Gesa Schwantes is Conservator/Restorer with specialisation in the conservation of architectural surfaces, building materials and wall paintings. She was educated in Switzerland at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern School of the Arts, and graduated in the specialisation of Conservation and Restoration of Architectural Surfaces and Interior Decoration in 2006.
After working in physical conservation in Germany, Switzerland and in several projects in China she came to Hong Kong in 2010 to join the Architectural Conservation Programmes at The University of Hong Kong following her growing interest in conservation in Asia.
She graduated with Master of Science in Conservation in September 2011 and joined the programmes to set up the Architectural Conservation Laboratory in the Faculty of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong. Gesa worked in her function as the Director of the Architectural Conservation Laboratory until summer 2020 and was also involved in the design and teaching of courses in conservation technology and science in the graduate ACP classes and the undergraduate BA (Conservation). During those years, from September 2013 – 2017, Gesa completed her PhD in Architectural Conservation within the Architectural Conservation Laboratory at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning CAUP at Tongji University, Shanghai.
In fall 2020, Gesa was appointed Associate Professor at the Institute for Cultural Heritage Conservation at Shanghai University. Where she was teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in conservation technology, intervention planning and conservation methodology. Since September 2024 Gesa started a tenure track position in the Institute for Conservation-Restoration (IRK) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria.
Gesa’s research interests focus on material-based approaches to conservation, including the study of architectural finishes, wall painting technologies, and conservation materials. A particular emphasis lies on the in-situ conservation of architectural surfaces, the development and evaluation of compatible repair materials, and the conservation of earthen heritage.
Her work is grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration between conservation practice, conservation science, and architectural heritage studies, with a strong interest in the relationship between material authenticity, intervention strategies, and cultural context.
Selected publications:
Zeng, Renjian; Schwantes, Gesa. Investigation of the effect of relative humidity on micro lime consolidation of degraded earthen structures. Heritage Science 12, 267 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-024-01361-8
Schwantes, Gesa. Colourful treasure on Shanghai’s Bund: uncovering original paint finishes in the Chinese Banking Hall of the former HSBC Building. Built Heritage 6, 20 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-022-00067-9
Weyer, Angela; Roig, Pilar; Pop, Daniel; Cassar, JoAnn; Ozköse, Aysun; Vallet, Jean-Marc; Srša, Ivan; Schwantes, Gesa(ed.). EwaGlos – European Illustrated Glossary of Conservation Terms for Wall Paintings and Architectural Surfaces, Chinese translation of English and German terms. Hildesheim (2022). https://dx.doi.org/10.5165/hawk/505
Schwantes, Gesa; Trachet, Alison. Differentiation between Iron(II)-sulfate (copperas) staining and ochre pigmented finishes on lime plaster. International Journal of Architectural Heritage (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2020.1845418
Schwantes, Gesa. Technical note: In situ conservation of decorated lime plaster by injection grouting with natural hydraulic limes (NHL). In: UNESCO Bangkok, Asia Conserved Vol. IV: Lessons Learned from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation (2015–2019). SEU Press (2020).
Schwantes, Gesa; Dai, Shi Bing. Research on water-free injection grouts using sieved soil and micro-lime. International Journal of Architectural Heritage 11(7) (2017). https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2017.1323251
Gesa Schwantes Conservation Consultancy 