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July bombings memorial to be towering tribute to victims
Benedict Moore-Bridger01.08.08
Families of those killed in the 7 July London bombings today unveiled plans for a memorial of 52 pillars - each representing an innocent victim.
Each stele will be grouped together in interlinking clusters, representing the four separate attacks on the same day in July 2005. Every three-metre column will be inscribed with the date, time and location of the incident that the cluster symbolises.
The permanent £1 million stainless steel memorial will be set up in Hyde Park, close to Park Lane.
A plaque detailing the names of the 52 will be placed in the grass banks at the far eastern end of the memorial.
Antony Gormley, creator of the Angel Of The North, has acted as an independent adviser for the memorial, which will be unveiled next year - on 7 July.
The casting process means that, despite being formed from the same mould, each 15cm-to-18cm square column will be unique. Visitors will be able to wander among the columns.
Grahame Russell, who lost his son Philip at Tavistock Square, said: "A lot of families' ideas were included in the design. The stelae remind me that prior to 7 July these 52 people that died stood tall in this world, the material itself is as indestructible as the memories we have of them.
"We wanted a proper memorial so we have taken our time."
Julie Nicholson, who left her post as a vicar in Bristol because she felt unable to forgive her daughter Jennifer's killer, said: "I felt right at the outset that it would be very difficult adequately to find a memorial that would express everything that needs to be expressed about those that died and the manner in which they died."
But she said she was reassured when the designers told her their intention "was to find a silent thing that can eloquently say the unsayable".
The memorial "not only honours and represents the 52 that were killed. In its completeness and use of materials, the design itself is something that is world class. It's a great piece of art as well as a memorial," she said.
Ms Nicholson, whose daughter died at Edgware Road, said: "All the dreams and aspirations that the 52 families have had have all been embraced somewhere [in the design].
"I was interested in what, beyond our own lives, this memorial will be to the world. I think it will still have a narrative."
Saba Mozakka, who lost her mother Behnaz at King's Cross, said at today's design unveiling: "The choice of location was very important to us. 7 July was not just a personal loss but affected the city as a whole. We're very proud that it's in Hyde Park."
Talking about the design process, she said: "It was not a faceless crime and we spent some time looking at personal tributes." The memorial was a personal act that was "also about giving something back to the city", she said. Mr Gormley said: "Using the language of architecture to make order out of chaos, this monument is an opportunity for loss victims to be in contact with the living through a process of discovery, where the memorial's structure becomes complete through the presence and body language-of the curious visitor." The design team were Ove Arup & Partners, architects Carmody Groarke and landscape architects Colvin & Moggridge.
A planning application for the design was submitted to Westminster City Council today and the public will be able to view the plans on the council's website next week.
Evening Standard comment
The design, by the architects Carmody Groarke, for the London memorial in Hyde Park to commemorate the July bombings was unveiled yesterday - and it is a triumph. It consists of 52 steel columns, each 10ft tall, each subtly different from the others. Visitors will be encouraged to move among the columns, grouped in four clusters, to represent the four bombs that took the victims' lives. The effect is both plain and remarkably moving. It is, as Rowan Moore points out here, extraodinarily difficult to design effective memorials - this one is a fitting tribute to the dead.
Reader views (9)
With you all the way Mark,and no, Jason, he doesnt need to grow up.
Why do we now have a white wash on the shameless atrocities that actually killed more innocent people - all victims showed be honoured and all murderers (that is terrorists who could use peaceful democracy to air views) outed for the pyschotic scum that they are. Including the IRA scum now freed by Blair et al
- Andrew Dubai, dubai / london
I believe this memorial is important, the events of July 7th cast a shadow on Londoners, no matter what faith they held dear. I would have liked to have seen a large multi stranded (52 strands) wire thread though the top of each column, to represent the multi faceted potential of these 52 people, to represent their uniqueness, and their connection, by making the wire a continuous loop would represent a constant continuous love and rememberence.
- John Kirby, Crouch End, Islington
At least it looks better than that pathetic water feature they put up for Diana. Like most memorials though, a few years will pass and it will be sad and neglected.
- Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Jason, I am grown up that's why I still remember countless British citizens, including children, being killed by the IRA and wonder why more recent victims of terrorists seem more deserving of a memorial!
- Mark, South-East London
Let the victims have a memorial by all means, just don't let it be this sort of hideously ugly rubbish; after all, we already have that pig's breakfast of a concrete sewer - sorry, memorial fountain to Diana. Why do people feel the need to spout such pretentious twaddle when discussing modern "art"?
- The Gene Genie, Croydon
How can ONE million £ be justified for this? You can build decent 15 houses for that. Someone is making a tidy profit out of this! P.S. There is a memorial plaque for a horse called Sefton that was killed as a result of the IRA mainland campaign.
- Paul, London UK
It was a tragic and horrific event but I am not sure a permanent memorial like this is needed. Should we do similar for every innocent shot or stabbed or in some other way killed through the greed, ignorance or politics of another?
And I have to wonder if there is not a better way to spend £1,000,000 and remember these souls.
- Stephen, London
Mark - shut up. You've hijacked a considerate and thoughtful peice in order to complain about something irrelevant to this story.
In fact, grow up.
- Jason, london
So where's the UK memorial to victims of the IRA's mainland terror campaign then?
- Mark, South-East London
