History of scaffolding and centring 1500-1850

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan M. Holzer
• Subject Area: Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology
• Term: from 2015 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278231070

The history of scaffolding, centering, construction-related lifting gear, and shoring during the Early Modern Period (here generously used for the time frame 1500-1850) is little known, whereas research during the past decades has already managed to draw a fairly detailed picture of medieval construction site practices, including evaluation of pictorial records, building archeology, and experimental re-enacting approaches. The current project aims at filling the knowledge gap between the Middle Ages and the late 19th century. It is motivated by the conviction that thorough knowledge of contemporary constructional practices and scaffolding can contribute substantially to our understanding of surviving historical architecture and constructions and to the interpretation of findings at existing structures. The primary goal of the project is the publication of already existing material, which, however, has to be completed by some detail investigations. The final publication envisaged will be in monographical book form.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants