RENOVATION OF THE GUSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP MEMORIAL SITE: PRESENTATION OF CURRENT PLANS AND INTERIM RESULTS
Mauthausen Memorial
Following a welcome by representatives of the Mauthausen Memorial, the municipality of Langenstein, and those involved in the project, Gerd Erhartt (querkraft architekten) and Kieran Fraser (Landscape Design) presented key elements of the current concept. The presentation included the future layout of pathways and the overall use of space. In the landscaping, vegetation will play a vital role in providing shade, marking the original camp structures, and creating a buffer zone to transition into the surrounding area. A primary objective is to highlight historical traces and incorporate existing archaeological remains into the project. Central to the discussion was the question of how to address the invisible and find appropriate forms to make it manifest.
Christian Dürr, curator at the Mauthausen Memorial, then provided an update on the curatorial concept. In recent years, five extensive research projects have been launched, addressing, among other things, the experiences of former prisoners, the collection of photo and video material, and the documentation of perpetrator biographies. The site’s postwar history and the perspectives of local witnesses are also being included. All findings will be integrated into the curatorial concept, which is to be completed by the end of the year and will serve as the basis for future exhibitions.
Simultaneously, an educational framework tailored to various target groups is being developed, aimed at enabling longer stays and more in-depth educational formats in Gusen.
In conclusion, Barbara Glück, Director of the Mauthausen Memorial, outlined the forthcoming steps. Planning is already underway, and construction is currently scheduled to begin in mid-2027. Ensuring the greatest possible transparency for the public and maintaining an open dialogue remain central elements in the ongoing development of the Gusen Memorial.
On 16 April 2026, around 60 visitors accepted the invitation of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial and the Burghauptmannschaft Österreich to attend
a presentation of the preliminary results concerning the redesign of the Gusen Concentration Camp Memorial. The event was held at the Langenstein municipal hall. giving the local population an opportunity to learn about the current state of the planning process and to engage in discussion.
38