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The Armenian Genocide Monument consists of 4 distinct sections: “the history”, “the sanctuary”, “the map” and "the rise". The
purposes of this memorial include:
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The
“history” is situated at the south end of the monument site,
elevated a few steps from the pedestrian walkways. A barrier-free
ramp is at the entrance for easy access to the monument site. The
inscription on the east wall at the gate reads “This wall is
dedicated to the Americans whose conscientious actions in the face
of the Armenian Genocide helped rescue thousands of helpless men,
women and children.” The
history is a formal memorial space and a sculpture court
incorporating many symbolic elements. The
west wall of the history describes the Armenian Genocide in text:
……. The
east wall (2) is covered by sculptures related to the genocide.
At the eye level, we see an elongated picture of a long line
of people under forced march through the desert during the
deportation. At the bottom of the wall, we see an abstract relief of
sculls symbolizing the suffering of the Armenian people during the
massacre. The top of the wall reads: “In Memory of 1,500,000
Armenians killed in the genocide 1915-1923” In
front of the east wall is a sand pit representing the desert and the
feeling of desperation. In its center, there is a torch for
condolence. To the
right, on the ground, is the inscription, “Doctor Schachf, a
German army physician stationed near the village of Deir El-Zar,
reported 7,000 severed Armenian heads found in 1915….” The
north wall displays the Armenian cross, symbolizing the strength of
the Armenian people. Red glass panes are inserted between the walls as a symbol of bloodshed during the Genocide. Pedestrians walking along the streets will see the red shadows and approach the memorial site to find out more.
This
is a more private memorial space at the north end of the site with a
u-shaped barrier-free ramp providing easy access to the civic center
and the parking lot. It
is a space for reconciliation and remembering the dead.
The
sanctuary is sunken into the ground below the street level, and
silence is achieved through the masking sound of the water, which
also symbolizes eternity, life and freedom.
Those who stand at the edge of the pool and gaze at the
masonry wall behind the waterfall will see the words “Never
forget, never again” in English, Armenian, French, German,
Spanish, and Italian. At
night, light from the southeast corner of the sanctuary will wash
the waterfall in red, blue and –yellow, the colors of the Armenian
flag. The sanctuary is like an altar, if we compare the map to the nave of a church.
The
map links the sanctuary to the history.
It serves as testimony of the deportation and massacre, and it
is the most immediate way to get at the truth. The
ground is covered with colored concrete in the shape of a
deportation map. Red
glass mosaic embedded in the concrete shows the numbers of Armenians
killed and deported for each city.
The cities include, from left (south of the monument site) to
right (north of the monument site): A
legend for the map is provided at the southwest corner. This
space also functions as a park-like place if separated from the
genocide concept. Semi-circular
benches scattered across the space in a care-free manner, invite
people to come in and sit down. The vivid graphic patterns attract
pedestrians, and seeing the numbers and names on the ground leads
them to the interactive booths where they can learn more.
At the north end of the map, by the reflecting pool, is a speaker platform. The podium is a sculpture of an Armenian female half buried in the ground, her raised arm holding a heavy book of history, on which is written: “Armenian Genocide 1915~1923”. A path covered by red glass stretches from the foot of the speaker platform to the reflecting pool and sanctuary. Under the glass is the water of the reflecting pool. |
Yozgat Sivas 1915
2000 killed
48,000 deported Erzerum
1915
3000 killed -------------------------------- Kayseri Kaarpot Blitlis Van
1915
79,000 killed --------------------------------- Hadjin 1920
9,500 killed Zeitun 1915
25,000 deported Marash 1920
10,000 killed Diyarbekir ------------------------------ Intili 1916
50,000 killed Aleppo
1917
20,000 killed Deir
el-zar 1915
7,000 killed 1916
60,000 killed 1917
120,000 killed Kaba-killise 1918
16000 killed Baka 1918 30,000 killed
The rise is the sloping structure on the west side of the map. On top of the rise there are carved texts saying “Armenian Genocide, 1915~1923” in red. The rise emerges from the reflecting pool, where the water symbolizes eternity. The rise represents spirits and hopes shared by people of the pact and still pursued today, our longing for freedom and human rights. At night, this self-illuminated fiberglass structure seems to be a beacon; in the morning it seems to be a path to the future. At
the foot of the rise, we find a red granite platform for flowers and
wreaths. In front of an intermittent clear glass wall between the
rise and the map, we find five cross-shaped light-stands l, each
representing an important year of the genocide (the year is marked
in front of each stand). Each holds a touch-sensitive computer
screen and functions as an interactive media booth. The year 1915,
when the Genocide was implemented officially, has a special round
torch. A
large commemoration may be held in the parking lot with the rise as
the background of the speaker’s platform and the whole monument
site as a stage set. Each
of nine light posts standing on the west side of the rise represents
a year of the Armenian Genocide (i.e. from 1915 to 1923). The
rise can be seen from all angles, even from the air. It emphasizes the site horizontally. The
rise transforms people’s experience of the site with a universally
understood positive message. It also connects all of the elements
that surround the site: the Armenian Church, the civic auditorium,
the community college, the history, the map, and the
sanctuary. Viewed from |
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Design created by LLM International Inc. + Toronto, Canada March, 2005
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THE HISTORY
THE SANCTUARY
THE MAP
THE RISE
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The cantilevered truss will be designed to resist 120mph wind as well as the local seismic requirements. The structure will consist of tubular elements in a 3d triangular formation. The support will consist of concrete foundation designed to resist the downward and uplift forces.
The monument design takes advantage of the existing slope of the finish grade to reduce site reformation work. Excavation is only required at the sanctuary. The cost for the Armenian genocide monument site is estimated to meet council's budget. We use economically advantageous materials such as fiberglass with stainless steel base caps for the rise, low (4' high) concrete walls, and very minimum stainless steel for taller walls.
© LLM International Inc. 2005 |
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COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT COUNCIL OF GLENDALE (AGMCG), CITY OF GLENDALE