News from the construction site: Historical finds during the soft strip
A lot has happened behind the construction site fence over the summer, so here is an update, on the almost done soft strip, exciting historical finds during the soft strip, and the decoration of the fence around the construction site with historical motifs.
Unforeseen circumstances push the schedule back slightly
Inside, the light demolition—the so-called soft strip—is well underway in the buildings, where non-load-bearing elements such as lowered ceilings, floors, and installations are being carefully removed. Unforeseen circumstances over the summer have caused a change in the schedule, with the light demolition now expected to be completed in September 2025.
The interior demolition particularly reflects the last 150 years as a banking district:
“I would guess we have found thousands of kilometers of cable – which we have to sort and figure out where it leads. It’s a big puzzle that takes time to put together,” says project director Glenn Jaes, continuing:
“It’s quite normal for us to experience a change in the schedule when demolition begins. Fixtures and fittings don’t always turn out as expected, so we’re prepared for surprises along the way.”
The heavy demolition work inside and dismantling of the facades of the building at Bremerholm 33 is expected to begin at the end of the year.
Like a treasure hunt: Hidden marble staircase and ceiling painting
The buildings, which are over 200 years old, have been altered and new layers added over time, which means that everything from older installations to hidden architectural gems have been discovered along the way.
“We are removing virtually all installations to get to the raw structures. The exception is the heating systems, which we are keeping in operation so that the buildings can be kept warm throughout the process to enable preservation of sensitive existing areas,” explains Glenn Jaes, while emphasizing respect for the properties worthy of preservation:
“The entire renovation is being carried out with great respect for the fact that we are dealing with listed buildings that are part of our common cultural heritage, and we are therefore proceeding with care and zeal for the high architectural quality and historical details.”
Historical finds get a new life
And it has not been entirely boring to get started with the light demolition.
In the basement under Peschier’s Palace (Holmens Kanal 12), an old marble staircase has been uncovered, which was hidden behind installations. The staircase appears in the original drawings and has long been planned for restoration, but turned out to be surprisingly well preserved. Only minor repairs and a new banister are needed. When the doors to the Laksegade Quarter open, the restored staircase will be the main entrance to a new canteen area.
An exciting discovery has also been made on the first floor of Peschier’s Palace (Holmens Kanal 14). Here, a suspended plaster ceiling has been removed, revealing an almost intact ceiling painting in the old bank hall, which dates back to when the palace was built. It will now be restored to its original splendor so that it can become part of the interior design in the future.
“It’s like a treasure hunt, where we have the original drawings of the buildings to go by and must proceed with caution when removing the newer fixtures. It is an important reminder that we are working with buildings that have history and soul, which we must cherish,” says Glenn Jaes.
Everything is being documented so that architects and engineers have the necessary basis for the next phases of the turnkey contract.
The history of the Laksegade neighborhood brought to life with help from the Copenhagen Museum
Over the summer, the fence around the construction site has been decorated with stories about the Laksegade neighborhood’s more than 400 years of history.
The Copenhagen Museum has helped select and fact-check which stories should be highlighted on the fence. A task that museum curator Trine Halle was happy to take on:
“It is important to tell the city’s story because we need to know the city we live in. It may sound trite, but when we know the stories about what surrounds us – buildings and street environments – then we know our history. And when we know our history, we become better at taking care of it,” she says and continues:
“It’s wonderful that something as practical as a construction site fence is being used to convey a little piece of Copenhagen’s history and hopefully make passers-by want to stop and read.”
Many chapters in the neighborhood’s history
Laksegade neighborhood’s history has many layers, with the area around Laksegade providing the backdrop for major milestones in history over the years. The area was once home to many residences for lake workers, with taverns and a lively atmosphere. Later, Laksegade became a quieter neighborhood due to the many banks that moved into the area.
One of the stories highlighted on the fence is that of Skipperboderne. The area actually predated the construction of Nyboder:
“This was once the site of Skipperboderne – a cluster of houses where naval officers lived when they were not at sea. The houses were small and modest, suited to owners who were often away from home for long periods of time. The king needed more housing for the many officers in the navy and their families, so Christian IV had Nyboder built between 1631 and 1641. This meant that the officers eventually left their quarters and moved into Nyboder instead. The skippers’ huts in Størrestræde were lost in the fire in Copenhagen in 1795, and Størrestræde became part of Holmens Kanal in 1877,” says Trine Halle, concluding:
“The area is now being given a new life – which is what a big city is all about: it keeps evolving.”
The Copenhagen Museum tells 1,000 years of Copenhagen history. The museum is open every day of the week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Thursdays, it’s open until 8:00 p.m.
