Conservator Natalie Kesik practices her profession with great enthusiasm: She is currently commuting between the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg and the Stiftung Domäne Dahlem – Landgut und Museum in Berlin Natalie Kesik travels to her works of art. The restorer is currently commuting between Wolfsburg and Berlin – because she has recently been given two […]

Conservator Natalie Kesik practices her profession with great enthusiasm: She currently commutes between the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg and the Domäne Dahlem Foundation – Estate and Museum in Berlin

Natalie Kesik travels to her works of art. The conservator is currently commuting between Wolfsburg and Berlin – because she has recently taken on two jobs until the end of the year. “You should always be flexible in terms of location in this profession,” emphasizes the Berliner-by-choice, who has been travelling to work at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg since spring 2017. The Munich native knows all about relocation: Natalie Kesik has already traveled back and forth between Regensburg and the capital in the past for the restoration and renovation of the Holy Trinity Church in Regensburg. Since June 1, the passionate restorer has been working for the Domäne Dahlem – Landgut und Museum foundation alongside her work in Wolfsburg. “Fortunately, both institutions agreed to this,” says Natalie Kesik happily. “Even if the next six months will be exhausting.”

After all, it is a challenge to switch between the houses – and the different areas of responsibility. “In Wolfsburg, I’m responsible for all restoration and conservation matters in the museum, i.e. I’m in charge of the exhibitions, currently the ‘Facing India’ show, for setting up and dismantling exhibitions, for monitoring the objects, for monitoring loans in close coordination with the art handling team, for compiling condition reports – and of course for restoration orders.” At the Domäne Dahlem – Landgut und Museum Foundation, however, her work goes beyond the purely conservational: Natalie Kesik will be working on an interdisciplinary basis in future. For the upcoming exhibition there, she will focus on everyday culture and the themes of cuisine and cooking. “I’m looking forward to it and see it as an opportunity to contribute my restoration knowledge here.” The fact that the restorer first began studying art history after graduating from high school was certainly not a disadvantage for either position.

But because her heart was set on restoration, she worked for a wood and furniture restorer for two years and then began studying preventive conservation at the HAWK in Hildesheim. After her bachelor’s degree, she completed a carpentry apprenticeship at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin with head restorer and master carpenter Werner Pape. “I then embarked on a Master’s degree and specialized in technical cultural assets and modern materials at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW).” Incidentally, the best ideas and solutions usually come to her when she gets back to work after the weekend. “The process of thinking and reflecting is always ongoing.” It was almost to be expected that the dedicated restorer also has a small studio in Wedding.

About the restorer: Natalie Kesik (M.A.) studied Preventive Conservation at HAWK HiIdesheim, specializing in furniture and wooden objects. After completing her carpentry apprenticeship at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, she went on to study Conservation and Restoration of Technical Cultural Assets and Modern Materials at the HTW Berlin. She currently works at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg and for the Stiftung Domäne Dahlem – Landgut und Museum in Berlin

The London landscape architecture firm Gustafson Porter + Bowman has won the tender for the redesign of the area around the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower is to be given a new environment. The attraction, which is the symbol of Paris and receives several million visitors every year, is struggling to cope with the volume of tourists: the infrastructure of the site is not designed for this. For this reason, the city announced a competition for the redesign in 2018. This has now been decided.

The London landscape architecture firm Gustafson Porter + Bowman has won the tender for the redesign of the area around the Eiffel Tower. This includes the area around the Trocadéro Gardens and the Champ de Mars as well as the tower itself and its promenade.

The design by Gustafson Porter + Bowman leaves more space for pedestrians and ensures that there is less traffic around the Eiffel Tower. Instead, better public transport links will ensure that tourists can visit the attraction without increasing the volume of traffic. In this way, the London office is also supporting the plan to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. They want to make their contribution to creating a “green lung” for Paris. To this end, they are closing the Pont d’Iéna to car traffic.

Parisians also have a say in the revitalization of their biggest landmark: The winning team will exhibit its design in a month-long exhibition. The public is invited to give their opinion and feedback. The feedback will be incorporated into Gustafson Porter + Bowman’s plans.

The aim of the city and the firm is to obtain planning permission by 2020 so that the site can shine in new splendor in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics.