Our task was to design a monument marking the area where nearly 200 nuclear bombs were detonated. This was also the same area where Greenpeace activists were killed as a result of the French Millitary actions. The only restriction was that all the architectural elements and the materials were to be prefabricated and bought to the site on a cargo ship.
The monument consists of 6 elements : A dock, two transitional spaces, two reflection spaces and a tower. All of them are based off on the same shape with the only variable being the scale, interiors or the orientation.
The transitional spaces were intended to be open, free spaces that lead up to enclosed reflection spaces. While one reflection space isolates vision the other isolates external sound. The idea was to provide visitors with two different spaces where they can reflect with each space having its unique effect on the people in it.
The tower is the focal point of the whole design. All the elements of this monument are meant to converge at the tower.
The Tower is actually a protective enclosure for a sapling till the sapling is able to sustain and protect itself. It symbolizes Greenpeace's initiative to protect the environment from the ill effects of the atom bomb that was detonated on this island. The idea was to create an imposing structure that over a period of time ages and is knocked down by the small sapling that now grew into a strong and big tree.
All the elements that form these Architectural spaces are intended to be bio-degradable and intentionally designed not to last very long. The idea again being that once these man made structures serve their purpouse they dissapear into nothingness.
The Dock
Transitional Spaces
Reflection Space I : View 1
Reflection Space I : View 2
Reflection Space II : View 1
Reflection Space II : View 2
The Tower
