Preserving Tradition, Shaping the Future – Network Meeting in Salzburg Strengthens Collaboration on the Time4Clay&Lime Project
“When lime is freshly slaked, it’s like milk. After three months, it’s like yogurt. After a year and a half, it’s like cold butter—and after six years, it takes real strength to scoop it out of the pit.” (Katrin Dullinger)
How can centuries-old craftsmanship be adapted to meet the demands of the 21st century? This was the question addressed by the expert forum “Traditional Lime Burning and Its Significance in the 21st Century, ” which took place in April 2026 at the Salzburg Open-Air Museum. Representatives from the fields of crafts, historic preservation, research, architecture, and vocational training came together to exchange experiences and develop new perspectives on the use of lime in modern construction. The networking event was part of the KALK.KULTUR series and was jointly organized by the Salzburg Open-Air Museum and the Federal Monuments Office. The program centered on expert presentations, hands-on demonstrations at the historic lime kiln, and in-depth discussions about the future of traditional building materials. Of particular importance was the exchange between practitioners, academics, and vocational training professionals.
For the Erasmus+ project Time4Clay&Lime, the event was much more than just a professional gathering. It strengthened the already close collaboration between the Institute for Applied Trade Research (IAGF) and the Federal Monuments Office and confirmed how valuable the combination of craftsmanship, scientific expertise, and modern vocational training is for the development of new training programs.
Katrin Dullinger, MBA, managing director of Dullinger Kalk GmbH in Ebenau, impressively demonstrated how closely traditional craftsmanship, in-depth knowledge of materials, and the highest quality standards are intertwined. As a representative of a family-owned business that has been producing slaked lime for three generations, she bridged the gap between centuries-old craftsmanship traditions and the demands of modern construction.
“When lime is freshly slaked, it’s like milk. After three months, it’s like yogurt. After a year and a half, it’s like cold butter—and after six years, it takes real strength to scoop it out of the pit.”
With this comparison, she made it clear that the quality of lime depends not only on how it is produced, but also, to a large extent, on how it is stored and the length of its curing period.
She also discussed the performance characteristics of traditionally aged marsh lime:
"Our painting lime has significantly higher opacity than lime that is only three months old—even when the consistency and dilution are the same."
Preserving Knowledge – Developing It Further Together
The presentations by the Salzburg Open-Air Museum also made it clear that historic lime kilns and traditional production methods are much more than just museum exhibits. They are living learning environments where craftsmanship can be experienced and passed on to future generations.
The discussions clearly demonstrated that sustainable construction does not result solely from new technologies. Regional, traditional materials and the knowledge of how to work with them properly are just as important. Lime and clay coatings, in particular, are regaining importance against the backdrop of climate protection, resource conservation, and a healthy indoor climate.
This is exactly where TIME4CLAY&LIME comes in. Together with European partner organizations, the project is developing new continuing education programs and micro-credentials, as well as a model advanced vocational qualification at EQF/NQF Level 5. The goal is to combine traditional craftsmanship with the modern demands of the painting trade and to train skilled workers to meet the challenges of sustainable construction.
