Memorial in Mainz

The shadow that remains

Atelier. Schmelzer.weber, in cooperation with the sculptor Andreas Theurer, won the 1st prize in the competition for the Mainz deportation ramp memorial in 2017. We are very pleased to support this important memorial in the execution and to underline the design intention with our lighting concept.

The architects write about this design:
“A surprising place, reminiscent of expulsion and death in the midst of life. Without pathos, he opens up to the citizens of Mainz, includes them and lets them become part of the story. The names of those murdered are permanently inscribed on a memorial wall that marks the starting point of the Mainz deportations. The rear mirroring of the structure, which is hardly noticeable at first, extends the historical tracks into an imaginary distance, which is at the same time a reflected presence. The human shadows set into the floor covering stand for the tragic loss of Jewish fellow citizens and are a reminder of the historical guilt associated with this place – as an appeal that does not pass away, as a shadow that remains.”

Object: Exterior
Builder: State capital Mainz
Architect: Atelier . Schmelzer . Weber
Sculptor: Andreas Theurer
Visualisation: Atelier . Schmelzer . Weber
Location: Mainz
Completion: app. Autumn 2023
Services: Planning and consulting for artificial light and daylight