Bremen University of the Arts, Speicher XI

The objective of the renovation project was to repair the façade, which had been heavily soiled and damaged by weathering. The aim was to preserve the basic structure of the building, taking into account the protection of historical monuments, and to avoid the higher costs caused by progressive dilapidation. Before any work was carried out, the damage was precisely catalogued and analysed, and the specific measures necessary were determined on the basis of prototypical areas.

The main focus was on using analogous materials to the original. On the entire façade, carefully matched bricks substituted for or were added to existing stones; the joining mortar was developed under the supervision of a restorer as a specific mix for the site. The load-bearing capacity of the balconies was verified by experimental live static analysis, so that these structurally important components could be renovated and secured. By conducting extensive repairs, it was possible to restore the façade of the historic building while largely preserving the original substance and reconstructing the original appearance in accordance with the preservation order.