In the coming years , these newly acquired parcels will be transformed into new memorial spaces and will be linked to the Gusen Memorial and other existing commemorative interventions , such as the visitor centre with its permanent exhibition on the history of the camps . In this way , the memorial site of Gusen will be considerably expanded .
To provide the project with the broadest possible democratic basis , the Mauthausen Memorial , the institution tasked with carrying it out , initiated a participatory process inviting various interest groups at the international , national and regional levels , as well as experts from various disciplines . Among them were survivor organisations and family members of victims , diplomatic representatives from countries with citizens deported to Gusen , commemorative initiatives from the Mauthausen / Gusen / St . Georgen region , and residents of the municipalities of Langenstein and St . Georgen .
From mid-2022 to mid-2023 , a wide variety of participation formats were organised . These ranged from all-day workshops to focus interviews , informational events for the local population , and a special roundtable discussion with experts from various scientific fields . All discussions in the different participation formats were recorded by the art : phalanx team , which was in charge of the process , and analysed using qualitative methods .
In parallel with the participation formats , a team of architects from the heri & salli studio worked on the foundations of the planning for the future memorial space in the form of a master urban plan , continuously incorporating all the results of the discussions . The final report of the process was published in October 2023 and presents the opinions , expectations and concerns of all participants in the process as a whole . It highlights the topics discussed and reflects , at the same time , the broad consensus on the decisions and guidelines reached by the participants .
4 . The stone crusher today | Photo by Bernhard Mühleder , Mauthausen Memorial
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Observing Memories Issue 8