25.10.2024
Portraits, Profession

At home in the paper sector

Building design
Paper conservator Maren Dümmler is about to pass on her knowledge and experience to her first pre-study trainee. Photo: Maren Dümmler

and their experience to their

Maren Dümmler M.A. studied at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences in the field of “Restoration of Written Material, Graphics and Book Illumination”. She is particularly fascinated by the diversity of her field – a portrait For paper conservator Maren Dümmler M.A., it was already clear during her school days that she wanted to do something with art: “I left grammar school in the tenth […]

Maren Dümmler M.A. studied at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences in the field of “Restoration of Written Material, Graphics and Book Illumination”. She is particularly fascinated by the diversity of her subject area – a portrait

For paper conservator Maren Dümmler M. A., it was already clear during her school days that she wanted to do something with art: “I changed grammar school in the tenth grade so that I could take an advanced art course. During several school internships, it became increasingly clear that it had to be something practical.” She came to restoration through the careers information center. “I first completed a three-month internship in painting restoration and quickly realized that this direction was not for me. I then looked at the paper department and immediately felt at home and at ease,” says Maren Dümmler.

She is particularly fascinated by the diversity that paper restoration offers: “In addition to the incredible number of different types of paper, book restoration offers different materials such as leather or fabric, which are added to my work. There are also many different craft techniques: From printmaking, which can be done on different types of paper, to modern art papers or screen printing.”

She is currently working in her restoration studio in Neuwied on a prototype of a table model from the 1940s, made from papier-mâché. The table model is both exciting and challenging for her, as the design object, which was revolutionary and rather atypical for its time, has a peculiar structure.

Read more in the upcoming issue of RESTAURO 2/2021, which will be published on March 16, 2021.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
“My heart beats for the workshop.”
From provisional solution to pearl
The conversion of the detached house in Brussels focused on larger rooms and a connection to the garden. Photos: © Nicolas da Silva Lucas
BRDN – House conversion in Brussels
colorful-built-trees-a-river-with-mountains-in-the-background-W7gR8mtPF04
Multi-criteria decision models in planning – between complexity and clarity
Renderings by Kere Architecture
The new children’s oasis at TUM
Issues 2022: The Baumeister topics of the year
Remaining space
Portfolio
Design, durability and hygiene
"Balance" is the name of the new co-living property by Vandkunsten Architekten. Photo: Astrid Maria B. Rasmussen
Balance in the everyday community
The new light cuisine – The stone in June 2025
27.12.2024

Franken-Schotter takes over the BIM planning office Pronag

Building design

a cultural and congress center in Feldkirch in Vorarlberg, Austria

The natural stone dealer already offers BIM services and intends to expand this area with the acquisition.Franken-Schotter took over Pronag on July 1, 2018 as part of an asset deal and transfer of operations. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Pronag is regarded as a leading German BIM planning office for natural stone work. The reference list is long and includes, for example, the 3D BIM […]

The natural stone dealer already offers BIM services and intends to expand this area with the acquisition.

  • The Montforthaus, a cultural and congress center in Feldkirch in Vorarlberg, Austria, was planned with BIM and clad with Dietfurt limestone gala. Photo: Franken-Schotter

  • FS_PRONAG

    Marc Aßmann, Managing Director of Pronag (left) and Dr. Torsten Zech, Managing Director of Franken-Schotter. Photo: Franken-Schotter

Franken-Schotter acquired Pronag on July 1, 2018 as part of an asset deal and transfer of operations. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Pronag is regarded as a leading German BIM planning office for natural stone works. The reference list is long and includes, for example, the 3D BIM planning of the Berlin State Library and the redesign of the Rhine promenade in Basel – the latter a collaboration with Franken-Schotter.

Dr. Torsten Zech, Managing Director of Franken-Schotter, comments on the acquisition: “With this takeover, we are addressing the Building Information Modeling megatrend, which will fundamentally and sustainably change the construction industry in the coming years. We are already seeing strong demand, particularly from the English-speaking world. In addition, BIM will provide us with massive support in the digitalization of internal processes and production workflows.”

In a 2017 study , management consultants Roland Berger found that BIM is increasingly becoming the standard for the entire construction industry. And will mark a turning point in the construction industry. Marc Aßmann, master stonemason and Managing Director of Pronag Bauherren, said in an interview in STEIN S02/2018 that BIM should be used as early as possible in the planning process, as the higher the added value. Franken-Schotter is planning to do just that and wants to “be a role model within the industry with our integrated and resource-efficient value chain”. The Pronag brand will be retained and Franken-Schotter will continue to offer external natural stone planning services from its Dresden site.

21.11.2024
Industry news, Profession

New process developed to prevent paper disintegration

Building design

Scientific Director of the European Research Center for Book and Paper Conservation-Restoration. Photo: Danube University Krems

Mag. dr. hab. Patricia Engel is Scientific Director of the European Research Center for Book and Paper Conservation-Restoration at Danube University Krems. In an interdisciplinary research project, she and her team, together with the University of Graz, developed a method to stop acid-induced paper decay. A commentary From the middle of the 19th century, paper was produced from shredded […]

Mag. dr. hab. Patricia Engel is Scientific Director of the European Research Center for Book and Paper Conservation-Restoration at Danube University Krems. In an interdisciplinary research project, she and her team, together with the University of Graz, developed a method to stop acid-induced paper decay. A commentary

From the middle of the 19th century, paper was produced from shredded pieces of wood in order to make it available to the masses at low cost. Until the production of higher quality paper began after 1945, almost everything was printed and written on groundwood paper: books, newspapers and letters. A low pH value of the groundwood pulp paper leads to the destruction of the cellulose chains during longer storage. In addition, alum was used as an auxiliary material in paper production, which leads to the formation of acid, which further promotes paper decay. The paper becomes brittle. An unstoppable ageing spiral develops, which is further accelerated by poor storage, heat, light and humidity. Currently, the holdings of many libraries and archives are affected by acid-induced paper decay to varying degrees.

New procedure for paper deterioration

To ensure the preservation of these documents, we have developed a new process in an interdisciplinary team of conservators and chemists from Danube University Krems and the University of Graz. Based on previous mass deacidification processes and with the help of innovative chemical and nanotechnological methods, it deacidifies the paper, leaves behind an alkaline reserve and makes the paper reusable. And if desired, it can be used to disinfect microorganisms at the same time – or, in a modular way, just to combat microorganisms. The patent is pending. If it is successful, it will close a research gap in Austrian paper restoration.