Door Industry Journal - Spring 2016

16 THE door industry journal spring 2016 With its white facades, the Renaissance Colditz castle in the heart of Saxony is one of the most beautiful 16th century buildings in Central Germany. Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk industry news feature Colditz Castle: Fire-protection in a historical building Transparency and tradition The recently renovated ‘schloss Colditz’ in Saxony, Germany is a great example of how to reconcile the often conflicting demands of historic preservation and fire-protection. The Renaissance castle, built in the 1520s, lies in the triangle between Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz. The renovation has not just fulfilled fire-protection requirements but the planners have used extremely discreet solutions that fit with historic preservation requirements. For example, many of the passageways have been fitted with the TeckentrupT30 all-glass doors, which combine functionality with aesthetics and maximum transparency. The Colditz castle in the heart of Saxony is a magnet for tourists and, with its white gables, is one of the most beautiful 16th century buildings in Central Germany. The majority of the splendid architecture dates back to the early Renaissance period with some portions having a late Gothic influence. Both periods are easily recognisable. The castle is not only famous for its architecture but also for the role it played during the Second World War. It was used as a prisoner-of-war