Two Looks Back to Move Forward. Today’s Evaluation of Opposite Approaches of Concrete Repair in Heritage Preservation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two general approaches in concrete heritage preservation can be dis-tinguished since the 1980s. Both have been met with approval from the offi-cial preservation authorities in German-speaking countries up to the present day. However, regarding the conservation of material substance and appearance, they are diametrically opposed and differ strongly regarding continuous reparability, reversibility, and monitoring. The following re-assessment is based on a historic analysis of the formation of the two approaches, which were for the first time widely discussed on the repair of the Antoniuskirche in Basel (repair 1987–1991) and the Liederhalle in Stuttgart (repair 1991–1993) respectively. The latter has been acknowledged as a best practice example for localized repair and careful preservation, whereas the first has been discussed as an exemplary case for renewal with imitation of the original surface appearance. However, as revealed trough a recent in situ condition survey and accompanied archival research, this one-sided perception has so far lacked to consider the diversity of the actual repairs. After about 30 years, we re-evaluated the two prominent cases of early concrete repair in heritage conservation to discuss the appropriateness and suitabil-ity of the approaches and their long-term consequences, also in light of the comprehensive contemporary discussions. Based on an ongoing DFG-funded research project, the paper points to new methods of systematic photographic survey and color measurement for the examination of repaired concrete surfaces, which are highly relevant for their assessment, monitoring and thus for future decision-making processes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRILEM Bookseries
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages824-837
Number of pages14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Publication series

NameRILEM Bookseries
Volume46
ISSN (Print)2211-0844
ISSN (Electronic)2211-0852

Keywords

  • authenticity
  • building heritage conservation
  • concrete repair
  • exposed concrete surfaces
  • in-situ survey
  • monitoring
  • reversibility

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