IDEA...
Adapting the post-industrial buildings of Schindler’s former factory into a museum is a fascinating architectural and cultural challenge. It allows for the preservation of industrial heritage and its reinterpretation in the context of modern social needs. My main goals for transforming the post-industrial area of Brněnec include functionality and innovation to create an inspiring museum and a new city center.
Purpose of adaptation
The primary goal of adaptation is to transform the historic industrial building into a modern museum that will serve as an educational, cultural, and social space. The adaptation aims to preserve the structural and aesthetic values of the building while introducing new functions that will attract a wide range of visitors.
Design Assumptions
The adaptation project is based on several key assumptions:
Preservation of architectural heritage
An integral part of the project is preserving original architectural elements, such as the steel structure, brick walls, large windows, and other characteristic industrial details. This maintains the building’s historical identity while integrating new functions.
Functionality and flexibility
The museum space must be flexible to accommodate various exhibitions and events. The project envisions open, modular spaces that can be easily adapted to changing needs. Permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, workshop rooms, and interactive zones are integral parts of the project.
Interactivity and modern technologies
The museum should utilize the latest technologies to offer interactive experiences for visitors. The use of multimedia, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) will create engaging and educational exhibitions.
Educational and social spaces
In addition to traditional exhibition spaces, the museum will have educational rooms, workshop spaces, and areas for social gatherings and events. Cafes, museum shops, and rest areas will create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
New public spaces
The project also plans to create new public spaces around the post-industrial buildings that will serve the local community. Squares, parks, and promenades are planned to promote community integration and attract visitors. These spaces aim to give the area back to the people, creating a new city center that becomes the heart of the local community.
Space and functionality
The project aims to create spaces that are both functional and inspiring. Exhibition spaces will be designed to maximize the use of natural light and facilitate easy visitor movement. The main theme in the museum’s interior design will be hanging translucent fabrics, referencing the factory’s history and creating a dreamlike, mysterious atmosphere. Educational zones will be equipped with modern technologies, enabling interactive workshops and classes.
New public spaces will be designed with the comfort and needs of residents in mind. Open green areas with seating, playgrounds for children, and recreational zones will create a friendly and accessible place for everyone.
Film festival in the new center
Nearby Brněnec, in Brno, an annual film festival attracts cinema lovers from across the region. The newly designed center, along with the adapted post-industrial buildings, will be an ideal place to expand this festival. A new, modern building dedicated to cultural events is planned, completing the urban layout and creating a harmonious whole.
The film festival in the new center will feature film screenings, workshops, lectures, and meetings with filmmakers. Outdoor film screenings in the green spaces around the building will create a unique atmosphere and foster community integration. Open public spaces, designed for various events, will encourage meetings and shared experiences for residents and festival guests.
Aesthetics and identity of the place
The aesthetics of the adapted building will harmoniously combine industrial elements with modern design. The use of raw materials such as steel and concrete, combined with modern architectural details, will create a unique character. The project also considers integration with the surroundings, ensuring a harmonious connection with existing urban infrastructure and landscape.
Public spaces will be designed to reflect the historical character of the place while introducing modern urban landscape elements. Greenery, small architecture, and art installations will be key elements creating a new identity for the space.
Conclusions
Adapting a post-industrial building into a museum requires consideration of many architectural, functional, and aesthetic aspects. Transforming a historical space into a modern museum allows for the preservation of industrial heritage while creating an inspiring and functional place for the community. The design assumptions aim to create a space that is both educational and engaging for visitors. Additionally, creating new public spaces around the museum will contribute to community integration and establish a new city center, becoming a dynamic meeting place for recreation and culture. Introducing the film festival to the newly designed center will enrich the cultural offering and attract more visitors, creating a unique atmosphere and shared experiences for residents and guests.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCEPT OF FORM
Schindler’s Ark Museum, housed in three historic buildings—the former Schindler factory, the post-German garrison, and Schindler’s office building—is a unique example of architectural adaptation. Combining historical elements with modern ones, it creates a space for memory, education, and reflection that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally advanced.
Design concept and functional layout
The entire design concept and functional layout of Schindler’s Ark Museum suggest ephemerality, reminiscent of the fleeting nature of time and human life. The museum spaces not only educate and inform but also engage emotionally, creating unforgettable experiences. Modern technologies and interactive exhibits allow visitors to deeply immerse themselves in history, bridging the past and present.
Facades and finishes
The historic buildings are coated with white photocatalytic paint with a satin finish, giving them the appearance of a white model of the complex. This technique not only highlights their architectural qualities but also subtly reflects the surroundings, creating dynamic interaction with the space. All new architectural elements, marked in ultramarine, contrast with the white facades, introducing a contemporary accent and visual interest. The windows are glazed with white frosted glass, enhancing the model-like effect and introducing an element of mystery, suggesting that something extraordinary awaits inside.
Main entrance and glazing
The main entrance to the museum, covered and glazed with an ultramarine structure, serves as a clear and modern landmark. Glass bay windows have been added to the former factory building, contrasting with the white facades and serving as rest areas for visitors. Between the factory and the garrison, a glass walkway has been installed, with its glazing covered by opaque ultramarine panels. Visitors walking along the walkway cast shadows visible outside, creating an intriguing visual effect that adds depth and movement to the entire structure.
Garrison adaptation
The post-German garrison has been entirely stripped of internal walls, leaving only the external cladding. The interior has been transformed by installing a ramp that guides visitors through the final stage of the exhibition to the museum’s exit. Collapsed parts of the garrison roof have been overbuilt with a glazed structure covered by ultramarine panels equipped with thin-film photovoltaic cells on the eastern and southern sides. These cells not only provide energy but also introduce a modern, ecological aspect to the project.
Communication and service spaces
After exiting the museum through the garrison, visitors pass under an arcade that provides shelter in rainy weather, leading to a small catering point located in the former Schindler office building. This corridor also leads to a multifunctional factory hall, which can be used for various events, from exhibitions to conferences and cultural activities.
Museum interiors
The museum interiors are designed to evoke a sense of mystery and reflection on transience. The industrial spaces are divided by flowing layers of fabric, creating labyrinths and serving as a backdrop for images and multimedia presentations. The floors are made of resin with a smooth, satin finish, which slightly reflects the surroundings, enhancing the sense of spaciousness. The museum exhibition uses advanced multimedia technologies to provide a deep and engaging experience for visitors.
Integration of history and modernity
The use of white photocatalytic paint and ultramarine in modern architectural elements creates a dialogue between the past and the present. The white facades symbolize the “purity” of Schindler’s intentions in saving his workers, while the ultramarine introduces a contemporary touch, symbolizing renewal and hope. Frosted glass glazing adds mystery and encourages visitors to reflect on the site’s history.
Ecological solutions
The integration of thin-film photovoltaic cells in the overbuilt garrison structure and the glass walkway not only provides energy but also highlights the museum’s commitment to sustainable development. This modern technological solution exemplifies how architecture can combine aesthetics with functionality and ecology.
Educational and cultural spaces
The multifunctional factory hall and workshop rooms in the former Schindler office building are adapted for various educational and cultural activities. Workshops, lectures, and exhibitions organized there will promote active participation and engagement from the local community and visitors from other regions.
Conclusions
Schindler’s Ark Museum is a modern center of memory and education that harmoniously combines the past with the future and history with modernity. The project not only commemorates Holocaust survivors but also creates a space for reflection, education, and culture, engaging visitors both visually and emotionally. It is a place that reminds us of the ephemerality of human life and history while promoting values such as renewal, hope, and sustainable development. Schindler’s Ark Museum is an excellent example of how innovative architectural approaches can contribute to preserving and reinterpreting historical heritage in the context of contemporary social needs.
