Exactly one year after a massive fire engulfed the iconic 400-year-old Børsen building in Copenhagen, reconstruction efforts are now well underway. Despite the visible remains of charred walls and a gutted interior, the project leaders report substantial progress and are optimistic about completing the restoration by 2029.
“It’s wild how far we’ve come in just a year,” said Lars Daugaard Jepsen, Deputy Director at Dansk Erhverv, which owns the historic landmark. “But it’s equally wild how much more needs to be done in the next four.”
A meticulous process with sustainability in focus
The reconstruction process is being managed in 42 carefully defined phases, with the project currently in phase four. A remarkable 1,237 tons of materials have already been cleared from the site, with significant portions earmarked for reuse. Roughly 40% of the collapsed bricks have been cleaned for reintegration into the new structure, and melted copper from the previously restored roof has been shipped to Finland to be reprocessed into fresh roofing plates.
The building, which holds protected status, must be rebuilt using original or historically accurate materials, preserving its iconic Renaissance appearance.
“We’re trying to make the new Børsen as authentic as possible,” Jepsen explained. “You can’t just go to Silvan or Bauhaus for what we need.”
International collaboration and rare materials
Inspiration and advice have come from beyond Denmark’s borders. Reconstruction teams have closely studied the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, which suffered a similar tragedy in 2019. This has helped guide decisions such as sourcing wood from protected forestry areas to replicate Børsen‘s original load-bearing beams.
“We’ve even received special permission to use wood that would normally be off-limits,” Jepsen noted. “The support has been overwhelming. It’s been help upon help upon help.”
A national symbol and a personal responsibility
The commitment to preserving Børsen’s cultural and architectural legacy runs deep. Jepsen compares the responsibility to parenthood: “You can’t really imagine what it’s like until you’re in it.”
Among the building’s many features, the most complex task ahead remains the reconstruction of the legendary dragespir (dragon spire), which once crowned the structure with a twisting flourish of dragon tails. For this, Dansk Erhverv is consulting with Denmark’s top lead craftsman, asking him to set aside an entire year to dedicate to the spire.
The foundation of the building, made from solid granite stones, has held up well and will be preserved. The next phase of the reconstruction, set to begin in week 18 (28.April-3.May), involves cleaning the remaining walls and digging new foundations. There are also plans to redesign the main entrance, rebuild the original lunch restaurant, and add a modern lounge space beneath the future spire.
On schedule and full of hope
Despite the scale of the project, Jepsen remains confident. “The fire happened on our watch,” he said. “But it will also be on our watch that Børsen rises again.”
With Denmark rallying behind the project, Børsen’s resurrection stands as a testament to architectural heritage, craftsmanship, and national solidarity.
