- Introduction to Living Memorial Design
- Site Appraisal
- Diversity in Site Design
- Diversity in Plant Material
- Accessibility and Ease of Use
- Maintenance
- Case Studies of Living Memorials
Diversity in Site Design
The Living Memorial can contain different areas that offer aesthetic, sensorial and functional variety and interest. Together they should form a cohesive whole of unified, yet distinctive, spaces. The overall organization, and the individual spaces themselves, should be easily comprehended and identified, providing comfort and security. Some spaces should afford privacy, offering solitude and quiet contemplation; others can encourage individual and group activities and, possibly, festivities. They should accommodate a range of active and passive uses including sitting and walking, viewing, group gatherings or events, and the enjoyment of wildlife. The following are qualities to consider for enhancing the Living Memorial’s potential:
Constructed Elements/Sense of Security
General Ambiance
Passive Use
Active Use
Features of Interest
Starting Points:
Constructed Elements that Create a Sense of Security and Well-being
The following are some design gestures that are often incorporated into gardens and parks along with some of the symbolic meaning that they impart, according to Anne Wiesen of Meristem, Inc. Consider them as possible defining elements in the plan. Or look for already existing forms that might be located on site around which you can design the space.
Allee of Hornbeams at Staten Island Botanical Garden.
Photo: Lindsay Campbell
(Doorway, Gate, Arbor, Arch, Boulder Gesturing Tree)
Sacred Space, A Space Apart, A New Beginning
Design plan for Labyrinth Peace Walk
at Brook Park, South Bronx.
Photo: Lindsay Campbell
(Circle, loop, curved/meandering, toward destination, labyrinth)
Purpose, Life Journey, Events Along the Way, Our Goals, Hopes
Benches under a shade tree at the
Garden of Happiness, South Bronx.
Photo: Lindsay Campbell
(wooden, stone, beach, mossy mound, marked by plantings, view)
Place of Reflection, Contemplation, worshipping stone, Our Place
Prospect Park grove of trees.
Photo: Lindsay Campbell
(grove of trees, hut, cave, inner circle, end of spiral)
Place of Privacy, Security, To be with one’s self
Others
mountain, opening, center, destination
General Ambiance:
Provide a supportive and accomodating setting.
Consider features that are familiar to the visitor; features that help create a more intimate setting. Participation commonly establishes a sense of place, but individual scale is also important in defining intimate, familiar spaces. Consider the physical and psychological transition between the Living Memorial and the surrounding area. Mobility and easy access, sensitivity to temperature change and vision are important considerations in providing a welcoming and pleasant arrival area. A sense of security, both real and perceived, provides comfort as well. The garden should provide open views with good visibility of the site’s boundaries. Outdoor lighting may be considered to provide aesthetic interest throughout the year, safety and accessibility for evening use, and a sense of welcome at entries. Safety considerations should accommodate a range of physical and mental capabilities, ensuring potentially harmful materials and conditions are thoroughly addressed.
Passive Use:
Provide opportunities for the restful pleasures of the Living Memorial, using the garden setting though with minimal effort.
The term “passive” implies a lack of involvement, which is misleading. Passive use provides a very important sense of involvement, particularly for the frail or less mobile visitor. Passive uses provide interest and activity throughout the year, regardless of weather or physical ability. A basic level of passive use is viewing – views of nature, seasonal interest, and human activities. The Living Memorial may be seen not only from within, but from above in surrounding buildings and from simply passing by. Consider the walking speed of visitors. A slower walking speed requires more attention to detail and variety in spaces and in areas around resting points. Also consider the driving speed along adjacent roadways and the view from passing automobiles.
Another form of passive use that is strongly associated with memorials is the act of remembering. Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam War Memorial and other memorials, uses text and timelines as a means of engaging the visitor on an individual leve—a way of encouraging them to pause and reflect on the various meanings and history of an event. Of her work, Lin writes: “…Reading, which is inherently a private act, is made more intimate by…smaller text that one reads like a boo,, rather than a billboard. This creates a private reading in an otherwise public venue.” Design that draws visitors into a private, contemplative state is naturally conducive to remembrance and the sharing of memories. This is one way an individual can participate in the memorial, while also taking part in a collective human experience of the site: as more and more people gather and read the same words and move through the same physical space over and over again.
Active Use:
Provide opportunities for active participation and accomodate a range of interests and abilities.
The Living Memorial can have flexible spaces to accommodate a range of occasional activities and events, allowing separate activities to be enjoyed in relative privacy without disturbing adjacent areas. The Living Memorial will mean different things to different people. It may be a place of recovery, renewal, remembrance – even celebration. A good design will include flexible spaces that accommodate a range of occasional activities or events, and allow separate activities to be enjoyed in relative privacy without disturbing adjacent areas. It should accommodate a range of interests and levels of involvement, degrees of socialization, and physical capability including exertion.
For instance, some may find physical exertion such as taking long walks or gardening as therapeutic. Another active form of recovery, especially for children, is play. An open, gently-sloped lawn creates opportunity for spontaneous activity such as rolling down the hill. That same lawn may be used for more formal, ritualized events such as performances or memorial services. Note that other, different types of space must also be provided for those who are in the process of grieving or remembering and who desire privacy and calm.
Spaces that allow for multiple uses are called "unprogrammed space," because they allow for uses that may not be anticipated at the time of design. These spaces do not rely on active participation, but rather accommodate it. Think of a large amphitheatre in a public park. When not in use, it may feel empty or abandoned-- giving the visitor the sense that something should be happening on the stage in order to enjoy the space. It may even need to be fenced off to prevent vandalism. On the other hand, a simple, terraced lawn centered on an opening in a glade of trees can be beautiful in and of itself. It can provide a place for larger gatherings, ceremonies or performances -- or simply a place to come and paint, write, or think. Unprogrammed spaces also accommodate change of use over time, as the needs or interests of the community who uses the space change.
Features of Interest:
Consider features that can draw particular interest, focus and orientation.
This might include significant elements such as an open-air structure; or smaller, more intimate features, such as a plaque, flagpole, fountain or small sculpture. Depending on their placement, these features function as landmarks that help orient one to the site. These special features may also address environmental concerns. For example, vine-covered structures and tree canopies provide privacy, dappled shade, and help reduce glare; the use of water, at proper levels, will modify surrounding noises; and outdoor structures can provide privacy within a sheltered retreat.
