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Ms. Dr. Kaymer, as city curator you are in charge of about 9.500 historical monuments. These are settlements, cemeteries, wilhelminian villas, administration buildings, as well as prominent monuments such as the romanic churches, the Gürzenich and the historical city hall. What are your exact tasks? First of all, it´s about listing and conserving historical monuments. Up to now, 8.735 buildings and parks have been listed, and it will continually add new. We are now ready with the 50ies. Next will be the 60ies and 70ies. According to the two steps of historical monument law it has to be proofed, if the requirements for a historical monument are fulfilled. For this, the architectural and art historical aspects play a role, but olso the question, how important a building is for the history of culture and human mankind. If the building then is listed, that means under protection, the second step is the practical monument preservation, to beware the historical appearance. That does not mean, that we put a museums bell on it. Modern demands to the floorplan, as well to the savings of energy are mostly regarded, as long as they don´t influence the appearance of the monument in a negative way.
Does a monument always have to be old?
No, not at all. Theoretically, w could also list the Peek&Cloppenburg building. But, not to be influenced by the taste of time, you regard buildings in retrospect with a timely distance. As the meaning of "historical monument" has a wide range, it may mean a lot.
Are there buildings in Cologne and surrounding, that you consider as worth of being protected, but which are not listed yet?
Yes, the Zoobridge for example. World wide it´s the largest box girder bridge with just one main bearing, and it´s the only bridge in Cologne, that is not listet.
How much does the city invest per year to preserve old building fabric? That´s difficult to say, as we have various monuments and competences: for the bridges the bridge construction office, for the cemeteries the cemetery office and so on.
What were your most important or most extensive projects within this year?
Concerning the amount of time and the emotional involvement, definitely the completing of old St. Alban. But also the return of the Heumarkt monument, the conversion of the Gerling quarter and the project of Cologne as fortress city are very important for me. Beside this, I´m very glad about the catalogue of historical monuments on the internet (http://www.bilderbuch-koeln.de/Themen/Infos%20zum%20Denkmalkatalog). A small step on to a stronger being present of monuments conservation in our community and therewith a better service for our citizens.
Howfar is the purchase of a historical monument interesting for private persons or investors?
You aquire an individual building with unique characteristics and a high quality level. The development of the building is exciting, as well as the preservation to the following generations.
The owner has to obey very strict requirements and regulations. The refurbishment or modernizing as well as the final inspection of a historical monument is proofed by experts and the TÜV. Beside this, the refurbishment might be very expensive, due to the requirements. Lots fear this. If a building is listed as historical monument, that does not mean expropriation or increase of costs. The coordination between owner and monuments preservation, under the cost-free advice of the monuments office is important and most essential in the sense of full quality handling of the monument. It´s not a curse, but chance and challenge. My experience is: the earlier an owner talks with the monuments office, the less concrete his ideas in terms to a change are, the more easy it is, to develop a compatible plan together.
To cushion the requirements, partly felt as burden, costs of modernizing can be depreciated by 100% in 12 years.
These tax advantages are for measures that add the conservation of a building and have been coordinated with the monument office before. Golden faucets don´t belong to that.
Is the maintenance expense for historical monument estates more expensive in general? No, a historical monument for itself is not cost increasing. And it´s not, that only rich people can afford historical monuments. As I always say: we do not only have the Cathedral, but many small chapels. For example, large settlements and public housing units are also listed. The structures of a city are found in all kinds of historical monuments. And it often happens, that people ask us to proof the suitability of their house. They are proud, if they can post the "Historical Monument" badge beside the entrance door.
Where do You see need for action in our Cathedral Town?
It would be easier to say, where I don´t see this need. A city is like a living organism and is subject to constant change, that will never be completed. If one building is refurbished, the next one is already waiting. Every house owner knows this. I would be glad, if I had enough financial resources and sufficient personnel to start all that has need for action.
Further information is to be found in the brochure „Steuertipps für Denkmaleigentümerinnen und Denkmaleigentümer“, published by the Ministery of Construction and Transport, federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia. Ordering at Gemeinnützige Werkstätten Neuss GmbH, Fax 02131/9234-699, Mail: mbv@gwn-neuss.de or on phone at Call NRW, Tel. 0180/3100110.
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