Plans have been unveiled for a permanent memorial designed by architects Carmody Groarke to commemorate the London bombings of 7 July 2005.
The memorial will be situated in London's Hyde Park.
The design consists of 52 cast stainless steel pillars in four clusters, representing the 52 victims of the four incidents. Each three-metre pillar will be inscribed with the date and location of the incident. Above image by Carmody Groark.
Work is expected to begin on site this autumn, with an official unveiling on 7 July 2009.
Images by Imaging Atelier, except where stated otherwise.
The following information is from Carmody Groark:
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7 July Permanent Memorial design unveiled
The final design for the permanent Memorial to the 52 innocent victims killed in the London bombings on 7 July 2005 was unveiled today.
The design comprises 52 pillars (stelae), each representing one of the victims. They are grouped together in four inter-linking clusters reflecting the four incidents, with each stele bearing an inscription of the date and location of the particular incident that its cluster represents. It will be situated in the North-east corner of Hyde Park, close to Park Lane and Lover’s Walk.
A plaque, listing the names of the murdered victims, will be sited in the grass bank at the far eastern end of the Memorial.
The Memorial has been created by a Design Team which has worked in close consultation with representatives of the bereaved families and advisors from The Royal Parks.
The Design Team chosen to create the Memorial is made up of Ove Arup and Partners Ltd(lead consultant and engineering services), Carmody Groarke (architect) and Colvin and Moggridge Ltd (landscape architect).
A representative of the bereaved families group said: “This Memorial is a fitting tribute, honouring the 52 lives lost on 7 July 2005, ensuring that the world will never forget them. It represents the enormity of our loss, both on a personal and public level. We hope this Memorial will speak to visitors, so they can understand the impact of these horrific events.
“We would like to thank the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and The Royal Parks for their support throughout this project.”
Architect and Director of Carmody Groarke, Kevin Carmody, said:"We are proud to have had the opportunity to help the bereaved families of the 7 July London bombings create a fitting Memorial to their loved ones. By working in close and constant consultation with them and the wider design team, we have designed something that fulfils their brief to us: to create a Memorial that allows for a collective experience as well as being a place of relative quiet for contemplation for the families and the wider public."
Antony Gormley has acted as an independent artistic advisor to the project in line with the client brief, on a pro-bono basis. He has been consulted by Carmody Groarke to critique the design at key stages in the development of the design, and said: “Using the language of architecture to make order out of chaos, this monument is an opportunity for lost victims to be in contact with the living through a process of discovery, where the memorial’s structure becomes complete through the presence and body language of
a curious visitor.”
Each stele will be three metres (approx. 10 feet) tall and 15-18 cms (6-7.28 inches) square. They will be constructed from cast stainless steel, a robust material that is very long lasting. The casting process of these stelae means that whilst they are all cast from the same mould, each one will be unique.
A planning application for the construction of the Memorial has been submitted to
Westminster City Council. The Memorial will be sited in the South East corner of Hyde Park, between Lover’s Walk and Park Lane.
Subject to planning permission, work on the Memorial is expected to begin on the site in the autumn, with an official unveiling on 7 July 2009.