Designing Memory: The Architecture of Commemoration in Europe, 1914 to the Present

This study explores how design can translate memories of human loss into tangible structures, creating spaces for remembering. It looks at memorials from the First World War to the present, such as the Holocaust museums in Mechelen and Drancy, and explores the private and public role of memorial architecture and the possibilities of architecture as a form of agency in remembering and dealing with a difficult past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 287 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This groundbreaking exploration of memorial architecture delves into the profound ways in which design can transform the intangible memories of human loss into tangible structures, thereby creating spaces for remembrance. Drawing upon a diverse range of disciplines such as history, psychology, anthropology, and sociology, Sabina Tanović conducts a comprehensive analysis of the motivations behind the creation of contemporary memorials in specific locations. She examines the process of translating these conceptual ideas into architectural designs, the challenges faced during their materialization, and the impact they have on the transmission of memory. Spanning from the First World War to the present day, Tanović takes a close look at memorials such as the Holocaust museums in Mechelen and Drancy, as well as those commemorating the victims of terrorist attacks. Through this comprehensive examination, she unravels the intricate interplay between the private and public dimensions of memorial architecture and explores the potential of architecture as a powerful agent for remembering and grappling with a challenging past. The outcome of this study is a distinctive and valuable contribution to the fields of history and memory, as well as architecture's role in connecting us to our past.

ISBN-13: 9781108707824