Restoration works in Germany after World War II between material reintegration and memory of places. Hans Döllgast, Josef Wiedemann and their relationship to ruins

The destruction occasioned by World War II (WWII) made Germany sadly known for the desolation affecting its cities and the severe destruction occurred to monuments and historic urban fabrics. This destruction was followed by exemplary reconstructions and reintegrations. Particularly, the case of the post-WWII recovery of the city of Munich will be investigated in this paper by using as illustrative examples the restoration projects by Hans Döllgast and his pupil Josef Wiedemann. These embody methodological principles currently in use in our practice of today and are showing a remarkable awareness of the classical world and the concept of ruin linked to this.