Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, has recently been in Paris to gather inspiration for the reconstruction of Børsen, which burned almost exactly five years after the tragic fire at Notre Dame. During her visit, she met with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and they discussed how the experiences from the rebuilding of Notre Dame can be applied in Copenhagen. “We have seen how they have handled the reconstruction, and even though the municipality does not own Notre Dame, and we do not own Børsen, there has been a close collaboration between the parties involved,” Sophie Hæstorp Andersen said in a phone call from Paris.
The Lord Mayor pointed out that the area around Børsen is currently mainly characterized by parked cars and a somewhat lifeless urban space. She sees potential in transforming this area into a more vibrant and inviting place, similar to what is seen around Notre Dame in Paris. “It could be exciting to try to create a more interesting urban space around Børsen, where people don’t just drive by, but stop and enjoy the place,” she said.
The visit and the gathered experiences will now be used in the planning of the reconstruction of Børsen, where it is hoped that a new landmark for Copenhagen can be created, one that respects history and adds modern elements to the cityscape.