Problemy rekonstrukcji nadal żywe i aktualne : na marginesie kolokwium w Augsburgu w marcu 1978 r.

The reconstrution o f the Golden Hall in Augsburg’s Town-Hall was the subject o f an international seminar held on March 8 and 9, 1978 on the initiative o f Augsburg’s Municipal Council. The Town-Hall at Augsburg, a world-known ediffice with magnificent interiors, was erected in the years 1615—1624 by Elias Holl (1575— —1646), an outstanding architect. Utterly burnt down in 1944, from the top down to the dome o f the vestibule o f the ground floor, the Hall was roughly rebuilt by 1955 and after restoration works it regained its exterior décor. The rebuilding o f the interiors carried out in 1958—1962 has left, however, open the question o f restoring former decor. The discussion held at the seminar showed that while the question o f restoring exterior and interior architectural decorations, especially o f preserving genuine parts o f the elements, did not give rise to any major reservations, then the problem o f painted décor was found to be highly controversial. The main problem was a search for the answer to the question whether it was justified, or even permissible, to reconstruct decorations o f the interiors devastated by fire when, except for the wall-building substance and the arrangement o f window openings and niches, only a very small percentage o f wall paintings that used to decorate the wall had been preserved. Nothing lite. rally was left from a rich architectonic and sculpturing wood. -carving. Finally, after a lengthy discussion and including amendments approved by the overwhelming majority, the commission presented the Municipal Council with an expertise made on behalf o f seminar participants. The expertise confirms a technical possibility o f reconstruction. Still, in recommends an earlier verification o f the reliability of the documentation. The expertise draws also attention to difficulties involved in eventual reconstruction. The problem o f reconstructing the Golden Hall is of both a cultural and political nature and its solution depends on the decision o f the town o f Augsburg itself. At any rate, it is advised to take on first only partial tasks, the results o f which would be every time assessed by a competent international body and would influence international body and would influence further decisions. It is also recommended to commence with easier and non-conflicting works such as floors, window partitions, doors and portals, tested first on models scaled 1:1. The existing provisional arrangement should make a point o f departure for partial steps. In the case o f a possible modern solution, defined as a rule as problematic, the architecture of Elias Holl should definitely not be changed. Also relics of the preserved wallpaintings, which must be maintained „in situ”, must stay unharmed.