Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Goes Super Colossal

On December 19, Australian Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin unveiled the design for a memorial to honour Australians who have given their lives during peacekeeping operations around the world. The memorial, to be built on Canberra’s Anzac Parade, will also serve to symbolize the ongoing work of the hundreds of Australian peacekeepers currently restoring order and security to communities affected by war and civil unrest.

A national competition to design a fitting monument to peacekeeping was launched in September of last year and now Marcus Trimble from Sydney architecture and design firm Super Colossal was declared the successful entrant with his contemporary design.

The Australian Peacekeeping Memorial has two main elements. The first is a glowing passage of light that is a powerful entry for the Memorial. The passage is between two massive monoliths, raised slightly off the ground in a stone courtyard. They make up a monumental structure that is the right size for Anzac Parade. The pathway between the two polished cubes glows with an intense golden light. This light can evoke the Australian Peacekeepers’ role and their help to local populations. The Memorial with the lit interior has a striking presence on Anzac Parade both by day and night.

Passers by will see just this imposing bulk, relieved by the glow of light.

As visitors go deeper into the Memorial, they can walk through the passage of light. They may be reminded of deep canyons in the Australian outback, with towering walls but the uplifting blue sky above. They may feel the warmth and comfort of the light between the two imposing monoliths. They then will come to a courtyard, of more intimate size and feel. It is surrounded by Australian trees. Written in the pavement are words evoking the qualities and sacrifice of Australian Peacekeepers. Along the back will be a long horizontal beam recording the many peacekeeping missions in which Australians have served and an inclined plane to receive wreathes and other mementoes. This inner space will be suitable for both formal ceremonies and smaller scale commemoration. It will also be a place of quiet reflection on personal experiences and the significance of Peacekeeping.

Around the wall are bronze fixtures so that visitors may place flowers or candles to remember their relatives and loved ones.

The project will begin Design Development and Contract Documentation in January 2009.

Images: The Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project, Super Colossal