Development of the Gusen Memorial Site: Presentation of the current plans and interim results

On 16 April 2026, around 60 visitors attended an event organised by the Mauthausen Memorial and Burghauptmannschaft Österreich at Langenstein town hall to learn about the latest developments in the redesign of the Gusen Memorial. The event offered local residents an opportunity  to find out about progress on the plans and to discuss the project.

Following welcoming remarks by representatives of the Mauthausen Memorial, the municipality of Langenstein and project participants, Gerd Erhartt (querkraft architekten) and Kieran Fraser (landscape design) presented key aspects of the current plans. These included the future layout of the pathways and different uses of the space. Greenery will play an important role in the design of outdoor spaces – providing shade, marking the original camp structures and acting as a buffer and transition to the surrounding area. One of the priorities is to make historical traces visible and to incorporate existing archaeological remains into the design. Central to this discussion were questions about how to deal with what is invisible and about appropriate strategies for making this visible.

Christian Dürr, curator at the Mauthausen Memorial, then provided an update on the progress of the curatorial concept. Over recent years, five large-scale research projects have been initiated covering topics such as the experiences of former prisoners, the collection of photographic and video material, and the documentation of perpetrator biographies. The concept will also incorporate the history of the site after the concentration camp was liberated and the perspectives of local eyewitnesses. All findings will be reflected in the curatorial concept, which is due to be finalised by the end of the year and will form the basis for future exhibitions.

At the same time, work is ongoing to develop an educational concept that takes into account different target groups. Among other things, this will facilitate longer stays and more in-depth learning formats in Gusen.

Finally, Barbara Glück, the director of the Mauthausen Memorial, looked ahead to the next steps. Planning work is already underway and construction is currently scheduled to begin in mid-2027. Transparent communication with the public and open dialogue remain core components of the development process for the Gusen Memorial.

The handout for the presentation is available for download here.