The Park of Memories in Aš, Czech Republic, is a captivating architectural project being developed by the renowned studios, SOA architekti and Ateliér KONCEPT. With a focus on revitalizing and developing the city, the project aims to utilize the geographical and symbolic potential of the area. By bringing back the forgotten values of the past, the Park of Memories provides visitors with a captivating journey through the city’s turbulent history. Join us as we explore this intriguing concept and its impact on the city of Aš.
As part of their innovative approach, SOA architekti and Ateliér KONCEPT have incorporated the Time Trip mobile application into the park concept. This modern information system offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the city’s past, providing them with interesting and interactive points of information throughout the park. This not only educates the visitors but also ensures an entertaining experience.
The park’s design follows a spatio-temporal parallel, seamlessly transitioning from the urbanized park space around Goethe’s Square to the enchanting forest park on Okružní Street. This compositional idea beautifully connects the botanical and architectural elements of the park, showcasing the diverse historical periods of the city. With SOA architekti and Ateliér KONCEPT leading the way, the Park of Memories in Aš promises to be a truly remarkable and immersive experience for all who visit.
The project is also based on a sad chapter in the history of Aš connected with the destruction of the largest cemetery in Aš in the 1970s. The loss of cultural and historical values during this event is reflected in the Historical Park, where a memorial in the form of a granite block has been created. The flat memorial consists of a collection of stone blocks of different sizes with recesses for candles. It is a meeting place for people from the area and neighbouring Germany, creating a space where they can remember their ancestors.
The repair of the oldest stone bridge in the city, which connects the old and new parts of the Lutheran cemetery, is another step towards restoring the historical heritage. Work on the project was accompanied by an archaeological survey, which revealed old graves, human remains and the remains of buildings. This care for historical artefacts underlines the effort to respect the past. The newly discovered historic cellars, several dozen metres long, will be used for cultural events, helping to link the past with the present life of the city.
A new element that creates a parallel path through the park is a footbridge. The atypical combination of a central steel structure and wood creates a subtle structure that winds through the park. The footbridge is connected to wooden platforms and walkways. The new surface of the path symbolically does not touch the surface of the original cemetery.
As part of the entire project, all surfaces were carefully modified so that they could effectively absorb water. This is a key element of the ecological design, which helps to reduce flood risk and improve the local water cycle.