Case Studies

As part of the Living Memorials Project, landscape architect David Kamp of Dirtworks, Inc. made several site visits to project partners. Following are his general thoughts on Living Memorials and his specific design considerations for each site:

The creation of a living memorial has the potential to be a symbolic, cathartic event for communities that have been ravaged by tragedy and loss. The Living Memorial Project affirms the principle that nurturing other living things in nature has the effect of restoring and offering solace to the human spirit. The central focus of the project is pure and simple: planting trees as symbols of the ever-renewing cycle of life, and as symbols of a community's desire to heal itself.

The difference between the space created by trees and a human-made or "built" space is fundamental: trees grow and change over time. They are an expression of the seasons. They show the marks of hard times and thrive during the good years -- just as we do. They become habitat for other living beings that will come and go. Years alter the nature of the space the trees themselves create. Each individual that visits a memorial will attach different meanings and emotions to these spaces. For some, they may become sacred places. For others, they may become everyday places where one goes to connect with nature. The factor of time will only enhance these feelings and reinforce the power of the trees.

A living memorial not only commemorates and honors those lost in the events of September 11th, but also helps strengthen and build the community that has suffered the loss. Much like piecing the AIDS quilt together, the act of planting trees can be an emotional tool for bringing people together. The actual process of designing the memorial can also be a way of building community. For many, this will be their first foray into thinking about the meaning of a particular memorial and how that meaning can be expressed as a form in the landscape.

The function of the Living Memorial Project team is to help support and enhance the efforts of our project partners. Following the selection of the grantees, the team made site visits and met with various communities at differing stages of the design process. The reports in the following pages offer observations about site selection and design considerations that are tailored to the specific communities and sites. Every site and community group has unique qualities, and each memorial should be a personalized expression of those qualities. There are, however, certain common threads in the way several communities envisioned their memorials.

As a result of discussions following these site visits, the team felt it important to offer some thoughts as to how to make the most of trees as design elements:

  • As the Living Memorial is developed, remember that trees are vulnerable to the variables of weather, disease and damage from vehicles and vandalism. Tree loss is inevitable, and identifying an individual tree with an individual loved one can often result in a second loss and the accompanying identifying grief should the tree die or be damaged. Honoring individuals with specific trees must be balanced with the realities of natural processes and the goals of celebrating and strengthening the idea of community.
  • For the same reasons, formal rows of trees can be problematic. In the event of a damaged or lost tree, formal rows highlight the problem of loss and can give the impression of that something is missing or wrong. Consider creating informal groves with a more naturalistic sweep of trees; or perhaps several groves. This could extend the Living Memorial over a larger area and accentuate the experience of the trees. A variety of spaces created through a series of groves will offer a greater range of experiences as well.
  • Consider establishing a grove of trees that contains a range of sizes and ages of trees. Trees exhibit individual character and shape that changes over time, as do humans. The visible differences between the trees will strengthen and celebrate the concept of the continuity of life and the idea of a living community. Such a grove allows individuals to be recognized and honored symbolically, while recognizing and honoring the ebb and flow of Nature. Individual commemorative trees may also be nestled within the "community" of trees that make up the grove.
  • Finally, the team encourages communities to keep in mind the simplicity behind the concept of a Living Memorial: specifically, the symbolic healing power of trees. It is an instinctive desire to commemorate loved ones through the use of built elements, decorative art or lengthy eulogies. Remember that the supportive, beneficial spaces created by trees will endure long after the style of such elements has come and gone. The fewer designed elements associated with the trees, the more potent and universal may be their message of life and renewal.