Lublin Umschlagplatz

date: 2009

location: Lublin, Poland

Competition

This project’s main purpose was to create a symbolic space that honors the tragic history of the area. The land is divided into two parts. The first part is a 3 meter-deep excavation and the second part is a roofed square. Rails lay on pavement as a reference to a railway platform. On the right side are tens of concrete columns symbolizing the persecutors of the Jewish people. A huge concrete wall is at the end of the rails. On the wall are inscribed the names of victims and in the middle are hundreds of small holes that allow light to pass to symbolize their souls. The roof is above the wall. The floor is covered by grass to symbolize the ending of life.