Building materials for generations

The permanent exhibition 'Building Materials for Generations' explores the industrial history of the brick, lime, and concrete industries in the municipality of Rüdersdorf. Not only the production of high-quality cement and concrete, but also bricks shaped the industry, the landscape, and the lives of the people in this area.

As in other regions of the world, it was primarily the local geological and climatic conditions that made the use of certain building materials possible. The beginning of the systematic use of limestone by the Cistercians in the 13th century laid the foundation for the local building materials industry. The abundant clay deposits, on the other hand, promoted the emergence of a broad brickmaking industry. This made the construction boom of recent centuries in Berlin and Brandenburg possible in the first place. The confluence of demand, supply, political, and economic factors gave rise to many technical innovations in Rüdersdorf.

In the building materials exhibition located in the former laboratory building in Rüdersdorf Museum Park, we explore this history in the region. What are these building materials and how are they produced? What industrial history of building materials can we look back on in the municipality of Rüdersdorf? How did this history shape the people and landscape of Rüdersdorf? In addressing these questions, we place particular emphasis on ensuring the accessibility of the content for visitors of all ages. Through multimedia installations, interactive stations, hands-on objects, and historical exhibits, visitors are encouraged to approach the topic of building materials from different perspectives. The exhibition texts are available in both German and English.