Renovation of the Lutherhof roof: 700,000 euros for renovation!

Renovation of the Lutherhof roof: 700,000 euros for renovation!

The Protestant Luther Church at Martinstrasse 23 will be renovated for four months from July 2024. The reason for the upcoming construction work is the defective roof of the Lutherhof, which is in a precarious condition. Impairments caused by water ingress have been noticeable since September 2024. To prevent this, the caretaker and a resident took temporary measures to keep the attic dry, using buckets and tubs. The costs for the urgently needed roof renovation are estimated at around 700,000 euros. Financing comes from the church's own building fund and donations. Pastor Christopher Türke is optimistic that he will be able to secure the required amount quickly, as meinbezirk.at reports.

The Luther Church is an architectural heritage designed between 1896 and 1898 by the renowned architects Theodor Bach and Ludwig Schöne. Interestingly, the church's striking tower was actually forbidden in Protestant churches in the 19th century. In March 1945 the church was badly damaged by air raids; The roof, the dome and the windows in particular suffer from the consequences. The subsequent reconstruction was only possible thanks to generous voluntary donations and personal contributions, which is documented by a memorial plaque in the interior.

Renovations at other Luther sites

In parallel to the renovation work on the Lutherhof in Vienna, the Lutherhaus in Wittenberg is also facing extensive renovation. This world heritage site has been closed since October 2023 and is scheduled to be repaired by mid-2026. Completion was originally planned for spring 2025, but increased consultations with authorities and institutions require more time. The total costs of the renovation amount to around 15.6 million euros, with 10.5 million euros being provided by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and 4.8 million euros by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media. Evangelisch.de adds that a new permanent exhibition is to be opened in spring 2027 on the occasion of the Saxony-Anhalt State Garden Show.

The renovation goals are ambitious: The energetic renovation should reduce energy consumption by around 50% and create better conditions for the exhibition goods. The measures include a climate lock in the entrance area and innovative heating based on an underground ice storage facility. The 1930s director's house will also be dismantled to make space for a new, barrier-free entrance area with a museum shop. This will be around 180 square meters in size and should also be accessible to invisible visitors, which underlines the inclusive concept. However, the historical character of the building is preserved, as luthermuseen.de reports.

In summary, the Luther sites in both Vienna and Wittenberg are facing exciting and necessary changes. These renovations are important not only for preserving the historic buildings, but also for improving visitor conditions and presenting the story of Martin Luther.