Historical Museum "Schindler's Ark"

Kyiv National University of Technology and Design

Project idea

The interior of the museum is designed to deeply immerse visitors in the atmosphere of those tragic events, while providing modern comfort and aesthetic appeal. The main color scheme, consisting mainly of dark shades, the use of metal and concrete in the decor and furniture, creates a deep sense of historical authenticity and drama.
Every detail of the interior of the museum is carefully thought out and has a symbolic meaning aimed at emphasizing the importance of remembering the victims of the Holocaust and the heroic act of Schindler. The use of modern design solutions, such as track lighting systems and loft style, provides not only convenience and aesthetics, but also creates a bridge between the past and the present. Loft, as a style, emphasizes the industrial heritage, which is extremely important for understanding the context of the events that took place at the Schindler factory.
The museum not only tells the story of the Holocaust through exhibits, but also creates an emotional connection between visitors and the past through the use of original objects, multimedia presentations and innovative design. It becomes a place where the past meets the present, where the memory of the victims and heroes of those times lives in every element of the interior, prompting one to understand history and its lessons.
The general concept of the museum is aimed at creating a space that not only preserves history, but also actively influences the consciousness of visitors, encouraging reflection and deep emotional experiences. It is a place where every visitor can feel the burden of the past and the greatness of the human spirit, which is capable of great feats in the darkest times.

Project description

In the first room of the entrance group, a monument of Oskar Schindler is installed near the door, as a reminder of his figure in history and the reproduction of his spirit in these walls. It is visible not only indoors, but also through the glass door from the street, which is usually not used and is left in case of an emergency exit. The large door and window are recreated almost as they were during the Second World War. It was decided to make the door using glass inserts, for the possibility of greater penetration of light into the room. Also, at the entrance, on the left, there are display stands for announcements about future events in the museum.
The floor and walls of the premises of the entrance group are covered with decorative gray concrete plaster. It was decided to place Nowodvorski track systems with Nowodvorski 10385 Profile Tinos track lights on the ceiling for lighting the room in order for the design of the museum to correspond to the modern style - a loft, which is characterized as a style for the premises of former factory premises and will be close to the understanding of the target audience, and also better combine in itself the concept of interaction of the past with the present.
The dressing room is located right next to the entrance to the museum. For this purpose, partitions were dismantled and installed, and two rooms were joined by an opening to make the dressing room more spacious and convenient for visitors. There are several pairs of sockets in the room, because in a public room people may need to urgently recharge their gadgets, as well as for the convenience of cleaning them. In the dressing room, there will be nine Black Sturdy Pipes clothes racks made of strong metal painted in black with hangers, designed for the maximum occupancy of the museum.
The second room of the entrance group is connected to the first large hallway, for which the partition was dismantled, which can be seen on the dismantling plan. It has a waiting area, a souvenir bench and a cash register area with a reception desk.
The desk with the reception will be designed to order, decorated with a lot of lighting, L-shaped, it starts from the curve of the wall and ends at the glass partition with the entrance to the lecture hall. There are two comfortable workplaces behind the counter. There are also two stone seats opposite. Above the table are four ceiling lamps. The walls behind the reception are decorated with ceramic granite and wooden panels with LED lighting.
The partition that separates the entrance area from the lecture hall is made of metal and tinted frosted glass - Trix graphite 4mm, equipped with sliding wide doors for the convenience and safety of visitors and made to order according to available dimensions. Above the entrance is the logo of the museum project "Schindler's Ark" with LED lighting.
To the left, near the lecture hall, there was a stand with souvenirs and a water machine. Also, in this area, a large leather sofa SEAGULL 3190 (NATUZZI Italia) for waiting, near the entrance to the main halls of the museum.
Every visitor, crossing the threshold of this museum, will immediately feel the atmosphere of respect for the past. The space is filled with artifacts, photographs and documents that tell about the life and activities of Oskar Schindler. The use of modern technologies allows not only to see, but also to feel the history through interactive screens and audio guides, which makes the tour exciting and informative [35].
From the waiting room you can get to the sanitary room and the men's and women's toilets. The sanitary room has a large number of cabinets for storing cleaning supplies. On the ceiling is a track lamp with five spots. On the floor are ceramic granite tiles with concrete decor.
The women's and men's toilets have an identical design and layout. To the right of the door is a mirror with lighting, to the left is a hand dryer. Two booths with doors opposite the entrance are located for maximum compliance with ergonomic standards in the conditions of reconstruction.
The furniture is made of moisture-resistant materials such as quartz-vinyl, painted MDF and ceramic granite.
Sand-peach and dusty rose are chosen as the main colors in the women's toilet. Whereas in men's, according to the rule of color harmony, it was decided to make pale green and harlequin the main colors.
The sanitary room and toilets, available near the entrance to the building, impress with their stylish and functional design. They not only meet all ergonomic requirements, but also have a characteristic color accent, which makes them particularly attractive to visitors.
Exhibition halls
Thanks to well-planned exhibitions, the museum not only preserves the memory of the past, but also fosters in visitors curiosity about history and an understanding of its significance for the present and the future. The exhibition halls also contribute to the development of educational programs that provide a deeper understanding of historical facts and events through lectures, seminars and interactive classes. Visitors to the museum, regardless of age and level of knowledge, have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the historical atmosphere, gain new knowledge and impressions. Exhibition halls, due to their structure and filling, contribute to the formation of a deep understanding of history, education of respect for cultural heritage and inspiration for further study of the past.
The first exhibition hall in its design resembles a cinema hall, with large screens, the role of which is performed by the old restored walls. Projectors are attached to the ceiling to give a clear picture of historical video sources and films based on real events, such as Schindler's List (1993) directed by Steven Spielberg.
In the hall there are benches, unusual in their design, made of an alloy of metal and epoxy resin, which were created especially for this project. These benches symbolically remind of the tragic events of the executions of Jews, recreating the traces of bullets that remained on the walls. Because each element of the design carries deep symbolism, reflecting the pain and memory of those terrible times, directing visitors to understand the history and honor the memory of the victims.
Windows should be closed with Roman shades of dark gray during the museum's operation for maximum darkening of the room, but for cleaning the room and preserving the historical appearance of the building.
On the large area of ​​the hall - almost 258 m2, 18 track systems were calculated, 5 spots for each. Track systems and fire safety equipment, along with other communications and electrical, will remain exposed on the restored old ceiling. The walls are decorated with decorative plaster of a dark color to match the concrete. Columns that remained from ancient historical times have been restored, and their original appearance has been recreated. The floor is covered with microcement, which with its pattern imitates old concrete blocks.
The second exhibition hall is filled with things that tell the stories of 1,200 Jews whom Oskar Schindler hid from extermination at his factory. The belongings of not only the workers, but also their children and the elderly, who were also saved from destruction, are collected here. The design of the hall reflects people's grief for their relatives and fear for life, and at the same time hope for salvation and a bright future.
Throughout the hall there are large exhibition tables 1200x2400 mm, created in the likeness of a stone from a rock, symbolizing the strength and indomitability of the human spirit in the face of tragedy and trials. Personal belongings of the survivors are on the tables: books, clothes, toys, tools, letters that tell about their lives before, during and after the war. Next to each object are photos and short stories of those who owned them, which adds depth and emotional power to the exhibition. Also, the hall was supplemented with a large stand attached to the columns in the middle of the room, with photographs of eyewitnesses to the events and their stories. From this hall you can get to the evacuation exit, located on the northeastern part of the plan, to two restoration halls and the museum administration premises.
In this hall, the windows remain open, but for sufficient lighting, track systems and lighting have been added to the exhibit tables to provide optimal lighting for visitors and create favorable conditions for a detailed examination of the exhibits. Such a combination of natural and artificial lighting allows not only to emphasize the features of each object, but also to maintain a comfortable atmosphere in the room throughout the day. Windows provide access to natural light, which adds to the feeling of space and openness, while track systems and lighting help to focus attention on important details of the exhibits, regardless of the time of day and weather conditions.
Museum exhibitions, thanks to their thoughtful design and educational programs, not only preserve historical memory, but also cultivate visitors' interest in the past, contribute to a deeper understanding of historical events, and increase respect for the historical heritage of mankind.
Lecture hall
The lecture hall in this museum is an important educational space designed for holding lectures, seminars, film screenings and other events that contribute to a deeper understanding of the history of the Holocaust and the role of Oskar Schindler in saving the Jews [33]. The design of the lecture hall is made in a modern style using technologies that ensure comfort and convenience for visitors. The hall is equipped with a large screen and high-quality audio and video equipment, which allows showing documentaries, video testimonies of Holocaust survivors, and other visual materials.
The hall can accommodate 84 visitors, who can sit comfortably on soft chairs, as events will be regularly held here with the participation of historians, researchers, eyewitnesses of those events, as well as descendants of people saved by Schindler. The program of events includes thematic lectures, discussions, presentations of new research and books, as well as film screenings followed by discussion. A large stage of 2.5 by 6 meters was also made for these needs. This space also provides an opportunity for holding international conferences and symposia aimed at the exchange of experience and knowledge between researchers from different countries. The lecture hall is not only a place for acquiring new knowledge, but also a platform for dialogue and mutual understanding, contributing to the formation of a responsible attitude to history and its lessons. Administration rooms of the museum
The administrative area of ​​the "Schindler's Ark" museum consists of three separate rooms that ensure the efficient operation of the institution. These spaces include two rooms dedicated to restoration and archiving, as well as one room for administrative activities. In order to create these functional spaces, during the reconstruction, dismantling was carried out and three openings were created, which allowed to optimally organize the internal space of the museum.
The administration room is equipped with a sufficient number of cabinets with shelves for storing documents. This illumination helps to better distinguish the details on the restored objects, reducing the strain on the eyes of the workers and increasing the efficiency of their work. All cabinets are made of high-quality materials that ensure long-term storage of items and protection from dust and other harmful factors. Tables in the administration room are designed for comfortable work at computers, so they are placed opposite each other.
Restoration rooms are located to the left and right of the second exhibition hall. The shelves of the racks in the restoration rooms are equipped with LED lighting to ensure optimal lighting when working with documents and artifacts. Tables are placed under the walls to provide maximum working space in the center of the room. On the tables are specialized tools for restoration, as well as magnifying glasses and microscopes for a detailed examination of objects. Comfortable chairs with adjustable height are installed next to the tables, which allow employees to work comfortably for a long time. In addition, the rooms have a ventilation and climate control system that maintains the optimal temperature and humidity for the preservation of valuable artifacts. Each restoration room also has computers for electronic documentation and research of materials in digital format.
Administration rooms play an important role in supporting the work of the museum, providing adequate conditions for the preservation and restoration of exhibits, as well as for daily administrative activities. The design of these spaces reflects the desire for practicality and functionality, combining modern technology with the historical authenticity characteristic of the entire museum. This makes it possible to maintain a balance between the comfort of employees and the preservation of the atmosphere of the past, which is a key element of the overall concept of the Schindler's Ark museum.
The concept of the described premises corresponds to the general concept of both buildings and the exterior of the historical museum. They must be harmoniously and compositionally combined. You can also conduct a survey among future visitors about their preferences and design several rooms taking this into account.

Technical information

In the process of developing a convenient planning solution for the historical museum, a number of important changes were made, aimed at improving the functionality of the premises and ensuring the safety of visitors. Taking into account the specifics of the museum and its large area, decisions were made to move and optimize various areas, which allows for more comfortable conditions for all who visit this cultural institution.
In order to develop a convenient planning solution in the historical museum, it was decided to move the sanitary area closer to the entrance. Also, expand the entrance area by dismantling the partitions shown in Figure 1. The dressing rooms are located next to each other, for this you need to make openings in the walls that can be seen on the southwestern part of the building in the 3D view. Also, taking into account the large area of ​​the premises, an evacuation exit was added - the northeastern part of the facility (Fig. 2). In the former sanitary rooms, openings were added to accommodate the service area.
The installation of partitions involves the separation of the dressing room area and the sanitary room area. A partition was erected for the lecture hall area to separate it from the reception area with glass windows and sliding doors. In order to divide the large exhibition hall into two zones, a wall with two openings will be erected, which will provide a plan for the organization of the exhibition in the form of a loop, that is, a connected beginning and end in a circle, as well as for the safety of visitors and more convenient movement of them to the evacuation exit, in case fire or other emergency. In the sanitary area, with the help of erected partitions, the cleaning equipment storage area, the area of ​​men's and women's toilets are separated, and they are also divided into 4 cubicles, and four installations are erected.
When solving the issue of lighting the historical museum, the specifics of the project were taken into account, that is, special attention was paid to the detailed lighting of the exhibits and their high-quality preservation.
A modern type of lighting is used for lighting the exhibition halls - track systems, which, in addition to high-quality lighting, meet the aesthetic preferences of the museum's target audience and the modern style of interior design. Above the tables with exhibits, under protective glass, lighting has been added to allow visitors to see in detail the smallest details of each historical monument.
Changes made to the historical museum increase its convenience and safety for visitors. Moving the sanitary area closer to the entrance, expanding the entrance area, adding an evacuation exit, as well as optimizing the space for dressing rooms and service areas contribute to better organization and a comfortable stay. This ensures a more efficient use of space and increases the overall functionality of the museum.

Documentation

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