The victims of the Holocaust experienced a disruption to
their lives. Our design for the Atlantic
City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial acts as a disruption on the boardwalk and
initially distorts orientation. Using
forced perspectives to frame views, the pedestrians are drawn in as they
approach the memorial. Dynamic
experiences are created through sloping paths, distortion of scale and
intimidating masses. Each large form is representative of one of the six Mass
Murder Facilities in NAZI Poland. From
the exterior, the pathways are dark and isolating, yet as the user experiences the
interior of the forms they find visual connections to other users in the
memorial through a series of framed views.
They very site itself acts as a connection, a mid point, from the
boardwalk to the sand reinforcing the theme of strength through
connection.

This design concept of “strength through connection” is a
concept that holds true not only in the context of the Holocaust, but of the
many struggles that peoples of around the world have experienced and are still
experiencing today. Through these
connections, people discover an understanding of culture and human nature. In today’s world, cultures are interacting
for the first time from around the globe and it has sparked positive change. We believe that this memorial deserves a
second chance for it serves as a lantern and a symbol for the triumph of human connection.