Floor plan of the Jewish Museum Berlin
Inside, the building forms along three main axes that represent the three possible fates for Germany's Jews. The first corridor connects the original 18th century building to the modern galleries, symbolizing the relationships and cultural exchanges between Jews and Gentiles throughout history. The second hallway leads outside to the "Garden of Exile and Emigration," a disorienting space of 49 tall pillars containing olives trees -- intended to embody the journey of those who fled Europe, particularly to Israel. The third and final axis leads to "Holocaust Tower," a bare, unheated room representing a dead end for victims of the mass genocide. It is lit only by a tiny sliver of natural light, suggesting a future that is forever beyond reach.

© Studio Daniel Libeskind.