Threshold

Project idea

The core design concept of the project is to treat memory not as a static phenomenon belonging solely to the past, but as a dynamic experience continuously reproduced through space, light, and movement. The route is a journey of "tracing," starting from physical remnants—the barracks—and evolving into abstract imagery through light and shadow. The inversion of the barracks' inner perimeter represents an attempt to fracture the architectural shell of the past to cultivate a protected, new core of memory within. The path defined by the massive walls acts as an internalized, corridor-like space that invites the visitor to contemplate the weight of the names, while the structures leaning against these walls, along with the memorial plazas, confront this history with daily life and public space. The final dissolution of the solid walls into a forest of vertical metal pillars transforms the absence of bodies into poetic, light-rendered silhouettes. This interplay of light and shadow turns the act of commemoration into a rhythmic, spatial performance, ultimately anchoring the memory sequence at the site's monumental focal point, Galpon 9.

Project description

The project proposes a continuous memorial route that connects spatial and temporal layers, beginning at the existing barracks and extending to the Galpon 9 structure. The inner walls of the barracks are demolished, and their window openings are offset inwards to create a permanent, robust base for exhibition. Within these structures, a dynamic space is curated through sliding panels, allowing for the display of memorial-themed artworks. Beyond this initiation point, the route transitions into a pathway defined by massive walls, where an "anniversary wall" bearing the names of those lost on this site deepens the commemorative experience. Along this path, functional structures are anchored against the walls, with their openings forming designated "memorial plazas." As these structures are passed, the solid walls give way to a walkway composed of vertical metal pillars. These pillars, interacting with sunlight, cast transient human silhouettes across the path, creating an atmospheric, shifting environment. This final segment serves as the spine of the journey, guiding the visitor toward the route’s terminal point and the embodiment of collective memory: the Galpon 9 building.

Technical information

The project is defined by a modular and tactile tectonic approach, prioritizing the preservation of existing structural logic while introducing contemporary interventions. The rehabilitation of the barracks relies on a steel-reinforced frame system that supports the new interior exhibition walls, allowing for the integration of high-precision, track-mounted sliding panels for flexible display configurations. The primary memorial pathway is constructed using cast-in-place raw concrete, providing the mass and acoustic insulation necessary for a contemplative atmosphere. The structural components leaning against these primary walls are designed as reinforced concrete structures that maintain the material language of the memorial path, while their transparent openings create a deliberate contrast to the solid mass of the walls. The final transition, consisting of vertical, weather-resistant Corten steel pillars, is engineered based on precise positioning to cast distinct human-scale silhouettes throughout the day. This intersection of heavy masonry and light, kinetic metallic elements ensures both structural longevity and a poetic interaction with the site’s topography.

Documentation

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