From Memorial Space to Place of Public
Increasing spatial vitality of memorials in Europe after World War II
K. ZOU (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Sabina Tanović – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
After World War II, memorial architecture has changed from focusing on heroes and patriotism to mourning those who died in wars and disasters. Instead of only serving as reminders of pain or symbols of commemoration, in recent years some European memorials actually contribute to the liveliness of urban public space and find their new roles to assimilate into city life. In this case, it is necessary to redefine the role of memorials in contemporary times and explore new ways to integrate them into urban daily public life. This research aims to investigate how contemporary memorials can be actively integrated into the daily life of the public as inviting public spaces and support various activities to enhance spatial vitality and commemorative effects through the case studies of the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial Bridge in Rijeka, and Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. The paper concludes with recommendations for design strategies to enhance the spatial vitality of contemporary memorials, which can potentially be helpful to the architectural memorial practice.