Old Cemetery Judensand

The Old Cemetery Judensand in Mainz is considered to be one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. As part of an application by the cities of Worms, Speyer and Mainz to have their medieval Jewish sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a planning competition was launched to design a visitor pavilion and to enhance the entire cemetery area.

The project is characterised by a narrative architecture. The surrounding natural hedge protects and provides views of details inside the cemetery via recesses as well as pedestals from which the cemetery area can be viewed. This visible presence anchors the cemetery in the heterogeneous urban space. Two wooden buildings, one for the roof over the main entrance, another for the visitor centre, mark the access portals to the cemetery and its history. The planned visitor centre serves as the cemetery's contact point as well as a place for exhibitions and seminars.