Tue Sep 24 04:19:32 UTC 2024: ## Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange to be Rebuilt After Devastating Fire

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Five months after a fire ravaged Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange, reconstruction efforts are set to begin, aiming to restore the 400-year-old landmark to its former glory. King Frederik X of Denmark will lay a foundation stone on Thursday, marking the start of a multi-year project.

The blaze, which occurred in April, left the building, a prominent tourist attraction, in ruins, toppling its copper roof and iconic dragon-tail spire. While the fire destroyed much of the building, authorities managed to salvage around 90% of the cultural objects housed within.

Lars Daugaard Jepsen, head of reconstruction at Denmark’s Chamber of Commerce, which owns the building, expressed optimism about the project. “We have a lot of pictures, papers, and knowledge about this building,” he said, highlighting the availability of detailed records. “That’s also why we are very optimistic of rebuilding this place.”

The reconstruction will utilize materials as authentic as possible to the original 17th-century construction. The Chamber of Commerce has already ordered 800,000 handmade bricks, sourced from Germany, to replace the 80,000 originally intended for renovations. The wood, sourced from a Swedish Baltic Sea island, will also be of similar age and origin.

The project is expected to take several years, with officials citing the five-year rebuilding effort of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as a potential timeframe. While the exact cost and completion date are yet to be announced, the reconstruction is expected to faithfully recreate the building’s exterior, with the interior receiving a modern update.

“Our task is to look forward,” said Daugaard Jepsen, emphasizing the desire to create a building that will stand for another 400 years.

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