MMNB - Schindler´s Ark Saving Competition

Project idea

The project revolves around "The Aleph," the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet symbolizing the numerical value of 1. It is not just the first letter given by God to man but contains within itself the entire alphabet and even the entire language through which we express ourselves, feel, and live. At the same time, it is formed by three symbols, IUD VAV, and inverted IUD, which according to Kabbalah (a discipline of thought in the most traditional and orthodox Judaism that uses different methods to analyze the Torah) contains the number 26.
Vav = 6
Iud = 10
Vav + Iud + Iud = 26
The number 26 also represents the numerical sum of the Hebrew letters of HASHEM, which is understood as PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.
So we understand Aleph = 1 = 26 = PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.
Another interpretation of the Aleph is the Borgean one. Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges (August 24, 1899, Buenos Aires – June 14, 1986, Geneva) was an Argentine writer, poet, essayist, and translator, widely regarded as a key figure in both Spanish-language literature and world literature.
In his story written in 1949 “El Aleph”, Borges tells that a friend of his discovered the Aleph “The place where, without confusion, all the places of the world are, seen from all angles.” When Borges manages to see it, he visualizes the following: “I saw a small iridescent sphere, of almost intolerable brightness. At first, I thought it was spinning; then I understood that this movement was an illusion produced by the vertiginous spectacles it contained... it contained the infinite… each thing was infinite things… I saw beings… I saw all knowledge… I saw the Past, present and future, repeated infinitely... I saw the survivors of a battle...”
Both in Judaism and in Borges, the Aleph represents a vital principle, an energy that encompasses all possibilities.
"Memory can change the shape of a room, the color of a car, and memories can be distorted. Memory... is interpretation..." Memento 2000
And this is how we carry on a concept like the Aleph, a reality, a dimension that surpasses human understanding, that surpasses our three-dimensional reality, in which we live, feel, and manipulate only space (x, y, z) in which our perception of time is linear. Each dimension is related by the shadow of the other, 2D, the square is the shadow of the 3D cube, and the cube is the shadow of the 4th dimension, the tesseract. This is how we arrive at the creation of a tesseract, a cube that would be the shadow of a dimension greater than ours, a dimension in which TIME is manipulable, a NON-linear time. We are going to interpret and therefore three-dimensionalize something much greater than ourselves. We are going to physically dimension TIME.
A dimension or an "inter-dimensional" space-time manipulable, therefore tangible. A dimension in which "Time is seen at the same time." A dimension in which dialogue is established with the past (so pertinent to what we must carry out in this project), the present, and the future. This cube is a three-dimensional representation that gives access to a reality superior to ours, in which time is tangible and manipulable. In this "inter-dimension," the cube is the shadow that allows us to look and access the totality of existence. In this "inter-dimension," reality is presented as an intricate tapestry of stories and moments that intertwine and converge at a single point, this project.

Project description

This refunctionalization project for the Oskar Schindler factory in the Czech Republic focuses on urban revitalization through a new road layout that connects the city transversely, generating three strategic urban nodes. These nodes act as convergence points and contain buildings that serve as devices to integrate emptiness and greenery into the urban environment.
The proposal preserves part of the factory as a historical symbol but introduces modern interventions to adapt to contemporary needs. Sustainability and community participation are key elements, incorporating green technologies with the aim of creating a space that harmoniously merges the past and present.
The Löw-Beer & Schindler's Foundation was developed 80 years after the arrival of the Nazis by members of the Löw-Beer family along with the local community. Its purpose is to maintain Schindler's legacy and propose activities that benefit the population.
The focus of this project is to transform the needs of Schindler's Ark, where 1,200 Jews on Schindler's List were saved, into a Museum of Survivors. The vision is to create a monument that preserves Schindler's legacy. At the same time, the project seeks to reconstruct the southern sector as a sustainable community housing area to meet the needs of the local community.

The key objectives are:
-Transform the Löw-Beer textile factory, now called "Schindler's Ark", into a modern MEMORIAL and MUSEUM dedicated to the survivors.
- Create a SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY HOUSING COMPLEX as a complement to the cultural infrastructure, aiming to meet the regional demand.
01. North Sector
Transport Infrastructure and Train Station
Memory Plaza
Ring Plaza
Schindler's Ark Museum
Memorial Building for Soldiers
Market
Multipurpose Auditorium Halls
Administrative/Service Sector
02. South Sector
Connecting Road Infrastructure
Single-Family Homes
Parking
Terraces
Amenities
Commercial Spaces

Technical information

The project focuses on repurposing existing buildings, maintaining and reusing current structures to adapt them for new functionalities. The existing columns are preserved and optimized to support new spatial configurations, ensuring the structural integrity of the buildings. The existing factory roof is maintained and reinforced as needed to ensure its durability and functionality. Additionally, a greenhouse is created with a roof made of metal profiles and glass, which protrudes from the existing roof. The redistribution of interior spaces is carried out with the aim of maximizing their utility.

For the construction of new structures, the choice was made to use dry construction with metal profiles and meshes. The space between the buildings will be transformed into a sunken dry plaza, surrounded by covered walkways supported by a series of metal columns that create a rhythm, facilitating mobility and connectivity between the train station and the buildings.

Documentation

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