."

Movable panels along the side of the building allow the center to serve multiple functions.

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Swinhoe said the center is still respectful of ongoing restoration work. Notre Dame's repairs, he said, are being done "in the most appropriate way to make sure there aren't any risks to people outside of the construction."

In the wake of the fire, workers put nets over the ceiling to prevent debris from falling and used robots to clear away rubble.

While the French government briefly entertained the idea of a new design for the cathedral's roof, the French Senate decided in June that Notre Dame should be restored to look exactly the same as it once did.

For now, Swinhoe said, the center could add a sense of hope to the area surrounding Notre Dame.

"Whether you're a religious person, whether you've even been to Paris, there is a significance of this place on the world stage," he said. "That was one of the things that really impacted us — how a building can have such symbolic power."