This year had its fair share of provocative stories, from the backlash against concrete to a chair that prevents "manspreading". For our review of the year, digital editor Karen Anderson looks at the 10 of the most polarising.

Huge fire breaks out at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
One of the biggest stories this year was news that Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris had caught fire.
Outrageous proposals for how best to rebuild the gothic building ? including a tower topped with a beam of light ? attracted more than 810 comments between them.
Commenters were relieved though when Miysis Studio eventually suggested combining a reconstruction of Notre-Dame's spire with a modern glazed roof: "I love this, out of all the ridiculous designs that have been proposed, this is really on point. Incorporating the original spire design is an absolute essential." Find out more about the Notre Dame fire ?

Architects should give up concrete say experts at Architecture of Emergency climate summit
The story that received the second most comments this year was a report on the Architecture of Emergency climate summit, where experts said that architects should give up concrete.
One reader joked that maybe architects should give up using bricks as well.
Another was confused: "So what is up then with the recent surge of concrete designer buildings and furniture" For the last 20 years concrete has been pushed as sustainable, now, this week it's not" Is coffee good f...