julius taminiau holocaust memorial
Holocaust – burnt offering (Greek translation)

“Torn away horribly, leaving behind an emptiness that is filled with a deep black memory.”

This monument tries to portray the indescribable grief and pain as powerfully as possible. But how can you depict such a thing?

The process

“Uncountable” tree trunks form a mold.

Each tree trunk is unique.

The mold  is filled with black pigmented concrete.

The logs are burned.

A space (or void) is created by the burning of the tree trunks.

The mold – the visible form – becomes the space (or void).

The former space becomes the form.

Like a horrific event leaves an emptiness and simultaneously a heavy weight.

It is no longer there, it has happened, but it is still clearly tangible.

The burnt tree trunks represent the horrific event, the past.

Despite the burning, the tree trunks remain clearly tangible and visible.

The (heavy weight) concrete exposes the emptiness (the void).

This concrete mass is the memorial of the deep black trauma.

The shape of the monument

There is no clear entrance or exit, no beginning or end.

There is a clear interior space or main area.

This emptiness (or void) was created by the burned tree trunks.

Some tree trunks have caused points of light.

These points of light reveal the deep black horrific event.

Urban connection

There are subtle references to the monument on the square.

Holes have been made in the current pavement and filled with black concrete.

The symbolic value – of taking something and filling it with a black memory – is repeated here.

These black references lead you to the monument.

No explanation, Abstract

The monument aims at confrontation.

We believe that disguising and ignoring evil is one reason why this could have happened.

You can’t ignore this painful, deep black traumatic event.

We strive for an architecture that needs no explanation, you feel it immediately.