Zprávy památkové péče 2019, 79(2):160-166 | DOI: 10.56112/zpp.2019.2.07
The fate of the synagogue in Hranice: the history of the building and the concept of its virtual reconstruction
- Muzeum umění Olomouc
The study deals with the synagogue in Hranice as a well-preserved building of the former Jewish community which currently offers the potential for greater monument restoration. The origin of the building is set in a historical context, allowing the reader to become more familiar with the development and organization of the local Jewish community, as well as with a general knowledge of the basic rules of its regulation. The work also tries to reveal the secrets surrounding the author of the building, the Viennese builder Franz Macher senior.
The events of WWII and post-war resulted in the synagogue changing its purpose several times, but it still remained in relatively good condition. Fragments of the original painting were uncovered during repairs in the 1990s, which, together with historical photographs, indicate the direction that a heritage restoration could take in the future. The space's long-term use for exhibitions does not make this approach very feasible, so at least a virtual reconstruction of the interior might seem possible. This method, pioneered by technical universities in Darmstadt and Vienna, has already resulted in the "reconstruction" of several dozen defunct synagogues in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. The use of such modern technologies for the Hranice building would also provide a possibility for it to revive its original meaning and traditions, important from architectural and cultural perspectives, without encroaching materially into the existing structure.
Keywords: synagogue, Hranice, Jews, history, heritage care, virtual reconstruction
Published: June 1, 2019 Show citation
References
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- Vlastimila Hamáčková - Jiřina Šedinová (edd.), History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia. From Emancipation to the Present (kat. výst.), Prague 1999.
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- Bohumír Indra, Biografický slovník k dějinám města Hranic, in: Sborník. Státní okresní archiv Přerov, Přerov 1998, s. 42-46.
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