Memorial design ideas impress

The calibre of submissions for the design of the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial has been outstanding, says Christchurch Central Development Unit director Warwick Isaacs.

The call for Ideas to Remember closed late last month and 339 submissions were received, half of which were from New Zealand, and half from 37 countries around the world.

“The first stage of the process was open to people across the world to create a meaningful tribute to those who lost their lives and were seriously injured in the February 2011 earthquake,” Mr Isaacs says.

“The sensitivity that both professional and amateur designers have shown in their ideas for the Memorial tells me that they understood the brief to create a fitting space for solemn reflection.”

“Both the amount of submissions and the quality of the work has exceeded expectations.”

“I’m pleased we are now moving forward to the next stage of the design process so we can continue working towards having the Memorial completed for the anniversary of the February earthquake in 2016. We are looking to shortlist design ideas that will help both the Christchurch, national and international communities remember their losses and express the shared experience of the Canterbury earthquakes.”

“This next stage will see those shortlisted invited to further develop their designs.”

The submissions will be shortlisted to about six by an Evaluation Panel made up of external experts David Sheppard, Patrick Clifford, Dr Jacky Bowring, Rob Watson, Deborah McCormick and Nathan Pohio, as well as a participant on behalf of the bereaved families.

The shortlisted designs will be presented to bereaved families, the seriously injured and survivors from the earthquake, and then to the recovery leaders, key stakeholders and the general public.

It is anticipated the shortlisted designs will be finalised in late October with a public display early next year.

The Memorial is to be located on the banks of the Avon River between Montreal Street and Rhododendron Island.

More on the Memorial can be found at www.ccdu.govt.nz

Note: Individual submissions won’t be released publicly at this stage to ensure a fair evaluation process.

ends

© Scoop Media