{
  "id": 27349,
  "title": "Lessons from Notre-Dame inform reconstruction of Copenhagen Stock Exchange building",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/30/lessons-from-notre-dame-inform-reconstruction-of-copenhagen-stock",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-07-30T11:25:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Art Newspaper",
    "slug": "the-art-newspaper",
    "url": "https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/07/30/lessons-from-notre-dame-inform-reconstruction-of-copenhagen-stock-exchange-building"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On the morning of April 16, 2024, a fire engulfed the historic Copenhagen Stock Exchange, causing significant damage. Deputy Director Lars Daugaard Jepsen of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns the building, recalled the event vividly. The fire, which began at 7:36am, led to the destruction of more than half of the red-brick building, including its copper roof and spire shaped like four intertwined dragon tails. Despite the tragedy, 98% of the artworks were saved thanks to the quick response of staff, firefighters, Royal Life Guards, and passers-by. The chamber of commerce and other experts have been working tirelessly to restore the Old Stock Exchange, aiming for a full reopening in 2029. The reconstruction budget is largely funded by insurance, with Danish funds contributing DKK200m (£23.1m).\n\nInspired by the response following the Notre-Dame fire in Paris, the Danish team has been meticulous in their approach. They visited the Notre-Dame site a week after the fire to learn from the management and architects. One crucial piece of advice given was to create a clear plan and communicate it effectively, which they have followed diligently. The project has faced challenges, particularly in sourcing materials and finding skilled craftspeople. The Dutch-style exchange must be rebuilt as closely to the original as possible, requiring 886 pine trees from the former kingdom of King Christian IV and the production of 800,000 handmade bricks. Copper debris from the burned roof has been recycled in Finland. Finding experts to recreate the spire, which has dragons carved into it, has been difficult, as only two companies in Denmark can do so.\n\nThe reconstruction project presents an opportunity to promote the next generation of craftsmen, and the chamber of commerce has encouraged contractors to include young apprentices. Denmark aims to rebuild faster than France, which took five years to rebuild Notre-Dame. The project also includes practical measures to prevent future fires, such as dividing the building into sections with fire walls. The salvage operation of the artworks was remarkable, with a list of important items ranked a decade ago. On the day of the fire, the National Museum's conservation team quickly assessed and transferred valuable objects to their storage facilities. Most objects suffered little to no damage, thanks to the swift and efficient response. However, some works, like Peder Severin Krøyer's painting From Copenhagen Stock Exchange (1895), required special handling and treatment. The overall operation highlights the importance of preparedness and collaboration in preserving cultural treasures.",
  "summary": "After fire destroyed half of the historic red-brick structure in 2024, its owners’ ambitious goal is to rebuild even faster than the French did with the Paris cathedral",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}