Establishment of the International Working Group “Theory, Methodology and Practice of Railway Heritage Preservation”

Zurich
Just about a year ago, at the Sixth Annual Conference of the Gesellschaft für Bautechnikgeschichte in Berlin (11-13 May 2023), seven of the 17 presentations had been delivered by participants from the SPP 2255. This considerable presence in the German-speaking context of the history of construction was now followed by a no less remarkable international display at the 8th International Congress on Construction History in Zurich (8ICCH, 24 – 28.6.2024). This year’s conference with well over 200 participants from all over the world had been organized by the Institute for Preservation and Construction History at ETH Zurich.

Magdeburg
Im Forschungsschwerpunkt SPP 2255 „Kulturerbe Konstruktion“ der DFG befassen sich WissenschaftlerInnen der TU BA Freiberg und TU Braunschweig mit den Konstruktionen des VEB Metalleichtbau-kombinat (MLK). Ein Typenbauwerk des MLKs ist das Sporthalle KT60L.
Die Sporthalle der Freie Waldorfschule Magdeburg e.V. wurde Mitte 1970er Jahre erbaut und in den Jahren 2007 sowie 2010/11 saniert. Sie stellt wegen des innovativen Erhaltungsansatzes ein Vorbild für den allgemeinen und auch denkmalpflegerischen Umgang von Typenbauwerken der DDR dar.

Dessau-Roßlau
During the second annual meeting of the SPP 2255 in Dessau-Roßlau, the participants also visited on October 13, 2022 various historical constructions in the Dessau-Mitte industrial park in the course of a field trip prepared by Axel Schuhmann (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences). One of its preserved halls made a particular impression on the participants, yet there was hardly any information available about it – for example on the construction period or the planners responsible.

Subsequent research led to a surprising discovery: the building is a supposedly lost work by the architect and designer Peter Behrens (1868-1940), an exceptionally important figure for the development of modern architecture.

Berlin-Tempelhof
The former Berlin-Tempelhof Airport is one of the largest listed building complexes in Germany. Built between 1936 and 1941, the facility mirrors several phases of German history in a unique way. The huge building complex is also of particular importance in terms of construction history; back in 2011, it was already honored by the Federal Chamber of Engineers as a “Historical Landmark of the Art of Engineering”.

Magdeburg
On the Day of the Open Monument, the renovated GDR-type school gymnasium KT60L of the Freie Waldorfschule Magdeburg e.V. was opened to the public. During guided tours and the hands-on offer “Leonardo-Brücke-Bau”, the construction, the cultural value as well as the sustainability idea of the barrel-shaped supporting structure could be understood and discussed.

Cottbus
Night of Creative Minds invites you to explore the DFG Priority Program SPP2255 Cultural Heritage Construction or High Modernism via touch screen and 3D interactive technology

Cottbus
Explore hidden supporting structures in ultra-modern buildings via touch screen and using 3D interactive technology – at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg for the Night of Creative Minds 2024.

Cottbus
The first funding phase of SPP 2255 is coming to an end, and we will be starting the second at the beginning of the year. Three more years of the Cultural Heritage Construction Research Network lie ahead of us. Some projects are coming to an end, others are being added. We would like to thank all those with whom we were able to work in the first phase for exciting encounters, multi-layered suggestions, valuable insights and their often inspiring commitment to the common cause – the interdisciplinary process of valorizing the cultural heritage of construction.

For 2024, Team Cottbus wishes both old and new contributors and supporters health, happiness and joy in their work!

Cottbus
How good it was to finally be able to exchange ideas in person again! Communication in the second year of our DFG Priority Program was characterized by a wide range of encounters, from common ground and cluster workshops to think tanks and annual meetings.

Thank you for your powerful commitment!

The Cottbus Head Office wishes all contributors, supporters and friends of SPP 2255 health, happiness, joy and success in their work in 2023!

Cottbus
The first year of the DFG Priority Program 2255 Cultural Heritage Construction presented us with major challenges – but together we got off to a flying start. The coordination team would like to thank all contributors, partners and friends for their great commitment and diverse support!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and good luck, health and many new successes for 2022.