Remembrance site as an expression of today. Commemorating the Gold Train as a link between the past and present

The past is never objective. The way we perceive it is in fact dictated by who we are today. This work is followed by investigate the attitude to commemoration across centuries, but also contemporary expectations and approach to creating commemoration sites. All of this helped to create a commemorative space that meets the needs of today’s society.

Exploring the secrets of the human mind sheds light on assimilation of the world by humans, for whom it is essential to understand things through senses rather than consciousness. Commemoration sites should therefore be designed carefully for specific spaces to evoke the desired impressions. A very special part of the non-verbal message are the universal signs and symbols. An architectural object should also be built upon a certain narrative axis, whereby the visiting trail becomes a consistent story. The narrative in this particular commemoration site museum is the Gold Train Story. The mystery of underground tunnels, the incredible stories of a hidden train with a precious load, such as one would find in any lost treasure hunt, can undoubtedly be very intriguing. One must not forget, however, that the legend stems from cruel history. The building is basically divided in two parts, the ground level entrance area and the predominantly underground visiting trail. The trail course consists of three stages: the Nazi period, the Communist period and the recent past/present. Every stage is separated by a psychological sluice that signals the changed reality. Halfway down the visiting trail there is a resting area with a vantage point. The culmination is found in the mysterious Gold Hall. A walk around the building constitutes a specific tour down the timeline, showing not only the events that took place, but also the approach to history itself. From the moment the tragic events happened, through temporary repression from consciousness, external manipulation and censorship, arriving at willingness to return to old events, search and hope to discover the truth. The object is located close to Ksi?? Castle. The axis of the main entrance and of the culminant Hall coincides with the course of the assumed railway line that the train was supposed to travel on. The architecture is stark, based on creating the mood of the space given. It does not dominate the landscape. Its form and the materials used are inspired by the local remnants of Nazi architecture, the concrete bunkers and tunnels.