October 17, 2024

Seminar “Beyond the architecture of fear”

Event program

On October 17, 2027, the Warsaw Architecture Pavilion ZODIAK hosted the Beyond the Architecture of Fear Seminar, organized by the Formy Wspólne Foundation and ZODIAK Warsaw Architecture Pavilion. During the presentation and discussion, the topic of alternatives to the architecture of fear was raised, including how to commemorate without causing fear and trauma in visitors.

The seminar consisted of three panels.

The first one, titled "Fear and Memory", concerned the theoretical foundations of the issue of fear in commemorations, with particular emphasis on the events of the 20th century. It discussed psychological patterns of behavior in places of remembrance, the most famous works of architecture and their impact on the viewer, as well as new trends in designing exhibitions in places of remembrance related to the Holocaust.

The second panel, titled "In the Landscape of Fear", introduced the participants to the problem of grassroots, spontaneous commemorations appearing in the landscape of remembrance as a result of local activities, not inspired by any institutions. It discussed cases of villagers who commemorate former Jewish residents, using very limited resources, without outside knowledge or help. At the other extreme, the topic of commercial competitions for young architects who deal with the topic of memory and emotions in architecture was taken up, not referring to specific places of memory, but responding to the need to express oneself in architecture.

The third panel, "Beyond the Architecture of Fear", focused on finding an alternative to fear in the architecture of memory. Three presentations presented three different ways of avoiding intimidation of the viewer in a place marked by collective trauma. The first presentation concerned architecture using the example of the Museum in Sobibór, the second dealt with an artistic approach, and the third with an alternative to the above - inclusive practices such as dance, walking or growing medicinal plants.

The summary discussion was very intensive, which proves that the topic of the conference was interesting and the discussion on the proposed topic was very necessary.

The seminar was organized by the Forms of Common Foundation, the Forgotten Foundation in cooperation with the Warsaw Architecture Pavilion ZODIAK. The event was attended by city residents, cultural studies and anthropology researchers, urban activists from Warsaw and the surrounding area, academics from the Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Warsaw, and officials from the Ministry of Culture.

Organization

Partners

Sponsors

  • The project is funded by the European Union (CERV-2022-REM) and involves nine European partners: FestivALT, UMF, Zapomniane Foundation, JCC Warsaw, Formy Wspólne Foundation, Jewish Cemetery Documentation Foundation, CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, University of Würzburg and Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg.