Echoes of the past: Exploring collective memory in public space through scenographic methods

Abstract

This thesis explores how scenography can serve as a spatial strategy to activate, engage and represent collective memory in public spaces. By examining the interplay between design and narrative, the research aims to uncover methods for creating immersive, participatory elements that reveal historical narratives, foster collective dialogue and create connections between people and place. Grounded in Marice Halwachs’ theories of collective memory and drawing from practices in scenography and urban design, the thesis investigates the potential of temporary architectural interventions to trigger memory recall and reinterpret historical layers. These ideas are tested through a spatial proposal at Näckrosdammen in Gothenburg - one of the few remaining sites from the 1923 Jubilee Exhibition - where three poems by Karin Boye form the dramaturgical structure of the installation. The design process has been informed by scenographic methods such as rhythm mapping, material dramaturgy and emotional composition. A dual reading - from both an architectural and scenographic perspective - has shaped the investigation. While the architect’s voice has focused on constructional clarity, permanence and technical feasibility, the scenographer has explored presence, atmosphere and embodied experience. The result is a site-specific installation that stages memory through spatial rhythm, contrasts and material narratives. Elements such as floating granite slabs, submerged oak and reflexive textiles are composed to evoke past and present simultaneously. The work illustrates how temporary design can become a performative medium for storytelling, enabling emotional resonance and layered interpretation. By bridging scenography and architecture, the thesis contributes to current discourse on public memory and ephemeral placemaking, offering an alternative methodology for how design can both reflect and rewrite our shared cultural landscapes.