During World War II the Chinese General Consul in Vienna, Dr. Ho Feng Shan, saved the lives of thousands of Jewish people from the devastation of the Holocaust by issuing visas to China. In 2019, to commemorate Dr. Ho’s valiant efforts, the “Peace Visa for Life Museum ”was commissioned to be built.
Being the key element of the historic life-saving events, the building takes the idea of the "visa", as the basic element to inform the space composition. Large corten steels plates represent the visa document, creating "visa plates" .
The museum is situated in the valley of two mountains. The boundary is designed to be open, with the elevation impression changing and evolving when viewed from the adjacent hiking trails. The overlapping plates allow a sunshade effect, which define an inner space of movement, symbolically forming a "channel of life " guided by the "visas".
The A shape of the entrance hall referenced the feeling of pressure as the space is compressed. Then with the sunlight above, the space is activated and reshaped. Visitors immerse themselves in space situation, so as to awaken their historical empathy, allowing life to be respected and peace to be cherished.
