Charterhouse Mauerbach (CM)-LowerAustria
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
After 700 years of diverse history CM is cared for by BHOe. Workshops for traditional crafts were established, offering VET for built CH. CM is utilised sensitively and professionals trained hands-on. Low-level intervention and circular principle in terms of resources and utilisation make CM unique. The European Heritage Academy (EHA) and a EUComp-Centre for CH and CCIs make Mauerbach a multilevel VET Skills & Maintenance Centre Point, Creative Hub and Community Centre.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Other Funds
The Charterhouse Mauerbach (CM) holistic concept has indirectly benefited from a series of Programmes e.g. Erasmus+ project MODI-FY 2014-2017; Horizon 2020 project PRO-Heritage 2019-2022 and OrbEEt 2015-2018; FLIP2 EU Commission pilot project INCREAS 2020-2022; Erasmus+ project VI-TRAIN 2021-2023
Description of the project
Summary
From 1314-1979 Charterhouse Mauerbach (CM) experienced a quite changeful history. Being handed over to BHOe in 1961, partner BDA installed here workshops for conservation and traditional crafts in 1984, being refurbished in 2003. Ever since BDA-Mauerbach (MB) has developed sophisticated further training mainly for Austrian professionals, while also providing profound information to owners of historic assets and interested parties in the country. By offering VET, information and advice BDA-MB has gained a fairly good reputation as experts in conservation and refurbishment of historic assets.
This way maintenance of the Charterhouse was secured through training on the actual object. During the hands-on training provided, trained professionals actually practice their evolving skills through applying these to the CM. Conservation and refurbishment are moving along rather slowely, however the work is done very professionally and the CM complex also functions as Best Practice Example for fellow organisations around Europe.
Local material is used or even re-used, extensive collections of historic windows, wooden parquet floors and tiles support the proper conservation. Publishing detailed documentation of available sands, stones, historic floors and windows also helps professionals and owners to bring their historic building back into shape, while still keeping its historic appearance.
In 2017 The European Heritage Academy (EHA) was founded, expanding the VET offer of BDA and BHOe to other European professionals. After completion of FLIP2 pilot project INCREAS funded by EU Commission, the initiated EUComp-Centre Mauerbach shall function as VET competence centre, maintenance information point, community centre and Creative Hub.
Key objectives for sustainability
-1314 foundation by Friedrich the handsome. Introducing 12 monks from Charterhouse Seiz, SLO
-1590 mostly destroyed in heavy earthquake
-1616-1660 re-building new CM complex
-1688 restoration of church after Turkish invasion
-1690- 1750 refurbishment of still existing parts - Emperor’s wing, cloister, cells, prelature, library, refectory, chapel
-1945-1961 turned into homeless shelter
-1961-1979 owned by BHOe but not used, left to deteriorate
-since 1984 further VET centre
Objectives were to:
- keep Charterhouse for further generations, tell its story and sustain historic building fabric
- restore and maintain historic buildings in unique way, applying a circular approach, which actually is a spiral moving up and forward constantly
- make best use of the complex, available material and elements
- offer further VET to professionals working with historic assets
- apply sophisticated competences and skills to conservation and maintenance of CM
- initiate internat. training offers with EHA and EUComp-Centre in order to sustain building as well as competences/skills levels of relevant professionals
- revive CM complex and surrounding area through innovative approach (EUComp-Centre)
The first 5 main objectives were already met by establishing VET centre of BDA at Charterhouse Mauerbach in 1984. The conservation and refurbishment was done step-by-step by professionals in hands-on trainings, using available historic material and elements. Specialised publications supported the expertise of the CM VET centre and spread the information all over Austria and neighboring countries, while organised events, exibitions and Open Doors raised awareness, attention and interest in the CM offers.
In a longterm concept additional objectives of internationalisation and increase of the range of VET offers were met. In 2017 EHA started its operation and turning CM into a EUComp-Centre for training, information, creativity and entertainment is the logical next step.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Objectives were to:
- turn Charterhouse from „eyesore“ into a valuable asset of BHOe and municipality of Mauerbach
- highlight the beauty of historic building and give it purpose
- open building to professionals interested in further education
- secure future of historic assets through sensitive use by teaching and applying techniques, which focus on „staying in the system“, including 4 major steps:
1. Capture values
2. Capture substance
3. Capture actual state
4. Define conservation goal
5. Base decisions on steps 1-4
- develop training which includes the principles of aesthetics and quality of experience e.g. Spirit of the Place
- open historic complex to wide public for specific events, education, creativity and entertainment
The main objectives were met through training on the object as anticipated by BDA-MB. CM was transformed from a rather desolate historic complex, neglected for more than 20 years, into a vivid learning space, where professionals could experience hands-on training, while basically creating and watching the historic asset recapturing dignified appearance and beauty. All this is achieved through the sensitive application of minimal intervention, using the same material as originally, add only suitable same or similar material and highlight the inherent beauty of buildings in everything you do.
Additonally CM regained its signification for the municipality and the region. As THE Austrian centre for further VET in the field of practical architectural conservation BHOe and BDA developed a new spirit of the place. From a place of contemplation to a place of sensitive action and caring approach for historic buildings and assets.
Organising exhibitions, concerts and other events for the wide public support this creation of „Spirit of the Place“ initiated by BDA-MB.
Key objectives for inclusion
Objectives were to:
-implement inclusion strategy of BHOe and BDA
-make CM attractive to people of all ages, open it to public with regular events, exhibitions, concerts etc.
-provide info on professions related to historic buildings to youth
-provide further edu to all EU professionals in the field
-provide development of EHA through innovative projects like BIM-Herit, INCREAS, VI-TRAIN, containing digital edu elements
-operate EUComp-Centre, also functioning as Creative Hub and Community Centre
Through sensitive conservation and maintenance of historic building fabric CM is attractive for visitors of all ages, attending exhibitions, concerts or even workshops. This way people learn about CM and appreciate the restored appearance of the building.
Young people are invited to receive profound information on jobs and career, while professionals incl. apprentices receive further training.
Additionally, owners of historic buildings can benefit from available research, publications and particular expertise of the BDA-MB team, available face-to-face, via phone and online.
Initiating EHA was a big step forward to international cooperation, leading to several new projects, producing adequate VET for the evolving sector of Cultural Heritage. This also increases the accessibility of Charterhouse VET offers and secures the permanence of the Charterhouse itself.
Probably the strongest impact is to expect from the EUComp-Centre as it will guarantee the existence of the Charterhouse as VET and information space longterm. Anticipated as a centre for VET, community Hot Spot and Creative Hub it will attract young and old from the region and beyond, providing information, education and entertainment in a colorful bundle, combining beauty of the past, achievements of the present and innovative outlooks into the future.
So the Charterhouse will bring prosperity, better communication between generations and appreciation for built history to inhabitants as well as visitors.
Results in relation to category
Results and Impacts achieved:
-reduction of energy/CO2 emissions through protection of historic buildings - embedded energy
-restoration done with historic/local material available
-utilisation of professionals trained in hands-on skills, applied to charterhouse
-collection and publications of Austrian sands, windows, floors, bricks and tiles used for conservation of CM
-creation of knowledge pool, transferring info to interested parties/ wide public, important for circularity and sustainability
-establishment of larger collection of historic building material for sale and exchange with other historic assets
In regards to building conservation in spirit of circularity it is important to notice that for CM a holistic approach was chosen. Including not only historic buildings as such, also containing a clear strategy for proper usage of the same.
Beside the step-by-step conservation during hands-on training of trainees, a sophisticated VET centre was implemented. Since 1984 professionals of the historic building sector were trained and could also access vast information on historic building material, windows, floors and other elements of conservation. Publishing several booklets about historic sands, stones and other material serve as resource for proper sensitive conservation of public and privat historic buildings, applying „Black Bible“ principles of the BDA, implemented by BHOe.
The holistic concept contains steps towards a one-stop-shop principle and some elements are still to be implemented. A major part of this approach is implementation of the EUComp-Centre as part of FLIP2 Pilot INCREAS. First steps have been done, however the complete package will be available by 2023.
Nevertheless, the constant development and improvement of offers is essential for the underlying concept.
This can also be seen as key impact of the previously taken actions by BHOe and BDA, which indicate the importance of the CM for VET in the evolving sector of Cultural Heritage.
How Citizens benefit
Benefits for citizens and civil society:
- „from eyesore to recovery area“ creates enhanced attraction for locals, visitors and tourists
- citizens of Mauerbach and surroundings benefit from restored and maintained historic building by enjoying enhanced aesthetics and quality of experience
- visitors from Austria, EU countries as well as from overseas benefit from it as well
- the municipality of Mauerbach benefits from a more attractive appearance of historic parts of the settlement
- the municipality also benefits from increased numbers of visitors and learners spending time and money there
The main beneficiaries of enhanced appearance of the CM are certainly the inhabitants of the municipality. They had to keep up with the „eyesore“ for many years, watching the historic building deteriorating before their eyes. However, for a long time no budget was allocated to the site and no useful purpose for the building was in sight.
Only after implementing BDA-MB things changed. More people arrived in Mauerbach, which is situated in a hilly, rather remote valley near Vienna. Participants of the courses started the process of conservation and slowly the appearance of the CM improved. This then attracted visitors, enhanced through organisation of exhibitions, concerts and other events, bringing additional audiences to Mauerbach.
Welcoming more people led to opening of hotels and restaurants, hosting seminars and conferences.
The more the Charterhouse improved, more people came to visit or attend courses and events. A true WIN-WIN situation for inhabitants and the municipality.
Implementation of EHA highlighted the improvement, now bringing more international visitors to CM.
This is increased after complete implementation of the EUComp-Centre, designated to become a Hot-Spot for VET in Cultural Heritage, Creative Hub and Community Centre for the area and region, providing a variety of services to young and old.
Innovative character
Innovative character:
- holistic longterm concept for developing the charterhouse complex through implementation of BDA VET Centre, EHA and EUComp-Centre as cooperation projects of BHO end BDA
- applying anticipated steps towards one-stop-shop principle
- continous development of the VET offer through EU projects like MODI-FY, OrBEEt, PRO-Heritage, INCREAS and VI-TRAIN
- unique approach of utilising competences and skills of professionals being trained while applying those to CM
- circular approach to use and re-use of available regional material e.g. slaked lime, sash windows, tiles and bricks
- integration of the municipality, the regional government and the Federal Monuments Authority Austria (BDA) in the holistic concept in order to achieve best possible results for the responsible body BHOe, the tennant BDA, the neighboring inhabitants, the municipality, public administration and tourism authority
