Museum of Survivors - Feeling Schindlers Ark

Project idea

Dealing with the property
Our approach to designing within the framework of the Inspireli Award “Saving Schindler’s Ark” is characterized by a respectful and reserved approach. We rely on additions and restorations to highlight the historical value of the stock and the property.
An important aspect of our design is the communication of feelings, both then and now.
For this we use steles, which are symbolic of the 1200 surviving Jews. These stelae are scattered throughout the grounds and serve as a permanent reminder of the survivors and their stories. They connect the past with the present and create a space for reflection and remembrance. The arrangement of the steles and the layout of the grounds are intended to emotionally touch the visitors and bring them closer to the horrors and hopes of the past. Through this emotional component, we want to raise awareness of historical events and at the same time build a bridge to the present day.

Project description

Exhibition concept
Our exhibition concept begins on the street, where visitors are to get the impression that they are being led into the museum by a crowd of steles.
Upon entering the museum through the main gate, visitors enter: inside the courtyard and then into the German Building. In this building, film sequences about the Second World War are shown, giving an insight into that time.
From there, the path leads to the front of the Ark, where an exhibition on the Holocaust spans two floors. This exhibition includes both permanent and changing exhibits to shed light on different aspects of the Holocaust and present different perspectives.
Then you move into the office building. Here the life of Oskar Schindler is described, and reconstructed rooms give an insight into his work and his efforts to save Jewish lives.
We continue to the Factory, where the history of the owners of the land and its course over the decades is told.
From the Factory you get to the „liberation“ that the Jews experienced inside by Schindler and it is a central place in the courtyard, where you can read the inscription of the ring that Schindler received when he was liberated from the Jews inside.
The next phase in the lives of the Jewish survivors is represented by cloths that extend out of the ark and direct visitors inside into the “conflict” that arose after the war. This part of the exhibition leads through a high room and ends in the Turbine Hall, which represents the resolution of the conflict and thus also marks the end of our exhibition.
Finally, visitors can: stay indoors in workshops or in the adjacent park, which symbolizes „freedom“ in the form of self-determination, individuality and nature. The park offers a space for relaxation and reflection in order to recreate the experiences of the exhibition and establish a connection with the present day.

Technical information

Attitude to stock
Office Building and Factory: These buildings are to be restored to their original architectural and functional integrity. We take care to preserve the historical elements and the original structure in order to preserve the historical context of the buildings.
German Building: This building is being restored externally to restore the facade. The interior is gutted and only the outer walls remain to reveal the discrepancy between the outwardly played beauty and the inner decay. This conscious decision is intended to illustrate the way in which the Nazis built a facade around the terrible truth through their propaganda, and to convey the historical background impressively.
Ark Building: Again, we attach importance to a careful restoration, but deliberately leave individual elements in their current state. This makes it possible to make the traces of time visible and to make the history of the place experienceable. Through this approach, we create a dialogue between the past and the present that respects the significance and heritage of the building while integrating contemporary perspectives.

Documentation

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