“Gedächtnispalast” (“Memory palace”) is a method in which people store large amounts of information in their minds by fictitiously filing it away room by room in a building. By later moving through this “palace” in their minds, they are able to retrieve the information from their memory with precision. There must therefore be parallels between the way memory works and the design of architecture.
Memory is essential for human learning and action. It is a fundamental cognitive ability that is of great importance for self-perception and interaction with the environment. With increasing life expectancy, the number of people experiencing serious memory impairment is also rising. Commonly referred to as “dementia”, this term encompasses a variety of different neurodegenerative diseases.
Human movement and orientation in space are significantly influenced by memory. Architecture must therefore create special conditions for people with dementia so that they can live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Organizations dealing with dementia, volunteer support networks, and “caring communities” are increasingly advocating inclusive forms of coexistence. Communal living and care models are primarily intended to counteract one of the most serious consequences of the disease: the social isolation of those affected.
The aim of the design, in collaboration with developmental psychologists and experts, is to develop new models for dementia-inclusive, inner-city architecture based on existing approaches. An existing building is to be converted, extended, and rebuilt to provide living and care spaces for people in different stages of the disease, as well as public facilities for relatives, caregivers, and volunteers: a “memory palace” in the concrete sense.
Working on such dementia-inclusive architecture means not only dealing with the different manifestations of the disease itself, but first and foremost also engaging in an in-depth examination of how architecture shapes society, how it influences interpersonal communication, and which sensory, cultural, and social factors influence our perception of it.
Teaching Methods:
The course aims to convey that architecture is always linked to a transformation of social conditions, which must therefore be understood in theoretical and socio-spatial terms.
Throughout the entire design process, the focus is therefore on examining theoretical texts, producing sketches and drawings, and building physical models as the most essential tools for thinking about and developing architecture in the centre. Accompanying assignments, input-lectures at the beginning of the exercises, and a workshop serve to deepen the content, facilitate joint discussion, and sharpen the conceptual focus of the individual projects. The design work is to be completed individually.
Lecturers:
Harald Trapp
Gerhard Flora
Bettina Hufe
Ulrich Pont
Further Information:
Kick-off: Tue, October 7th, 2025, 2pm, Projektraum 4