Annual Zbyszek Zawistowski Award "Diploma of the Year", edition 2023
PLN 10,000

author
Ewelina Szeląg

Title
"Architecture as a Carrier of Emotions in Memorials. Museum at Westerplatte"

university
Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology

promoter

dr Łukasz Piątek

jury's opinion

Black memories, "Black object", black and white presentation, exhibition interiors bathed in black, everything seems to be a deliberate effort by the author to build a narrative about the tragedy and commemorate the history of this place.
Westerplatte is the history of Poland, ransomed by the blood of Polish soldiers, but it is the history of the world, a world tragedy that began with a shot from a German battleship, spilled from this place to almost the entire globe, triggering a world conflict, bringing pain, suffering, harm and drama to so many lives.
Today, once again, surrounded by the context of new wars, new dramas and tragedies, unlearned from the experience of previous ones, we should constantly attempt to counter them.
Architecture can be one of the tools in perpetuating memory, history and commemorating the victims.
Architecture is always looking for a connection with its surroundings, and although its stability may not always keep up with the dynamically changing context, well thought-out architecture, well resolved space, universal form and symbolism that evokes emotion can perpetuate memory for years and build a message for the future.
Simple means of expression, the primordial symbolism of black and white, minimal form and detail, the gray rawness of concrete, all play with our emotions.
"Black Object", sent as a warning, is to dock in many ports, spreading the memory of the tragedy. Symbolically, it returns on August 25, blocking the Dead Vistula channel for a while.
It moors at the Museum to reload the genius loci of Westerplatte, to set sail again for another voyage, spreading the message: "Never again war."