Anyone passing through the center of town over the next few days might notice an unfamiliar sight, or rather the lack of one.
The City Hall Tower, Copenhagen’s undoubtedly most recognizable tower, will be covered in scaffolding until the end of the year.
The town hall tower must be renovated to ensure that it can withstand the howling Danish wind for the next few decades.
“Copenhagen City Hall is a large part of the city’s identity and soul – all Copenhageners have a relationship with the building,” says Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Copenhagen’s mayor.
“We have to protect that. It is important that we take good care of the town hall, so that we ensure that the city we pass on to our children and grandchildren can tell our shared history.”
Fantasy tower
Anyone grieving that they won’t be able to see their beloved tower for another year should take solace: thanks to the Royal Academy, you won’t miss a thing.
The scaffolding will be covered by a massive depiction of the 105 meter high tower. The Royal Academy held a competition inviting students to submit their design proposals.
Anne Marie Stahl and Nikolaj Exner Carstens won with their image of a three-column tower, which will adorn the Town Hall Tower for the next 12 months.
The two Royal Academy students said their designs were inspired by “nature, history and everyday life”.
History
Copenhagen’s Town Hall was completed in 1905. It was designed by architect Martin Nyrop and was inspired by Siena’s medieval Palazzo Pubblico.
The current Town Hall is the city’s sixth town hall. Gamle Rådu’s locations include Gammeltorv, Nytorv and the corner between Nørregade and Studiesstræde.
Copenhagen’s third City Hall burned down in the Great Fire of Copenhagen in 1728, which raged for more than two days and destroyed almost half of the city center.
The fifth Town Hall, replaced by the current one, still stands today on Nytorv and now functions as the Copenhagen Municipal Court.
Source: The Nordic Page