Of care, value and monument: For What It’s Worth

What is something worth – and to whom? This question lies at the heart of the exhibition «Von Pflege, Wert und Denkmal: For What It’s Worth». It focuses on the built environment, material culture and heritage discourse, and asks how we, as a society, deal with what already exists. Between heritage protection, demolition, reuse and representation, a field of negotiation unfolds: What is preserved – and who decides?

The exhibition explores heritage conservation as a practice of Care – one that protects, preserves and transmits, and thus takes a central role in contemporary social, ecological and political debates. Care here is understood not only as material maintenance and repair, but also as social transmission and cultural recognition. It represents an attitude of responsibility towards what already exists – be it a building component, a material, or a history.

The project was developed with partners from the field of building culture and civil society organisations. Marking the 50th anniversary of the European Year of Architectural Heritage, the exhibition uses historical building elements, artistic works, spolia and case studies to show what heritage conservation can achieve today – and which alliances it depends on.

Opening: 4.9.2025, 7 pm