Construction Department

The medieval “workyard”, which had a certain budget from the income of the foundation and stood under a foreman (in Latin: “magister operis”) and is to be found as early as the period around 1200, can be seen as the earliest forerunner of the construction department.

Such an arrangement, however, did not exist all through the history of the Monastery since in later centuries one usually hears of individual artisans (“estate mason”, “estate carpenter”) who carried out the running repairs to the buildings. From the 15th century a number of craftsmen (above all stonemasons and builders) settled in Admont and its neighbourhood and joined together in the “Admont guild”, receiving regular commissions from the Monastery. Following the reforms of Emperor Josef II when new churches, parsonages and schools had to be built, a Monastery master builder was engaged for a while.

Later the responsibility for the constructional work fell into the area of the “agent” who was responsible for the agriculture and thus acted as “inspector of buildings”. Within the “agent’s office” a ten-man building group was then set up, and revived after the Second World War, out of which the Construction Department developed in 1964 as an autonomous concern when Master Builder Franz Rohrauer was engaged.

In 1992 Master Builder Dipl.-Ing. Lambert Gahbauer took over the direction of the Construction Department. This is a non-profit concern primarily responsible for the maintenance and restoration of the Monastery and the 27 incorporated parishes. Because of the extent and complexity of the work, it is under a licensed builder and registered as a building firm with the appropriate authorities.

The concern is housed directly in the Monastery, the employees are under fixed contract and for the most part specially schooled masons, carpenters and cabinet-makers who still rebuild or restore using traditional handicrafts. Since 1995 common lime has again been slaked in large quantities and employed by the restorers, masons and painters. In doing this, concern is taken for the maximum economy and sustainability.

In the last 10 years the fabric has been fundamentally rebuilt (museum, archives, convent, Monastery cellar, school, Frauenberg) in cooperation with an architect, resulting in a clear and uniform line especially in Admont Monastery itself. The contrast between old and new, history and the present - an intensive and good cooperation with the State Historic Buildings Office is a basic prerequisite for this.

The task of the present Building Department is to coordinate and carry through all rebuilding and maintenance work, restorations and fresh construction from the project design to its completion. Part of the work is carried out with its own employees. In addition, work is put out to tender, which is beneficial for the local economy.

contact:

Tel.: +43 (0) 3613/23 12-501
inge.pfatschbacher@stiftadmont.at

Baumeister DI Lambert Gahbauer
Tel.: +43 (0) 3613/23 12-500
lambert.gahbauer@stiftadmont.at