The Professorship of Conservation of Architectural Surfaces is located at Oettingenstraße 15 in Munich and is part of the Department of Architecture within the TUM School of Engineering and Design. It shares spaces and research facilities with the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science at Technical University of Munich, fostering close collaboration within a strongly integrated academic environment. The co-presence of the restoration ateliers of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum and the Archaeological State Collection in the same building creates a vibrant setting that enables continuous exchange between academic research and conservation practice.
The professorship is dedicated to Conservation Science, with a specific focus on the preservation of architectural surfaces in both research and teaching. Its work is grounded in an integrative and interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of conservation-restoration, architecture, and materials science, incorporating methods and perspectives from the natural sciences and engineering.
Recognizing the inherently multidisciplinary nature of architectural surface conservation, the professorship actively promotes collaboration across disciplines and institutions within academia—within and beyond TUM—as well as with museums, scientific research institutions, and monument preservation bodies at national and international levels. This approach is reflected in the interdisciplinary composition of the research team and its strong engagement in collaborative research projects.
Architectural surfaces bear witness to historical, social, and technological developments from antiquity to the present. The professorship addresses surfaces from ancient façades to contemporary buildings, with particular attention to the 20th century—a period marked by the introduction of new semi-synthetic and synthetic materials, innovative construction technologies, and experimental artistic approaches that pose unprecedented conservation challenges.
Current research focuses on:
- Plastics and polymer-based materials in architecture
- Modern and contemporary façades, including house paints, murals, graffiti, street and urban art, and other artistic surface expressions
- Synthetic materials and methodologies for the conservation of mural paintings
A key partner in the research network is insiTUMlab, the analytical infrastructure of the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science. Using non-destructive, in situ, portable analytical techniques, the professorship investigates architectural surfaces in historical and modern contexts, focusing on material characterization and degradation mechanisms. Linking material properties with alteration processes enables the development of knowledge that supports long-term conservation strategies.
Through research-driven teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and close engagement with conservation science, the Professorship of Conservation of Architectural Surfaces advances the preservation of architectural heritage and of existing buildings with cultural, historical, industrial, and artistic significance, fostering knowledge that enhances their relevance for present and future generations.