Fraunhofer-Informationszentrum Raum und Bau IRB

Registration is required for this event. There is a fee.

Conference organised by WTA Germany, IRB Fraunhofer and the Association of State Heritage Authorities (VDL) Rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves and changing usage requirements are presenting new challenges for the management of historic buildings. Whilst winter thermal insulation has been a focus for many years, summer thermal insulation is becoming increasingly important in historic buildings. How can historic buildings be adapted to a warmer climate without compromising their heritage value or their appearance? What potential do traditional construction methods offer, and which technical and planning solutions are compatible with the requirements of heritage conservation? Organised by WTA, Fraunhofer IRB and the Association of State Heritage Authorities (VDL), this conference examines current issues surrounding summer thermal protection in historic buildings, covering a range of topics from historical strategies and planning and technical approaches to practical experience in heritage conservation. The focus is on the challenges of climate adaptation, the demands of modern uses, and the search for solutions compatible with heritage conservation. Drawing on examples from research and practice, the conference will highlight ways in which historic buildings can remain comfortable to use in the future – when summer becomes a stress test and summer heat protection turns into a demanding planning task balancing climate adaptation, building use and heritage compatibility.

As part of the DBU project (Ref. 39189) ‘Light protection as a contribution to climate protection in heritage buildings: A pilot study of the effects of different light protection systems on historic buildings’, the topic of structural light protection was investigated from a heritage conservation perspective at 40 heritage sites in southern and central Germany, as well as in the laboratory. This event will present the approach, methodology and project findings.