Innovative Concepts in the Restoration of St Martin Church at Meise (B)

Abstract The restoration of St Martin church started end of the 1990’s by lacing-up the building with stabilizing steel frames. The layout of the lacing-up frames was inspired by the assumption that the observed cracks and deformations in the building were caused by differential settlements of the foundations. Further investigations during the final restoration works in 2011–2012 revealed that cracks were caused by inappropriate foundation interventions as part of an earlier restoration project in 1949–1950 as well as by non-balanced forces from the vaults. Based on the new findings the global restoration concept was adapted and strongly simplified.