Following the tragic fires that struck the Børsen in Copenhagen, the future now looks brighter for the historic buildings, thanks to the intervention of foundations. CBS (Copenhagen Business School) professor Anker Brink Lund explains how Danish foundations can play a crucial role in the rebuilding of Børsen, just as they did with Notre Dame.
Notre Dame and Børsen share the fate of having undergone devastating fires that required extensive restoration. While Notre Dame is expected to reopen its doors on December 8 after a comprehensive restoration funded by both French and international foundations, Børsen is facing a similar rebuilding process. “Even though the world of foundations in France and Denmark is not directly comparable, we can learn a lot from the French approach,” says Anker Brink Lund.
He points out that Danish foundations, including some of the largest in the country, are showing interest in supporting the rebuilding of Børsen. Among the mentioned foundations are the A.P. Møller and Wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Foundation for General Purposes as well as Realdania, both of which have a tradition of engaging in projects that improve urban environments and cultural heritage.
“It is not only about rebuilding a building, but also about revitalizing the surrounding area and thereby contributing positively to the entire urban landscape of Copenhagen,” explains Lund. He suggests that a consortium of foundations could be the way forward, with larger foundations providing a basic allocation, while smaller foundations can take care of specific subprojects.
Brian Mikkelsen, CEO of Dansk Erhverv ((The Danish Chamber of Commerce)), has already expressed a firm determination that Børsen should be rebuilt regardless of the costs, and political forces have also expressed support for the project. With the support of foundations, it appears that Børsen will be able to rise from the ashes, just like the iconic Notre Dame, and continue to be a central part of Denmark’s business and cultural heritage.