The original Albertinum building was constructed between 1559 and 1563 as an armoury and was one of the most significant Renaissance buildings in Dresden. The Albertinum acquired its present form following its conversion into a museum between 1884 and 1887.
The aim of the thorough and comprehensive facade restoration was to achieve a harmonious and uniform overall appearance, whilst utilising the services of eight different stonemasonry firms.
Since the end of the 19th century, the Albertinum’s sandstone facades have reflected the style of the Italian High Renaissance.
The extensive restoration of the facades was preceded by refurbishment work inside the building.
The sides most exposed to the elements – the elaborately designed north-east facade (Brühlsche Terrasse) and the north-west facade – showed particularly severe damage.
A particular challenge was coordinating the eight stonemasonry firms working simultaneously, each characterised by different corporate philosophies and individual craftsmanship styles. The aim was to achieve a uniform overall appearance of the facade despite this diversity.
A prerequisite for the project was a comprehensive assessment of the damage to the facade area, which covers approximately 7,500 m²; this was carried out visually from a work platform.
The grid system created for this purpose, comprising over 400 individual plans, enabled the damage to be recorded very effectively and marked in colour according to specified criteria.
