After the tragic fire that hit the historic Børsen building in Copenhagen on the 16. april, there has been a great discussion on how a reconstruction should be financed. The Municipality of Copenhagen has explored options to financially support the project, but it turns out that legally the municipality cannot support the rebuilding of the privately-owned building. Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen (S) has stated that even though the municipality would like to support, the rules of municipal powers do not allow financial support to private properties. Børsen is owned by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, and therefore the municipality must find other ways to contribute. As an alternative to direct financial support, the mayor has suggested that the municipality can focus on beautifying and improving the public spaces around Børsen. This initiative may include everything from infrastructure improvements to green areas, which can benefit both citizens and visitors.
In an attempt to gather inspiration and learn from similar situations, Hæstorp Andersen has reached out to the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to learn from the city’s experiences with the reconstruction of Notre Dame, which also suffered a major fire. The mayor has even received an invitation to Paris to meet the team responsible for rebuilding the famous cathedral. This international collaboration has the potential to bring valuable insights and innovation to the reconstruction process of Børsen, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in times of crisis. While financial support from the municipality is off the table, it seems that Copenhagen will seek other ways to support and preserve its architectural heritage.