Five meters tall it stands. The Erinnerungsort Sculpture in Cologne. A poignant memorial. It remembers the victims of forced labor at I G Farben. The sculpture is more than just steel and wood. It’s a powerful symbol. It represents the stories of approximately 16000 victims. These stories are documented in the Bayer company archive.
The design is based on this historical data. Polished stainless steel sheets meet untreated wood. Living plants and mycelium are integrated. The sculpture is organic. It’s meant to change with nature. It will be transformed by time and growth. The steel sheets will endure forever.
Unlike a static monument this sculpture is dynamic. It continuously invites reflection. It encourages us to contemplate Bayer’s history during the Nazi era. The polished steel reflects both visitors and the architecture. The architecture represents three different eras of Bayer AG. The sculpture’s dimensions and orientation relate to former factory locations.
Seven types of wood make up the wooden structure. Birch oak Douglas fir spruce beech and pine. The wood forms a timeline of decay. Around 2000 parts are arranged in a complex way. The sculpture appears different from various angles. It changes over time. A time-lapse camera records this transformation. The data is accessible via a companion web app. The app deciphers the archive’s data and its meaning.
Custom software generated the components and wood clusters parametrically. The construction used the JOYN SYSTEM. The Erinnerungsort Sculpture isn’t just a monument. It’s a living testament to the past. It’s a constant reminder of the human cost of war and injustice. It invites contemplation. It sparks conversations. It stands as a powerful symbol of remembrance and reflection. It is a place to remember. A place to learn. A place to never forget.