The Museum of Survivors

Wroclaw University of Technology, (Politechnika Wrocławska), Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław

Project idea

Working with existing architectural materials has long been a significant theme in the field of architecture. For many years, architects have added to, complemented, removed, and rebuilt forms for their architectural, historical, or economic values. However, some structures are left to decay, forgotten, despite the important histories they hold. Their heritage values are not strong enough to warrant preservation or restoration. So, how can such places be saved from oblivion?

The concept of the Museum of Survivors integrates the existing structure into the newly designed museum space, fully utilizing the site's inherent values. This combination ensures mutual emphasis on differences and contrasts in formal, symbolic, and architectural aspects. The museum experience itself focuses on the testimonies of Jews saved by Oskar Schindler. Visitors start their journey from the railway station, just as the deported did. They then move through museum spaces designed to transition from symbolic "darkness" through "hope" to "salvation". The culmination of the path is the Pavilion of Reflection, which offers a space for contemplation and personal assimilation of the museum experience.

Project description

The starting point for the proposed Museum is the existing factory building. The decision to locate the museum within the existing factory aims to adapt a building that witnessed significant events. However, the Ark building itself does not tell the story, as it was only a temporary refuge for survivors. The design aims to preserve the memory of the crucial events that occurred at the factory, highlighting its role in the rescue.
The approach deemed appropriate for the Museum of Survival was to add a form that serves as a visible and clear architectural focal point. The existing building is preserved and conserved to actively participate in the new experience.
The first added form is in the middle of the existing building (former main Production Hall). It is a concrete structure designed on a square plan, echoing the classical compositions for museums and places of memory, such as cemeteries.
The second, contrasting structure is the Pavilion of Reflection, designed to create a contemplative space at the end of the visitor's journey. Unlike the main structure, the Pavilion is both visually and functionally open to the surrounding factory area. In the middle of the Pavilion, there is a universal temple (Reflection Room), which deepens the reflective aspect of the space.

Visitors start their journey in the dark, ruined spaces of the factory, which gradually transition into a new, clean, and repetitive form. The newly introduced part of the building, designed with symmetry and regularity, symbolizes order and hope. This process culminates in a gradual opening toward light, symbolizing the path to salvation. The journey through the museum gradually ascends via a ramp, leading visitors towards brightness and open space, metaphorically reflecting the journey from the darkness of the Holocaust to the light of freedom and hope for the future. The final point of the tour is the Pavilion of Reflection, in which the path leads back to the ground level. This pavilion serves as a transitional space, allowing for self-reflection on the history learned between the main museum structure and the surrounding open landscape.

The central part is the main museum space, where visitors can interact with survivors’ testimonies through interactive screens. The Pavilion of Reflection is intended for personal reflection and contemplation.

Technical information

The old building, made of brick and concrete with steel reinforcements, will be strengthened to ensure stability. The new addition, the Museum of Survivors, is planned with a reinforced concrete framework supported by concrete elements. This blend of modern materials with preserved industrial elements aims to create a powerful narrative, bridging the past and present. The design respects the site's historical significance while employing contemporary technologies to ensure durability and functionality.