In August 2017, we hosted a woodwork renovation and preservation workshop, the first-of-its-kind in Israel. The workshop was led by architect Robert K. Huber, manager of zukunftsgeraeusche GbR (in scientific partnership with the Technical University of Berlin) and Frank Schulze, a German master carpenter from the Vocational Advancement Service of the Association of Construction Industry of Berlin-Brandenburg. About 20 participants learned how to repair and renovate 80-years old windows and balcony doors, instead of replacing them with new ones. The three weeks workshop was attended by both Israelis and Germans, and together they filed, peeled, uncovered the historical secrets of the wood (and a few woodworms), painted and re-glazed. Participants included architects, conservation students and amateur and professional carpenters from Israel, as well as German apprentices in carpentry undergoing vocational training at the Berlin Knobelsdorff-School. The workshop fostered also the dialogue between the
Israeli and German participants in social activities beside the work, accompanied by the Berlin Bildungsverein Bautechnik. We spoke with some of the participants, got to know them better and heard how they feel about wood, carpentry and the Max Liebling House. Nice to meet you!
The workshop was a pilot-project, to introduce a so called educational-construction-site within the renovation work of the Max Liebling House. It was developed by zukunftsgeraeusche GbR in cooperation with the White City Center, supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) and the German Federal Ministry of Building.
Ronen Dor (42) | Sdei Hemed, Israel
MA in Conservation from the University of Haifa. “I love wood, especially old, and I embrace the quality and simplicity of this building.”
Frank Schulze (49) | Lichtenau, Germany
Master carpenter, workshop instructor at the Vocational Advancement Service of the Association of Construction Industry of Berlin-Brandenburg. “I love the creativity of working with wood. Wood always challenges me. What impresses me in this building, apart from its historical background, is the thought of ventilation and wind directions.”
Neta Cheresh (28) | Haifa, Israel
BA in Archeology, MA in Art, conservationist at the Israel Antiquities Authority. “I am involved with conservation each day. This workshop introduced me to a typical Bauhaus building.”
Ana Brit Heinssen (22) | Berlin, Germany
Apprentice in carpentry at Knobelsdorff-School Berlin. “Carpentry and woodwork interest me. It's a profession that never gets old and constantly adapts to the period. I really like the simplicity of the windows in this building; it fascinates me the more I learn about it.”
Karl Meiners (20) | Berlin, Germany Apprentice in carpentry at Knobelsdorff-School Berlin. “The history and visible age of the doors, windows and other details in the building are very impressive.”
Tamar Alon (56) | Beni Zion, Israel Carpentry and conservation enthusiast. “This building has a history, both inside and outside. What’s beautiful about it is the thought put into ventilation and natural lighting.”
Fridolin Marc Ehmer (20) | Berlin, Germany Apprentice in carpentry at Knobelsdorff-School Berlin.
Steffen Schmedes (21) | Berlin, Germany Apprentice in carpentry at Knobelsdorff-School Berlin.
PARTNERS OF THE PROJECT
Knobelsdorff-School Berlin; Berufsförderungswerk des Bauindustrieverbands Berlin-Brandenburg | Vocational Advancement Service of the Association of Construction Industry of Berlin-Brandenburg; Bildungsverein Bautechnik; zukunftsgeraeusche GbR
Robert K. Huber, managing partner of zukunftsgeraeusche GbR, in scientific partnership with Technical University of Berlin.
DBU - Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt | DBU - German Federal Environmental Foundation; Bundesbauministerium | German Federal Ministry for Building