World Heritage Site Classical Weimar

Traditional dry-stone techniques & Reconstruction of historic parks

The Classical Weimar ensemble,
inscribed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1998, comprises eleven
properties in and around Weimar,
Germany . These sites exemplify the
city's profound cultural development
during the late 18th and early 19th
centuries, a period marked by
outstanding contributions to German and European literature, philosophy, and the arts. Weimar became a nucleus for intellectuals and artists, creating an environment that greatly influenced European Enlightenment and Romantic movements. An important site linked to Christoph Martin Wieland (1733–1813), a seminal German poet, writer, and translator, is the Wieland Estate in Oßmannstedt, located near Weimar. This estate served as his residence and is emblematic of his contributions to Weimar's cultural heritage. The property includes a manor house and a landscaped park, reflecting the aesthetic and intellectual sensibilities of the period. Today, the estate is part of the Classical Weimar Foundation, which manages numerous historical sites associated with Weimar Classicism. The foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural legacy of Weimar, overseeing properties that collectively illustrate the city's historical significance.

Project description

Since 2012, efforts have focused on doing conservation and maintenance works on important elements of the Classical Weimar ́s historical gardens, particularly in the last three years focused on the historic kitchen garden of Belvedere Park, through dry-stone wall conservation, pathway restoration, and structural maintenance. This year, the project extends its scope to include the Wieland Estate in Oßmannstedt, a site closely connected to the Classical Weimar period, enhancing the narrative of Weimar’s cultural heritage through practical conservation and interdisciplinary educational activities.

The hands-on conservation work will focus on the reconstruction and stabilisation of historic garden structures both in Weimar and Oßmannstedt. At Belvedere Park, the work continues on the conservation of lateral dry-stone walls, which provide structural support to terraced sections of the garden. At the Wieland Estate, the participants will engage in the conservation of a historic dry- stone wall that serves as both a containment structure and a boundary between the estate’s gardens and the River Ilm, which also runs through the parks of Classical Weimar. The work will be carried out under the guidance of an expert stonemason with decades of experience in traditional masonry techniques. In addition, the participants will also collaborate with other tasks related to the upkeep of the historical gardens at the estate. An integral component of the project is the philosophical approach to slow-work in craftsmanship, emphasising the careful and deliberate application of traditional masonry and construction techniques. This method aligns with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, advocating for the sustainable use and reuse of materials and the integration of historical construction techniques into modern architectural practice.

REQUIREMENTS: CV, Motivation Letter and interview

ACCOMMODATION: basic facilities, shared rooms with beds, warm showers and toilets.

LOCATION: Weimar, Thuringia