The area of the internment camp in Rivesaltes by Rudy Ricciotti
Military camp Joffre, which was established in the mid-1930s in the northern suburbs of Rivesaltes at the foothills of the Pyrenees, represented a significant strategic point for the French army on the border with Spain. From 1939 to 1977, the originally military base served as an internment camp for civilians. The camp experienced its darkest period in 1942 when a transport of 2,251 Jews was dispatched from there to Auschwitz. For the following four decades, the site was used to house prisoners of war and French collaborators. After the declaration of independence of Algeria, a number of Muslims with their families fled to France, where many were held in the Rivesaltes internment camp. The last of the 20,000 refugees left the camp only in 1977.
After this dark historical period, the French decided to draw a clear line in 2005 by announcing an architectural competition, which was won by the design of Rudy Ricciotti together with the studio Passelac & Roques. Although the entire history of the camp has not been documented, voices were raised for the demolition of the site, against which local councilor Christian Bourquin spoke out with the aim of building a dignified memorial to the people who were detained here and some of whom also met their death.
Ricciotti's design, which was opened this October, presents a 220-meter long and 20-meter wide monolith partially embedded in the ground at the site of the former military training area. The concrete structure is intended to evoke oppressive feelings and remind visitors of the events that took place here in history. The ochre shade of the low block adapts to the color of the surrounding sandy soil. The inserted trio of smaller internal courtyards with skylights is meant to provide moments of hope in the closed atmosphere. The underground exhibition is accessed from the north by a long ramp, leading visitors into a spacious western atrium with several educational rooms and a large auditorium. At the eastern end, there are exhibition halls and a restaurant with technical facilities. The roof of the structure rises gently from the east. During the approach, the structure can easily be overlooked so that the surrounding semi-ruined houses of the interned prisoners remain visible.
More information >
After this dark historical period, the French decided to draw a clear line in 2005 by announcing an architectural competition, which was won by the design of Rudy Ricciotti together with the studio Passelac & Roques. Although the entire history of the camp has not been documented, voices were raised for the demolition of the site, against which local councilor Christian Bourquin spoke out with the aim of building a dignified memorial to the people who were detained here and some of whom also met their death.
Ricciotti's design, which was opened this October, presents a 220-meter long and 20-meter wide monolith partially embedded in the ground at the site of the former military training area. The concrete structure is intended to evoke oppressive feelings and remind visitors of the events that took place here in history. The ochre shade of the low block adapts to the color of the surrounding sandy soil. The inserted trio of smaller internal courtyards with skylights is meant to provide moments of hope in the closed atmosphere. The underground exhibition is accessed from the north by a long ramp, leading visitors into a spacious western atrium with several educational rooms and a large auditorium. At the eastern end, there are exhibition halls and a restaurant with technical facilities. The roof of the structure rises gently from the east. During the approach, the structure can easily be overlooked so that the surrounding semi-ruined houses of the interned prisoners remain visible.
More information >
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
0 comments
add comment
