Publications
Stone monuments and abandoned quarries –ways of restoration in Germany through times
Restoration of stone monuments in Germany faces significant challenges due to the closure of original quarries, leaving no suitable substitute materials. This study examines six iconic structures—Cologne Cathedral, Freiburg Münster, the Stone Bridge in Regensburg, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Monument at Porta Westphalica, Old National Gallery in Berlin, and the Picture Gallery of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam—to analyze how replacement stones were selected under varying economic and political conditions. Two cases involved temporarily reactivating old quarries, while others relied on alternative materials. Notably, one restoration was reversed when the original stone became available again. The research highlights the decision-making processes, trade-offs, and lessons learned from these approaches, offering insights into sustainable heritage conservation strategies.
Chapter 16: 1826, Jacobi
In 1826, Carl Gustav Jacob Jacobi made significant advancements in the development of orthogonal polynomials, a foundational concept in mathematics. Born in Potsdam, then part of the Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany), Jacobi's work laid the groundwork for understanding these polynomials, which are essential in numerical analysis and theoretical physics. His contributions were pivotal during the reign of Frederick the Great, when Potsdam flourished as an administrative and cultural center, particularly under the patronage of the Prussian royal house. The study explores how Jacobi's mathematical innovations emerged within this historical context, highlighting their enduring impact on both mathematics and science.
Heritage Protection as Progressive Urbanism Defending the Legacies of the Welfare State
Berlin's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Palaces of Potsdam and Berlin and Museum Island, are often overshadowed by a lesser-known third site: the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates. Constructed between 1910 and 1933, these six housing estates represent innovative urban planning and architecture that significantly improved living conditions for low-income residents during Berlin's socially progressive Weimar Republic era. These estates introduced novel typologies that influenced global housing development, showcasing the city's forward-thinking approach to welfare state policies. The study highlights their exceptional architectural and urban design legacy, which continues to shape modern urbanism worldwide.
Europäisches Zentrum für Jüdische Gelehrsamkeit. Denkmalgerechter Umbau des Nordtorgebäudes und der Orangerie am Neuen Palais im Schlosspark Sanssouci
A significant transformation of the Nordtorgebäude and former Orangerie within the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Schlösser und Parks von Potsdam und Berlin' has given rise to a vibrant, academic campus. This development is part of the Europäisches Zentrum für Jüdische Gelehrsamkeit (European Center for Jewish Scholarship), the first post-Shoah institution in Central Europe dedicated to training rabbis and cantors. The renovation project, conducted with meticulous attention to historic preservation, integrates these structures—alongside Potsdam's first synagogue—into a dynamic educational and cultural hub. This initiative not only revitalizes a historically rich site but also symbolizes the resurgence of Jewish scholarship and heritage in Germany.
Aftermaths
Despite being politically taboo, Prussia remained a significant and persistent influence in post-war East Germany. This study reveals how the German Democratic Republic (GDR) grappled with its Prussian legacy, which complicated efforts to construct a coherent historical narrative for the state. Through case studies of key Prussian architectural sites—such as the Berlin Schloss, Potsdam City Palace, and Potsdam Garnisonkirche—the research demonstrates that while the SED sought to erase or repurpose these symbols, they could not fully eliminate Prussia's presence from the collective memory. The chapter employs historiographical analysis to show how theoretical frameworks in GDR historiography both reflected and resisted this erasure, highlighting the enduring tension between political ideology and historical reality.
Demolishing Modernism: GDR and Neo-Prussian Architecture in Berlin
Recent architectural transformations in Berlin and Potsdam reveal a deliberate effort to reshape urban memory through the demolition of modernist structures and their replacement with neo-Prussian replicas. Notably, the 2006 demolition of the Palace of the Republic—a symbol of GDR-era politics—was followed by the construction of an eighteenth-century replica, now housing the Humboldt Forum, a museum dedicated to non-Western art. This pattern of iconoclasm and revival suggests a broader strategy to redefine Berlin's historical narrative, blending political symbolism with architectural nostalgia. The study examines these demolitions through the lens of iconoclastic precedents in art and architecture, highlighting their implications for urban identity and memory.
Response of Growth to Climate within Oaks of the World Heritage Site of Prussian Gardens
Oaks within the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin' exhibit site-specific drought sensitivity, with growth significantly influenced by precipitation levels from the previous year's July and September, as well as current May to July. This correlation is strongly linked to soil moisture conditions, highlighting the critical role of adequate water availability in oak xylogenesis. The study employed dendrochronological techniques, including correlation analyses, moving correlations, pointer year analyses, and superposed epoch analyses (SEA), to assess climate-growth relationships and their stability over recent decades. While declining growth trends were observed, these are attributed to the natural aging of trees rather than solely to changing climatic conditions.
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