Dialogue between Past & Present – Former Textile Factory in Brněnec

Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart

Project idea

Dialogue between Past & Present – Former Textile Factory in Brněnec

The factory in Brněnec holds undoubtedly significant historical value due to its eventful past. Its history as a successful textile factory, founded by the well-known Löw-Beer family, and its role as an "ark" during World War II for the “Schindler Jews”, make the site an important contemporary witness. It is here, that the industrialist Oskar Schindler saved 1200 jewish workers through employment. In order to transform the northern area of the factory into an urban quarter and a memorial for the rescued "Schindler Jews," a dialogue between the past and the current goals of the ARKS Löw-Beer and Schindler Foundation is crucial.

To achieve this, a decentralized museum concept, centred around the Museum of Survivors, will offer visitors a comprehensive, authentic and individual experience of the site. A key aspect of this concept is preserving the facades and existing structures as storytellers of the location's history. The former spinning mill will serve as a community hub for the region, linking the village and the museum. The textile industry will return to the site through a centrally located small production facility. In the eastern part, along the Svitavy River, a new educational campus will promote international exchange and provide opportunities for in-depth discussions on historical and contemporary political, cultural, and social issues. The southern section will facilitate the reception area, consisting of a parking lot and a bus station.

Project description

To create the aforementioned dialogue between past and present, the entire site is developed as a cohesive quarter highlighting the significance of each individual building. Major buildings, such as the Schindler Ark, the Nazi building, Oskar and Emilie's office building, and the former spinning mill, will be preserved as monuments to their respective history.
Though on first glance it seems to be a contradicting concept, forgetting is part of national and international remembrance culture and therefore must be included in the site's narrative. For this reason, the decay of the facade of the Schindler Ark is deliberately preserved in its current condition to serve as a symbol of forgetting and recollection, thus allowing the visible layers of time to be present. Due to its role as the main building of the Brünnlitz concentration camp and its various uses during the Löw-Beer family era, the building that will house the future Museum of Survivors, is the core of the decentralized museum concept.
This concept will enable visitors to have a comprehensive, authentic, and individual experience. The discussed northern area will be complemented by a museum about the Löw-Beer family in their former villa in the southern area, strengthening the connection between the two parts of the site.
The former spinning mill building will serve as a future community hub, linking the museum with the demands of the local population. To facilitate this, the existing structure will be carefully opened. Three open galleries will encourage both locals and visitors to gather here. These galleries will be connected and complemented by courtyards, which will serve as a place for interaction and retreat. The Museum & Event Location Textile Factory Brněnec, located in the northern part of the building, will serve as a central venue for both the museal use of the site and the community. For example, the local theatre group can rehearse and perform here.
The existing structures on the site will be supplemented by an educational campus in the eastern area along the river. This campus, particularly via the Youth Meeting Center, will foster international exchange among students and allow for extended engagement with the site's history. For longer stays, a hostel will be included. To continue promoting the dialogue between past and present, the museum offerings will be enhanced by an exhibition and event location focused on current issues. Temporary exhibitions and educational events will encourage discussion on political, cultural, and social topics. A public park, integrating the Svitavy River, will provide a space for relaxation and retreat within the quarter. Another park, the Memorial Forest, located in the northern part, will be dedicated to those who fell victim to Nazi crimes during World War II and reserved for silent devotion. Both the Löw-Beer family, the "Schindler Jews" and their descendants, as well as the local population, can commemorate their loved ones here.
The project “Dialogue between Past & Present – former textile factory in Brněnec” focuses only on the northern part of the factory. However, a cohesive concept for both factory areas and the complementary offerings should be considered essential. A new bike and pedestrian path along the Svitavy River will further this connection.

Technical information

To ensure the accessability of the site's history, all new interventions must be clearly marked as such. The use of new materials and colours will make all new elements distinguishable from the existing structures. This will be supported by the new design language of the elements. While the old architectural structures appear more robust, the new elements will be distinguished by their delicate construction. In the Museum of Survivors area, the new elements will also be highlighted by their asymmetrical arrangement and form. To develop a unified concept for the site and strengthen the connection between the buildings, three materials will be consistently used for new interventions: wood, steel, and, in homage to the factory's past, textile.

Documentation

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