One of the most famous examples of Art Nouveau church architecture in Europe called «Am Steinhof» (literally: at the stone yard), a work of Otto Wagner (1841-1918), internationally renowned Austrian architect, is presently being restored in Vienna, the Austrian capital. Among other works, the entire facade, consisting of more than 2000 square meter of white Carrara marble slabs, had to be replaced over the last two years.
Eternity had only been interrupted. The Old Bridge in Mostar, which had been constructed in 1556, rose from the ashes in July 2004. This symbol for the bond between peoples and religions had been built under the assumption of everlastingness, but became a victim of the Bosnian war in 1993. This monument, which is also important regarding its architecture, was rebuilt under the direction of the UNESCO with the participation of the LGA (Regional Industrial Association) of Nuremberg (Germany)
The Hungarian Parliament, located in the capital city of Budapest, on the banks of the river Danube, was built to commemorate the millennium celebrations, and took as its model the Westminster in London. Now, coinciding with its centenary in 2002, the building is being restored. The Hungarian company Reneszánsz RT., the biggest stone company in the country employing 300 people, has been charged with the restoration project.
The workshop of Cantería Olnasa is undertaking the reproduction of the southern doorway of the Roman Church of San Miguel de Uncastillo (Zaragoza, Spain), that currently is to be found in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (USA). It is an initiative for, in some way, recovering, part of the lost treasure.
The Bindesplatz (Federation Square) in the old city of Bern, the capital of Switzerland, has been re-designed and re-landscaped in 2003-2004 at total cost of 8 million Swiss Francs (approx. 5’2 million Euro). The new design provides a most attractive appearance by three simple elements: stone, water and light.
Richard Watzke
For the first time in Europe a new technology has been used in a baroque castle in Aurolzmünster, Upper Austria. Without removing the original substance new and old parts of a staircase have been combined.
