Institute for Building Research and Conservation

The Institute for Building Research and Conservation was founded on 22 June 2004 as a joint scientific institution of the architecture and urban planning department with the Restoration course and the civil engineering department as an In-Institute of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. The institute serves the purpose of science, research and development. Its main areas of activity are building conservation, preservation of historical buildings and restoration.

Beschädigtes Fachwerkhaus mit Baugerüst

At a glance

The Institute for Building Research and Conservation develops, acquires and carries out technology-oriented, object-oriented projects for knowledge transfer. In particular, it provides expert advice and expert reports in the areas of building diagnostics, substance preservation and archaeometry (construction and material).

A special concern is networking with regional partners and cooperation with eastern european partners in particular. Cooperation partners are primarily colleges and universities as well as further education institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, industrial partners as well as public institutions, especially monument and building administrations.

Symposium 2024: Focus on the Lifespan of Buildings

From the 3rd to the 5th of June 2024, the Institute for Building Research and Conservation hosted the symposium "Duration and Transience. Considerations on the lifespan of buildings". In the context of climate justice and sustainability, the event shed light on the significance of the lifespan of buildings and individual construction measures. This was linked to an examination of two traditional concepts of architecture: repairable and recyclable construction.

The event programme is available for download.

Programmausschnitt Symposium des Instituts für Bauforschung und Bauerhaltung

On the 4th of June 2024, the participants of the symposium had the opportunity to discuss the topic of lifespan using current case studies. The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg kindly organised two specialist excursions: One group visited the Roman Baths, led by Dr. Volker Thiele and Dipl.-Ing. Heike Zeymer, another group visited the Friedenskirche and its campanile, led by Dipl.-Ing. Frank Karalus and Dr. Ute Joksch.

Personen stehen während der Fachexkursion draußen und schauen sich das alte Gebäude im Hintergrund an
Sieben Personen die sich auf einer Fachexkursion Römische Bäder anschauen
Sechs Personen die sich auf einer Fachexkursion Römische Bäder anschauen
Foto welches ein Römisches Bad zeigt
Im Vordergrund stehen Personen der Fachexkursion, über und hinter Ihnen ragt eine Baustelle in die Höhe
Teilnehmende Personen der Fachexkursion schauen sich den Fugenmörtel der Friedenskirche an
Teilnehmende Personen der Fachexkursion befinden sich in den Gemäuern der Campanile Friedenskirche
Personen besuchen das Dach des Campanile

Contact

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin

Director

Prof. Dr. Jan Raue
Professor for Conservation and Restoration – Mural Painting

Director

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Pistol
Professor for Building Materials
Head of Laboratory for Building Materials