Memorial Garden I
At the outset of this unit, we were presented with several projects from which to choose. Among these, the ‘Memorial Garden’ project for the Princess Royal University Hospital immediately stood out to me. This project, which involves designing a memorial for organ donors, holds significant personal importance. It aligns closely with my research interests and offers a practical avenue to enhance my theoretical framework. Consequently, I was drawn to the ‘Memorial Garden’ project almost instantly.
Our subsequent visit to the Princess Royal University Hospital provided us with a firsthand look at the designated site for the memorial, located in an unoccupied space behind the main building. We faced the challenge of lacking a detailed plan of the garden, which meant we couldn’t precisely determine the size of the area. Resorting to tape measures, we meticulously examined the space. The site’s irregular shape, bordered by curved walls and its overall inclination, deviating from a direct south-to-north orientation, highlighted potential design challenges. Given our limited background in architecture or spatial design, these conditions could seem daunting. However, they also promised a design process filled with inspiration, necessitating a comprehensive consideration of the space’s cohesion rather than focusing solely on the memorial.
The garden of Princess Royal University Hospital
The garden of Princess Royal University Hospital
The garden of Princess Royal University Hospital
The garden of Princess Royal University Hospital
Our exploration extended to the 7th July Memorial in Hyde Park, a tribute to the 52 individuals who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on 7th July 2005. Upon arrival, my initial reaction to the memorial’s design was one of indifference. Yet, a closer inspection revealed a depth of thought in its execution. Each column, devoid of names, bore the date and location of where the victims perished, arranged according to the incident locations—King’s Cross, Tavistock Square, Aldgate, and Edgware Road. The choice of material and its rough, cast-metal appearance, which at a glance resembled concrete, sparked curiosity about the designer’s intentions. Thankfully, our tutor, Oscar, shed light on some of these design choices.
7th July Memorial
7th July Memorial
The texture
The visits to the Princess Royal University Hospital and the 7th July Memorial were instrumental in shaping our approach to the project. They provided fresh perspectives on memorial design and space utilization, fueling my anticipation for the creative process that lay ahead in designing our own memorial.
