House of Terror
This afternoon we were treated to a lecture on Budapest, Hungary's House of Terror, "illustrating the grim decades of Nazi and Communist repression." Architecturally, the museum is basically a renovation of a much-renovated former headquarters for both the Nazi and Communist secret police, but the exhibition installations seem to overshadow the interiors. The exterior is another story.
The existing building is painted a muted grey that stands out from its neighbors and supposedly recalls the outfits of the secret police.
Wrapping the building's cornice is a new projecting "blade" with backward letters and figures cut out; the blade continues down the side of the building to sidewalk level.
During the daytime hours the reverse letters spell out TERROR in the shadow case from the new projection. The blade intervention is strengthened at pedestrian level as visitors are forced to walk through it on the way to the entry.
What at first glance appears to be a silly PoMo device, seems to have a greater appeal over time. Both the font and figures recall Nazi and Soviet era displays, though the cut-out is like an inversion (backward=forward, dark=light) of those principles towards something of more humanitarian ends.
The existing building is painted a muted grey that stands out from its neighbors and supposedly recalls the outfits of the secret police.
Wrapping the building's cornice is a new projecting "blade" with backward letters and figures cut out; the blade continues down the side of the building to sidewalk level.
During the daytime hours the reverse letters spell out TERROR in the shadow case from the new projection. The blade intervention is strengthened at pedestrian level as visitors are forced to walk through it on the way to the entry.
What at first glance appears to be a silly PoMo device, seems to have a greater appeal over time. Both the font and figures recall Nazi and Soviet era displays, though the cut-out is like an inversion (backward=forward, dark=light) of those principles towards something of more humanitarian ends.
I think I visited it when it was a Cafe in '92. That was its selling point that you could have cake where they'd tortured all those people....although with the new museum I guess you can still do the same. Still its good that these events are memorialised and shown rather than hidden. I'd love to go back there by the way, Budapest was a fantastic city to explore.
ReplyDeleteI usually watch your page, and it's very good to see that today you show something from my country.
ReplyDeletewow
anyway the museum inside is also good.I recommend everyone.
I always tell my design students shadows are free. Thanks for bringing this powerful use of shadows to my attention - I will be showing and discussing this building in future classes.
ReplyDelete