Rebuilding Notre-Dame and Børsen - at the Royal Danish Academy

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.

Program

-16.00: Introduction by Professor Nicolai Bo Andersen, Royal Danish Academy and welcome speech by H.E. Christophe Parisot, Ambassador of France to Denmark
-16.20: Børsen archaeology by Associate Professor Thomas Kampmann, Royal Danish Academy
-16.35: Working with Notre Dame by Architect Rémi Fromont, Chief Architect of French historic monuments
-17.00: Break
-17.15: Working with Børsen by Architect Mette Tony, Praksis Arkitekter
-17.30: From ashes to ashes by Assistant Professor Lars Rolfsted Mortensen, Royal Danish Academy
-17.45: The Monument and the City by City Architect Lars Jensen, Copenhagen City
18.00: Panel discussion - Moderator: Professor Nicolai Bo Andersen, Royal Danish Academy
-18.30: Drinks