The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is undoubtedly one of the late twentieth century's most profound architectural statements. Far more than a museum, it is a living institution dedicated to research and teaching as well as to contemplation and commemoration. Located in Washington, DC, the building is articulated in brick and limestone at a scale appropriate to its prominent position off the National Mall; but, although linked to its neighbouring buildings, the museum subtly disengages itself from the city. Inside, the Hall of Witness forms a three-storey arrival, a circulation space and central void preparing the visitor for the journey through the museum. Bridges and towers evoke an industrial past so that architecture, engineering and museology merge inseparably, while the Hall of Remembrance is a calm, abstract space of contemplation to end the museum experience.
