We take care of valuable architectural monuments, reinstate them, and conduct research into the original building materials and constructions, as well as options for their conservation and restoration. Our notion of historical monuments is guided by the historical fabric and takes the building’s architectural and use-related past seriously. It is not our goal to create effigies or utopian reconstructions. Supported by a scientific advisory board, we not only provide funding, but also act as the responsible project sponsor and client.
We address central questions concerning the future, in order to explore them and develop potential solutions. In this regard, one important example concerns the effects of demographic change with its opportunities and threats for future prospects in urban and rural regions. We tackle this through an interdisciplinary, cooperative, application-oriented and explorative approach. We also do not shy away from giving experimental approaches a chance, and launching open-outcome processes in liaison with the most diverse cooperation partners. In doing so, it is important for us to explore, together with the people, the issues that are important to them, rather than about them, and to encourage them to actively shape their own environment.
We support museums, libraries and archives in the handling of their inventories, to secure cultural benefits, to make them accessible to the public, and to anchor them firmly in the minds of society.
We preserve important literary works from falling into oblivion; making them accessible once more to today’s reading public and, in doing so, always viewing the texts from fresh, pioneering angles.
We promote the future viability of young people and provide targeted support in the qualification and research of up-and-coming scientific talent through (research) grants and fellowships.
We publish the findings of our work and ensure that concepts are disseminated, discussed and progressed on an interdisciplinary basis by means of competitions, (teaching) events, exhibitions and publications.
