Meteorites, mountains and stones are often at the centre of places of reflection, especially in the Jewish tradition. They call on the vastness of nature to be a witness to our humanity. A memorial to the Holocaust must be contemplative and silent, such that it evokes our empathy. It must be a promise to future generations that this terrible chapter in human history can never occur again.
The concept of our proposal is based on the understanding that a strong simple gesture has a strong visual and cognitive impact. Our proposal for the Holocaust Memorial sits as a strong singularity – an identifiable image – that allows people to focus on the immensity of the message being conveyed. The Grove of Cypress appropriately stands as a sombre witness to these moments within the park symbolising life, growth and hope in the face of adversity. The Learning Centre sits wholly below ground – a simple and humble receptacle to a rich content. The moral purpose of this project raises it beyond that of an established architectural style. The combination of the singular statement of the memorial and the humility of the Learning Centre creates a strong partnership and defines the architectural quality of the proposal.
ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher