Hildegard Schirmacher

Hildegard Schirmacher (born Ernst Schirmacher; 31 August 1924 – 7 March 2015) was a German architect and preservationist, performing pioneering work in historic preservation and building conservation focused on half-timbered structures, particularly in the old town of Limburg which became a model for other towns.

Life and career

Ernst Schirmacher was born in Limburg on 31 August 1924. and introduced a systematic catalogue of historic buildings in the old town of Limburg, which became the basis for the restoration there. In 1968 Schirmacher was appointed the leading architect of the restoration of Limburg. The restoration of the old town, performed together with Franz Josef Hamm and Walter Neuhäusser, became a model for such projects in Germany for decades.