Down in the yard stood the ruin of a 19th century warehouse, a remnant of the grand Wilhelmian days. It was a children’s paradise, the favorite playground for the project kids. But while the others played hide-and-seek among the rubble, Jan-Marek used his pen knife to explore layer by layer a long-buried past. “I always wanted to know what’s underneath.”

Jan-Marek‘s father encourages his son’s scientific curiosity. Together they sneak through the construction fence of the “Schauspielhaus”, a grand and famous but now derelict theater. As Jan-Marek lays eyes on the dilapidated remnants of the formerly opulent mouldings, a dream is born. He is seven years old at the time.

In the year 1985 there were only 12 apprenticeship places for stucco plasterers available in all of East Berlin. 16-year old Jan-Marek manages to snag one of them. After the Wall comes down, he finds work as a stucco plasterer in monuments preservation. But he’s more than ready to delve deeper.

The year 1991 sees Jan-Marek joining the degree program for conservators at the Technical College Potsdam. His work there means the world to him. He’s even living on campus, doing chores like heating the vast old art room in winter. Jan-Marek does attend all the student parties, but the only thing that really gets him going is peering through the microscope: the stone samples seem to speak to him.

When looking at the rows upon rows of project files in today’s offices of Buch & Schudrowitz, one immediately notices Jan-Marek’s signature trait: meticulous order. His world is one of diligent research, of careful documentation and cataloging. It is an inventory of the past, but always with a view of things to come.

Luise Krause knows exactly what she wants: an internship, and pronto! Looking at her, one is almost inclined to ask just who is applying and who is accepting.

Luise came, saw and conquered—and stuck around. The daughter of an artist fell in love with the interplay of creative and rational thinking that is inherent to conservation work. While studying at the Technical College Potsdam, Luise became a stalwart of our company. Since taking her diploma in 2010, she has kept working with us as a freelance conservator.

Luise is the prodigal team player, full of energy and with a spirit of adventure. Together with her colleagues, she applies her considerable know-how to comprehensive conservation solutions. Luise works the details with skill and passion, while keeping in mind that there’s always the big picture to be considered.

Annett seeks high and low for a suitable internship, and in 2006 finds just the right one at Buch & Schudrowitz. And we’re lucky that we’re the ones she chose. She immediately wins us over with her passion and relentless focus on attaining mastery in her dream profession.

In 2007 Annett enters the degree program at the Technical College Potsdam. An internship semester leads her to Taiwan, and there to the Shui-Xian temple.

In 2012 Annett finishes her diploma. The examination of architectural surfaces becomes her domain—first as Jan-Marek’s right-hand woman, and eventually as the lead herself. It is here where she finds fulfilment in tracking down the history of objects as diverse as the old Prater Theater or the Tegel Airport.