World War I Memorial Park
The proposed World War I Memorial by KAMJZ takes a unique approach blurring the lines between a park and a memorial. Over the past hundred years multitudes of memorials have been designed and constructed as traditional statues or forms creating one element that represents an entire event in history. By encompassing Pershing Park KAMJZ has shown the immense impact that WW I has had on the American society. While the design is subtle enough to not over power the existing memorials.
Courtesy of The US World War I Centennial Commission
This impact is defined by the mass that is made up of varying densities also vertical steel poles and horizontal polyurethane nets elements that react to the site by molding itself to the height of the trees and shape of the site. This maximizes the impact on the site and the people that occupy the space while attracting others to the park due to it size. The site itself is proposed to be unchanged with the design to be placed lightly on the site without disturbing the existing site elements that make up Pershing Park while creating a more comfortable space through a transparent material that will reduce sunlight while still forming the mass above. Based on the rendering the proposed memorial would give people a sense of gravity with this large canopy overhead which is appropriate for a memorial that represents the impact of World War I. The total design is a symbol for the impact that the war had on the American society.
Courtesy of The US World War I Centennial Commission
This design is a great example of how architecture can have an impact on the people who occupy the space.
By blurring the lines between memorial and park KAMJZ has design an memorial that can be enjoyed and experienced through the activities that will be covered by the mass of intersecting horizontal and vertical forms symbolizing the impact of an pivotal point in history.
Courtesy of The US World War I Centennial Commission
Architects: KAMJZ Architects
Location: Pershing Park, Washington, DC 20004, USA
Main Project Architect: Maciej Jakub Zawadzki
Partners in Charge: Maciej Jakub Zawadzki, Marek Kuryłowicz
Design Team: Łukasz Wenclewski, Michał Polak, Pablo Otero, Artur Zakrzewski, Lazar Djuric, Sofija Lalovic,Silvia Nigro
Photographs: Courtesy of KAMJZ Architects
By: Joshua Mohn
