This is the published version of a lecture delivered by Libeskind, addressing the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of his work on memory and architecture.

The book "1995 Raoul Wallenberg Lecture: Daniel Libeskind: Traces of the Unborn" is a publication of a lecture given by architect Daniel Libeskind at the University of Michigan. The lecture and the subsequent book focus on the themes that define much of Libeskind's work: memory, absence, and the emotional resonance of architecture. The "traces of the unborn" refer to the invisible histories and untold stories that precede a building's existence. Libeskind argues that architecture should not be a neutral, blank slate but must engage with the collective and individual memories of a place, even if those memories are painful or absent. The book serves as a manifesto for his deconstructivist approach to design, which challenges traditional notions of form and space to create buildings that evoke feeling and meaning. This lecture is particularly significant as it was delivered before the completion of his most famous works, such as the Jewish Museum in Berlin, providing a key insight into the theoretical foundations of his projects.