In 2017 Hoskins Architects was shortlisted to participate in a competition to design an exhibition building for the existing Gustav Adolf Memorial in Lützen in Saxony-Anhalt. The memorial commemorates the Swedish King Gustav Adolf, who died here in 1632 at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years’ War. Following the discovery of a nearby mass grave, the decision was made to extend the memorial and integrate the grave as a central object in the new building.
Enclosed within a new wood-clad exhibition building, the mass grave is given a worthy place within the memorial. The gabled form of the new building relates to the variously sized buildings on the site, ranging from the existing stone church on the north of the site to the single storey timber buildings to the south. A memorial wall made of rammed concrete intersects the exhibition building in a cross formation, creating an enclosed peace garden. The new ensemble creates a fitting setting for the sensitive site and existing listed buildings. The anti-war memorial emotionally resonates with visitors and reminds them that peace is not something that can be taken for granted, but something that must continue to be constantly fought for.