Theme
Racial tensions have reached its recent peak following George Floyd’s death. Even though such injustices and biases have plagued our societies, the recent events have brought systemic racism to the eyes of public scrutiny yet again.
Sadly, however, history repeats itself. Individuals have limited ability to transmit precautionary tales, and have limited ability to empathize across long stretch of time.
Architecture, on the other hand, has the ability to inscribe important values into the hearts of urban fabric to be studied for millennia. Can we design a memorial that can commemorate all those who have fallen to similar injustices George Floyd experienced? Can architecture communicate such spatial empathy?
Temporary memorial constructed by passersby
Winners
FIRST PLACE: EQUALITY ISN’T A BREATHE AWAY
DESIGNER
Understanding Spaces @understandingspaces
DESCRIPTION
The fundamental idea of this George Floyd Memorial is to express the stain of racism in history. Historically, architecture has been a medium of projecting symbols of oppression and wealth. From the Egyptian pyramids to modern skyscrapers, architecture possess a role of signifying possession of wealth and hence, becomes symbols of oppression. Therefore this design for George Floyd Memorial yearns to educate guests on the systematic racism of modern society and searches its root back in history.
The Memorial is an amalgamation of 3 phases. The first being, The Fall, where guests demote to a tunnel, barely lit, signifies the moment of fall in social and cultural history. In the second phase, The Fight, guests interact with the dark spaces and exhibits, a space for social dialogue, to spectate and learn about the human history of racism. This tunnel is 46 metres long(step-step), to pay homage to every year George lived. The walk through darkness symbolises a rhetorical transcending into the history of racial oppression and thus that of oppressed humankind. Both the oppressor and the oppressed are imprisoned by two faces of the same oppression.
But, as the world is changing to a more socially connected realm, architecture is too. There is a shimmer of hope still alive in humanity, in the ones who fight for justice and equality relentlessly. That leads the guests to the third phase, The Rise, where they walk to an 8m 46cm high monolith, which signifies the duration of George being choked. The monolith also shows the spiritually bonding power of architecture by propagating a glorious ray of hope for all the ones who lost it. With a pressure sensitive step pad, which if hovered, emits rays of light, reminding us that it takes every individual’s participation to bring the change we deserve. We can dream, can’t we?
JURY COMMENTS
Overall the thoughtful and respectful approach of the entry made it the winner. Viewing architecture as the antagonist to equity suggested an interesting shift in paradigm. The design conveys its concept passively through subtle architectonic elements such as change in elevation, light and material.
The collages successfully convey the idea and space of the Memorial – a journey about systematic racism. Representing the journey into three parts – The fall, fight and rise – helped make the concept very clear and easy to understand. The three parts are also perfectly integrated with each other a comprehensive work of art.
SECOND PLACE: ASYMPTOTES
DESIGNER
Yunfan @yuunfann
DESCRIPTION
“Asymptotes” is an evocation of the suffering of those who have lived through racism. It is designed as a semi buried structure inspired from the graph of the inverse function. A tight passage between two curved walls tightens up towards a vertical asymptote where a zenithal light is diffused. At the heart of the memorial, it’s in silence and in dim light, with eyes at ground level, that the visitor feels the spirit that presides over the memorial. It not only encapsulates the memory of the violent arrest of George Floyd, but is also a place of reflection on racial violence and a place to meditate on racial injustices.
THIRD PLACE: WEEPING MOTHER
DESIGNER
Vishakha @1crazyflamingo
DESCRIPTION
The concept of unfinished. ( REVERSE ARCHITECTURE- ( totally coined this term according to my thinking))
Racism existed before us, it exists with us, but we can make sure it won’t exist after us.
The structure stands with the help of 4 unequal pillars showing the inequality in the human race.
The people who went through the horrific tragedies are resembled as red bleeding pixels.
The design proposal is based on a concept of ‘REVERSE ARCHITECTURE’ where people at first don’t get why the structure looks unfinished, the design evokes the emotions that it is us who needs to change and we can’t let even a single pixel (victim person) go up on this structure to make it complete. If we won’t change, one day we will be stuck inside this and we won’t be able to breathe.
It us who needs to decide whether to increase the pixels and complete the structure or increase the hope of light.
Honorable Mentions
Prize
First place winner will receive $100 cash prize. All awarded proposals (winners and honorable mentions) will be shared with media publications for international exhibition.
Onwards
Thanks to everyone who participated in Pandemic Monument Challenge. There were amazing proposals and ideas presented in this round, which made the decision extremely difficult. Even if you didn’t place this month, make sure to check out our next Monthly Challenge!