The project has been a submission for the "HOUSE OF GRIEF" competition sustained by ICARCH, receiving a honorable mention.
The proposal for the ‘Walk of Remembrance’ is shaped to trigger a sense of remembrance in the mindset of the visitor. The materials, the morphological composition, as well as the symbolism of the elements used in shaping the experiential walk throughout the site are meant to commemorate the fire which killed 64 young, beautiful souls, gathered to celebrate the release of the new album from the metalcore band ‘Goodbye to gravity’. Simplicity has been a key feature of the design. However a duality in the symbolical meaning of the proposal leaves room for everyone that visits the site to translate the gesture of the design according to their own beliefs and their personal experience.
The proposal for the ‘Walk of Remembrance’ is shaped to trigger a sense of remembrance in the mindset of the visitor. The materials, the morphological composition, as well as the symbolism of the elements used in shaping the experiential walk throughout the site are meant to commemorate the fire which killed 64 young, beautiful souls, gathered to celebrate the release of the new album from the metalcore band ‘Goodbye to gravity’. Simplicity has been a key feature of the design. However a duality in the symbolical meaning of the proposal leaves room for everyone that visits the site to translate the gesture of the design according to their own beliefs and their personal experience.
C O N TE X T
The fire at ‘Colectiv’ night club in Bucharest, on the 30th of October 2015, has awoken a great sense of ‘collectivness’ in the cumulative memory of the Romanian community, going beyond the reach of the nation. Overwhelmed by the high number of victims, Romanian authorities appealed for help at an international level. Hence, a number of seriously injured victims have been transferred to hospitals in Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany and France. It is tragic yet beautiful that nations have managed to leave besides their political issues and unite with the purpose of helping one another.
The fire at ‘Colectiv’ night club in Bucharest, on the 30th of October 2015, has awoken a great sense of ‘collectivness’ in the cumulative memory of the Romanian community, going beyond the reach of the nation. Overwhelmed by the high number of victims, Romanian authorities appealed for help at an international level. Hence, a number of seriously injured victims have been transferred to hospitals in Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany and France. It is tragic yet beautiful that nations have managed to leave besides their political issues and unite with the purpose of helping one another.
T H E P R O P O S A L
The location of the proposal has been established within close proximity to Tabacarilor street nr. 7, the address at which the tragedy took place. The nature of the existing site has rendered this opportunity possible, as at a current state, the space is empty. Moreover, the decision to propose a public space as a response to the wish of creating a place for commemoration of this tragedy is based on a the desire of providing society with a venue for all, regardless of social/ political/ ethic background, a space that exists in a state of complete openness to the city and to the people. With this consideration in mind the memorial is not only meant to be explored at a physical level, but also at an experiential one. Therefore, the geometry of the elements within the proposal, as well as the materials, carry a symbolical meaning which can be interpreted differently depending on the viewer’s personal beliefs and ordeals. As a result, an interplay between concrete, corten [weathered] steel and water has been manipulated to shape the metaphorical gesture of the proposal.
The location of the proposal has been established within close proximity to Tabacarilor street nr. 7, the address at which the tragedy took place. The nature of the existing site has rendered this opportunity possible, as at a current state, the space is empty. Moreover, the decision to propose a public space as a response to the wish of creating a place for commemoration of this tragedy is based on a the desire of providing society with a venue for all, regardless of social/ political/ ethic background, a space that exists in a state of complete openness to the city and to the people. With this consideration in mind the memorial is not only meant to be explored at a physical level, but also at an experiential one. Therefore, the geometry of the elements within the proposal, as well as the materials, carry a symbolical meaning which can be interpreted differently depending on the viewer’s personal beliefs and ordeals. As a result, an interplay between concrete, corten [weathered] steel and water has been manipulated to shape the metaphorical gesture of the proposal.
T H E W A L K W A Y
The walkway hovers above ground, raising the awareness of the visitor, and placing emphasis on the portals that surround the path. The materiality of the path contrasts the warmth of the re, through the coldness of its coloration and pattern, therefore being humble towards the importance of the portals.
The walkway hovers above ground, raising the awareness of the visitor, and placing emphasis on the portals that surround the path. The materiality of the path contrasts the warmth of the re, through the coldness of its coloration and pattern, therefore being humble towards the importance of the portals.
T H E P O R T A L S
The corten [weathering] steel structures used throughout the site were designed to commemorate a sense of remembrance in the viewer’s subconscious. The verticality of the elements reveal the heavens above, while their disposition in plan positions the reminiscence of the club where the tragedy took place at a culminating point, as the structures are pointing towards what is left of the building.The form of the pieces creates an analogy towards doors and windows, symbolic of the escape and the struggle that the 64 victims have undergone, whereas the colour stands as a symbol for the blood and the smoked tears that mark the happenings of the tragedy. Nonetheless, the number of the elements coincides with the number of the victims.
The corten [weathering] steel structures used throughout the site were designed to commemorate a sense of remembrance in the viewer’s subconscious. The verticality of the elements reveal the heavens above, while their disposition in plan positions the reminiscence of the club where the tragedy took place at a culminating point, as the structures are pointing towards what is left of the building.The form of the pieces creates an analogy towards doors and windows, symbolic of the escape and the struggle that the 64 victims have undergone, whereas the colour stands as a symbol for the blood and the smoked tears that mark the happenings of the tragedy. Nonetheless, the number of the elements coincides with the number of the victims.
T H E P O N D S
Water has throughout history been interpreted in many ways, all rendering upon the meaning of life. In Greek mythology, water is the epitomal symbol of metamorphosis and philosophical recycling. In this sense, within the proposal, water has been used with the purpose of closing the metaphor of the loop of life.Furthermore, water symbolizes purity and is the source of life itself. Hence, while the portals look at the extinction of life, the water ponds emphasize the renewal of it, completing the cycle of life.
Water has throughout history been interpreted in many ways, all rendering upon the meaning of life. In Greek mythology, water is the epitomal symbol of metamorphosis and philosophical recycling. In this sense, within the proposal, water has been used with the purpose of closing the metaphor of the loop of life.Furthermore, water symbolizes purity and is the source of life itself. Hence, while the portals look at the extinction of life, the water ponds emphasize the renewal of it, completing the cycle of life.
