New thinking in monument protection: History meets the future!

New thinking in monument protection: History meets the future!

Monument protection in Germany faces a fundamental change that is not only characterized by historical conservation interests, but also by current social and ecological challenges. This explained an expert in a recent lecture in which the change from the "uncomfortable cultural monument" towards a "protected habitat" was discussed. This transformation is promoted by reforms in the federal states and international programs such as "Creative Europe", which aim to better maintain the cultural heritage and at the same time take modern needs into account. According to wndn.de it is crucial that monument protection will also take into account the challenges of climate change and demographic change.

In the past ten years, German monument protection law has developed rapidly. The different federal states have recognized that they have to make targeted reforms at their monument protection laws in order to meet social, political and ecological changes. As reported by skwschwarz.de , the laws in Germany are a matter of the country. This means that each federal state determines its own regulations. In 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia decided a comprehensive reform of the Monument Protection Act, which aims to strengthen the cooperation between monument protection authorities, owners and municipalities.

relevant reforms in the federal states

A central element of reforms in NRW is the new § 7 DSchG NRW, which allows structural changes to listed real estate in order to enable their meaningful (further) use. This includes, for example, measures for accessibility or energetic renovations. Section 8 (1) of the DSchG NRW has established a graded usage system for monuments that prioritize the original use. These changes are not limited to North Rhine-Westphalia; Similar adjustments were made in other federal states such as Brandenburg and Baden-Württemberg.

digital technologies play a crucial role in modern monument protection. Digitization enables a detailed recording and documentation of cultural monuments, such as 3D scans and digital inventory. These progress is essential in order to meet the increased demands on monument protection, especially with regard to climatic changes and the need for sustainable building use. In NRW, climate protection and renewable energies are also included in the weighing process in § 9 DSchG.

challenges and outlook

Despite the positive developments, there are still challenges. A significant conflict of interest is particularly evident between the preservation of historical building fabric and the acute need for new living space, especially in large cities. A balanced balance between monument protection, urban development and the interests of the owners is required here. This balance will also be of central importance in the coming years in order to meet the requirements of changing society. The ongoing discussion about the role of monument protection will have a significant impact on future urban development and dealing with cultural heritage in Germany

Overall, it should be noted that the monument protection in Germany is on a dynamic path. While the basic pillars of the monument protection continue, adjustments are necessary to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century. The goal is to preserve the historical substance and at the same time create sustainable solutions for citizens and owners. These developments should be considered both locally and in a European context in order to enable an integrative approach to monument protection.