Bali memorial a place of reflection

Donaldson and Warn Architects won a design competition to build a memorial to victims of the 2002 Bali bombing on a site chosen by the victims’ families.

Warn Architects principal Geoff Warn said many stakeholders needed to be considered and that he didn’t wish to emulate the style of traditional memorials, which had a Victorian character.

“I wanted to create a place of reflection and remembrance rather than a morbid memorial,” Mr Warn said.

“There are several separate areas within the memorial, and we used the concept of a memorial as a platform to create the ability to look out on the landscape, rather than looking at the memorial itself.

“The Swan River axis directs a visitor to a framed view of the river and the ranges beyond, while the Sunrise axis is positioned such that the morning’s sunlight is captured within the memorial at sunrise on October 12 each year, illuminating the victims’ names cast into a bronze plaque.

“We used a lot of local materials and collaborated with a lot of local artists on the project.”

He said he wanted to come up with a memorial to both the victims and those who assisted in the aftermath of the bombings.

CIVIC DESIGN award

Building

Fraser Avenue Escarpment, Kings

Park, Perth.

Architects

Donaldson + Warn Architects.

John Holland Pty Ltd (builder).

Jury comments

“The carefully considered composition of natural materials in a landscaped setting has created a unique and quintessential Australian space.”