News
Auschwitz Museum Visitor Services Center with an award in the category ’Architecture in Heritage Space’
The architectural design of the new Visitor Services Center at the Auschwitz Museum has been awarded the best architectural object in the 'Architecture in the Heritage Space' category by the Jury of the Award of the Year of the Association of Polish Architects.
The award was given for "the consistently implemented, visible in the finest details, idea of building the message of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum created in the process of entering the former camp space. The careful and thoughtful use of concrete as the main material, perfectly fitting into the existing context, was also appreciated. The architectural sensitivity due to projects of this rank and the excellent craftsmanship of the design team were also recognized."
The Visitor Services Center consists of the main building, which is connected to the former Auschwitz I camp site via two underground passages, as well as a parking lot and additional infrastructure. The entire facility has been fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. Some of the rooms have been allocated for the needs of the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. An information point about the victims of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz has also been established there.
The project also included the modernization of the cinema hall, where visitors can watch an introductory film.
Next to the Center, a modern hostel was opened this year, serving volunteers, interns, and participants in extended study visits, conferences, or seminars.
The new center was built close to the former camp, on a site where, before the war, ammunition bunkers of the Polish Army's barracks were located. During the occupation, the area belonged to KL Auschwitz. Initially, there was a gravel pit there, and in 1941-43 the Germans built a slaughterhouse there, which supplied the camp SS garrison with meat and sausages, as well as a dairy.
These investments were implemented with funds from the European Regional Development Fund of the Polish state budget under the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment 2014 - 2020, the support of Ronald S. Lauder and Joel and Ulrika Citron, a specific grant from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Museum's funds.
Visitor Services Center, Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
Authors: Marek Kozień, Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak, Katarzyna Kozień-Kornecka
Co-authors: Joanna Filipek, Ewelina Michalik Krok, Małgorzata Szewczyk, Dawid Gizicki, Michał Rączka, Katarzyna Basista, Dagmara Czaja, Marcin Gierbienis, Magdalena Habrat-Rączka, Jakub Kornecki, Małgorzata Walkosz, Jakub Dziewoński
Construction: Engineering Firm Statyk–Wojciech Wilczek
Installations: Atrem S.A.
Roads: CEGROUP
Investor: Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
