atlantic city boardwalk holocaust memorial

atlantic city, new jersey

“A destruction, an annihilation that only man can provoke, only man can prevent” - Elie Wiesel

With the proposed site for this international competition attached directly to the Atlantic City Boardwalk, there was a desire to create a space sheltered from the profane nature of the surrounding area, and provide a solemn space to contemplate the Holocaust and genocide throughout history. Thus an indirect approach into the sacred space was created by folding and overlapping the form to prepare oneself for the solemnity of the space. 

The harsh angles of the overall form speak to the horrors of the Holocaust and genocide as a whole. Perforated, center-pivot cor-ten vertical panels make up the majority of the structure, and the pattern of the perforations on each door references the rise and fall of the tides, as well as the sheer numbers of those lost in the Holocaust and genocide. Each panel can be manipulated by the visitor, who as a result, has a direct impact on the appearance of the whole structure and creates an ever changing appearance. This acts as a physical metaphor that every single person can individually make a difference despite the common belief otherwise, and that those actions of individuals can directly impact the world around them for both good and evil.