Between Old and New: Spaces of Continuity

The extension of the Børsen in Copenhagen is based on the principle of continuity and represents an open dialogue between past and present. Rather than overpowering the existing structure or submitting to it, the historic fabric is carefully continued and reinterpreted in a contemporary architectural language.

The ruin serves as the starting point and foundation from which the new structure rises. The volume is consistently extended so that the historic substance continues seamlessly, while still remaining legible as a distinct layer. Materiality and proportions reference the existing building, but reimagine it—not as mere replication, but as a thoughtful continuation of its architectural essence. The new intervention becomes a further layer, rooted in the present, within the nearly 400-year-old history of the building. It presents itself confidently without being intrusive—autonomous, yet always in harmony with the overall context.

The new addition adopts the rhythm of the old Børsen, extending the building accordingly and amplifying its defining features. The formerly exterior ramp is transformed into a tribune, now almost completely enclosed by the new structure. The ends of the tribune stretch outward through facade openings at its edges, acting as inviting signposts for curious passersby. Behind the facade, a threshold-free, sheltered space emerges—versatile in its use, for example as a city stage for auctions or performances involving the public. A folding gate enables flexible access to the adjacent castle square, opening or closing depending on how the space is being used. In addition, precisely positioned light slits on the new gable side allow warm, low west sunlight to pour into the open stage area, while dormer openings provide pleasant, diffuse light throughout the interior.

The newly constructed facade stands out as a hybrid of pre-tensioned rammed earth elements, structured with vertical wooden slats, prefabricated on site and inserted into the facade, along with horizontal reinforced concrete ring beams. Rammed earth, as a traditional material, stands out gently from the existing building material without creating a harsh contrast. It also brings significant sustainability benefits: it requires much less energy to produce than conventional materials, naturally regulates humidity, and helps balance indoor temperature fluctuations thanks to its thermal mass. The reinforced concrete ring beams provide structural stability and continue the horizontal sandstone elements of the historic facade—creating a strong connection between the different layers of time.

In the exterior space, a formerly trafficked road is transformed into a green corridor linking the building to the newly designed waterfront. The river promenade is extended with seating steps and a ramp leading down to the water, reinforcing the Børsen’s character as a publicly accessible space.

Overall, the result is an architecture that unites past and future in harmonious interplay—a natural evolution of the place, where historical heritage and modern design values exist in balanced dialogue.

Reviving the Børsen: A Home for Danish Craftsmanship in Copenhagen

As a new home for Danish craftsmanship in Copenhagen, the iconic Børsen building is brought back to life following the devastating fire. By housing a range of different functions under one roof, the project creates a dynamic interplay between public life and the creative energy of a working and learning environment.

On the ground floor, workshops for textiles, metal, wood, and ceramics are located alongside a restoration studio and office spaces. The workshops are divided into a professional area and a workshop zone open to visitors, offering insights into the craft processes, even from outside. A public entrance is formed by the ramp at the head of the building, which leads to the first floor. Here, exhibitions on Danish design and craftsmanship are displayed, along with a visible storage space for older objects and Danish art treasures. The preserved rooms of the historic structure become a fitting backdrop for the exhibited works.

Craft in action is also part of the exhibition: the ongoing work in the studios can be viewed from an upper gallery. A multi-purpose hall functions as a citizens' canteen during the day and can be transformed for auctions and other events in the evening. The attic houses apprentice craftsmen and offers generous studio spaces to foster creative work. The residential units are integrated into the historic roof structure, with the spacious area beneath the dormers serving as communal kitchens and living areas. At the heart of the building, the preserved stairwell core acts as a foyer and central vertical circulation space connecting all floors.

In the treatment of the existing structure and the remaining ruins, the aim is to preserve the cultural heritage of this architectural monument while thoughtfully evolving its geometry. The old facade is reinterpreted through subtle shifts in the masonry and is complemented by spolia—architectural fragments salvaged from the rubble. The historic roof is continued in the new structure as a timber construction clad in copper sheeting, and is enhanced with elevated skylights. These skylights draw inspiration in form and placement from the original dormers and the former tower, giving the building a renewed, iconic identity.

The urban space surrounding the building is transformed into a car-free plaza, offering high-quality public spaces for both the Børsen and the neighboring Borgen government building—helping to revitalize the quarter. The waterfront along the Slotsholmen Canal is terraced and equipped with seating steps, inviting people to linger by the water.

The Fire of the Copenhagen Børsen in April 2024 destroyed one of the city’s oldest buildings.

The collapse of the Dragon Spire left a void that symbolizes the loss of cultural identity. Despite the rescue of many artworks, the damage remains severe. Rather than pursuing a pure reconstruction, this moment offers an opportunity to reinterpret the site as an ongoing architectural dialogue—allowing historical structures to be thoughtfully continued in a contemporary form.

My design bridges old and new, respectfully integrating history while opening up new perspectives. Historical traces remain visible, are supplemented, and translated into a contemporary architectural language. In doing so, a vibrant urban space emerges—linking past and present.

Inside the Børsen, a spatial wall reorganizes the interior. This wall contains private spaces such as offices, bedrooms, kitchens, and sanitary facilities. Visitors can experience the building in its entirety, while residents use internal circulation paths to move from the ground-floor workshops to the rooftop apartments and studios or into the adjacent exhibition space.

The central exhibition space functions as both a display area for workshop creations and a communal meeting point for residents and guests. It follows the outline of the collapsed exterior wall and expands vertically into a tall space via two staircases. Large wooden panels define the roof and lend the room structure, while the preserved masonry walls evoke the presence of history. The main entrance to the exhibition is relocated to the head of the building, near the castle.

A distinctive vertical element marks the entrance, recalling the lost tower. This is the first of three new volumes that define the redesign of the site. Two additional cubes near the waterfront form a spatial triad, connected by a stepped access to the water. These volumes are constructed from masonry with spolia—salvaged sandstone elements from the original building—carefully integrated into the new facade.

The western cube serves as an archive tower for rescued paintings and includes an information center on the ground floor. The smaller eastern cube hosts a café and restaurant near the exhibition area.

The outdoor space between the cubes is traffic-calmed and transformed into a campus and communal area. Soft mounds and permeable, vegetation-friendly ground surfaces reference the Danish landscape. Rows of trees frame the space and create a retreat that merges nature and architecture.

Through the combination of historical structures, contemporary design, and sensitive landscape architecture, a vibrant meeting place is created—one that offers a renewed interpretation of Copenhagen’s cultural history.

The Børsen in Copenhagen – once a symbol of trade and power – was severely damaged by a devastating fire in April 2024.

Rather than pursuing a purely preservationist reconstruction, the building is reimagined as the Hjemsted for Dansk Håndværk – a home for Danish craftsmanship. A place where the nation’s artisanal heritage becomes visible, while also offering space for contemporary production, exchange, and public life.

In dialogue with the historical context, the design aims to establish a new architectural layer of time—sensitively interweaving old and new. It seeks spatial transitions, material interfaces, and a poetic atmosphere that restores identity and relevance to the site within the urban fabric.

My concept understands the ruin as part of the city.

The ground floor of the original Børsen once functioned as an open trading hall—freely accessible to the public. I revisit this historic openness by turning the destroyed parts of the building into a freely walkable public space. To achieve this, the design introduces three key elements into the ruin: new built volumes, a ramp system, and a new roof.

The built volumes are organized into three zones:

Inside the ruin, an elevated structure houses workshops, studios, and living spaces. The ground level remains open for exhibitions and public events. On the western side, a new addition with a canteen and auction hall complements the ensemble. The removal of the old ramp creates a new public plaza between old and new. Under the preserved roof, the spatial framework is retained and complemented with a new façade. The roof surface itself becomes a display depot, with additional workshops located underneath.

The ramp system connects the various uses and creates layered spatial experiences. One ramp leads to the rooftop storage, another runs along the north façade—offering views of the workshops, the city, and the ruin. A third ramp cuts through the western façade to connect the historic building with the new auction hall, establishing a fluid transition between past and present. Platforms and seating areas along the way invite visitors to pause. Made of corten steel, the ramps introduce a new architectural layer above the historic fabric.

The roof acts as a defining spatial element—connecting the ruin, plaza, and new buildings into a cohesive whole. It opens in a generous gesture toward the city, establishing a new, overarching spatial quality. Two rows of columns support the structure:

A line of timber columns extends into the ruin, alluding to the lost volumes of the original Børsen, while a row of steel columns stands before the western historic façade, engaging in a visual dialogue with its classical pilasters.

The project understands the Børsen not as a static monument, but as a transformable, public space—a vibrant interface between history, craft, and the urban future.

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The design concept restores the public presence of Copenhagen’s historic Børsen by re-establishing its connection to both the city and the waterfront.

Once a vibrant hub of commerce and civic life, the Børsen lost its role as a public space through privatization and shifts in urban development.

A new building, situated on the site of the former harbor, redefines the adjacent square as a place of exchange and encounter. Its flowing roofline evokes the ships that once lined the quay, while a transparent façade offers glimpses into the workshops within. The building houses five craft studios and a public canteen—closely linking work, community, and urban life.

Inside the historic Børsen, exhibition spaces emerge through a careful interplay of old and new masonry, preserving the architectural heritage while evolving it in a contemporary way. The original dimensions of the historic trading hall are restored, highlighting its significance. Housing for craftspeople supports communal living and is spatially tied to the nearby riverside workshops, fostering a close relationship between making and living.

The façade weaves together historic and new elements into a cohesive whole, subtly reflecting the layered history of the building. By reclaiming the Børsen as a place for exchange and craftsmanship, the project honors its past while opening new possibilities for public life and creative interaction.

The Old Stock Exchange on Slotsholmen, a landmark of Copenhagen, was severely damaged by a major fire in April 2024.

The iconic Dragon Spire collapsed, while parts of the outer walls and roof were destroyed. This design uses the remaining ruins as the foundation for a new Danish House of Craft, offering the Renaissance building a chance at rebirth.

The building’s long brick façade remains a defining element. The new addition extends west of the ruins, while the original ramp is preserved and integrated into the interior. A newly enlarged plaza links the site to the riverfront, creating a pedestrian-friendly connection away from traffic, enhancing both accessibility and public use. The main entrance opens onto this square, with the ramp gently guiding visitors to the first-floor exhibition hall.

The main programmatic zones are arranged along the sides, while the central space remains open for circulation and public interaction. Vertical visual connections—such as views into the restoration workshop on the ground floor—add spatial depth and transparency.

The fire-damaged walls are preserved and incorporated into the new structure. Left visible both inside and out, they serve as a tangible link between old and new, giving the space a unique historic atmosphere. The new structure follows the rhythm of the original wall piers, while delicate columns along the north façade complete the architectural language. Contrasting façade materials mark the dialogue between old and new, yet the composition maintains a harmonious overall appearance.

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