Rebuilding Notre-Dame and Børsen: a French-Danish conversation on the reconstruction of iconic historical landmarks

Institut français du Danemark and the Royal Danish Academy invite you to a conversation on the reconstruction of two iconic landmarks recently devastated by fire: Notre-Dame in Paris and Børsen in Copenhagen.The restoration of both landmarks raises the same pressing questions: How can we safeguard history while adapting heritage to contemporary challenges? How can such tragedies reshape the role of these monuments in the urban landscape? And how do we ensure that the lessons learned, and the craftsmanship required, are recognized long after the reconstruction is complete?This discussion will bring together French and Danish experts to reflect on resilience, heritage preservation and the enduring role of architecture in our collective memory. It will also underline the strong ties and exchanges between France and Denmark in the field of heritage preservation, symbolized by King Frederik X’s recent visit to Notre-Dame during his state visit to France in April 2025.

PROGRAMME:

16.00: Introduction - Professor Nicolai Bo Andersen, Royal Danish Academy

16.15: Welcome speech - H.E. Christophe Parisot, Ambassador of France to Denmark

16.20: Børsen archaeology - Ass. professor Thomas Kampmann, Royal Danish Academy

16.35: Working with Notre-Dame - Rémi Fromont, Chief architect of French historic monuments

17.00: Break

17.15: Working with Børsen - Architect Mette Tony, Praksis Arkitekter

17.30: From ashes to ashes - Ass. professor Lars Mortensen, Royal Danish Academy

17.45: The Monument and the City - City architect Lars Jensen, city of Copenhagen

18.00: Panel discussion - Moderator: Nicolai Bo Andersen

18.30: Drinks

Partners: Institut français du Danemark, Royal Danish Academy

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