The design team leaders for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation share their vision, concept and more about the project in the GWOT memorial’s “Welcome Home” podcast series.
The design team leaders for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation shared their vision, concept and more about the project in the second episode of the foundation’s six-part special podcast series, “Welcome Home,” produced by The American Legion.
This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, introduces Kengo Kuma and Balázs Bognár from Kengo Kuma and Associates. “His team will bring a global perspective to the memorial to appropriately reflect the global nature of the Global War on Terrorism,” she said.
Kuma is known for his poetic use of water, which brings a sense of tranquility and quietness that is ideal for the memorial, a place of hope and healing. Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2021, Kuma has led the design for some of the world's most famous buildings, including the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, the V&A Dundee Museum in Scotland and the Rolex building in Dallas, Texas. Bognár is an American architect and partner at Kengo Kuma & Associates in the U.S. A Harvard University graduate known for his ability to blend cultural sensitivity with innovative design, he has played a key role in shaping landmark projects across the world.
The design firm was selected among those that chose to be considered for the memorial, which will be located in Washington, D.C.
“That memorial is very important, not only for America, but it’s also important for the globe,” Kuma explained. “Globally, this is one of the most important projects nowadays. And location wise, it is a very special location, important for everybody.”
The memorial foundation has a design advisory council, made up of 23 men and women, that represent groups of people who will be honored by the memorial. It’s important to convey those stories in the design, Bognár noted, adding that the process starts by listening and taking notes from conversations with the council members.
“There's almost a sense of purity to that kind of an honor in a way and it's a chance to help tell stories that maybe normally don't get to have that,” he said.
Kuma appreciates the council’s input.
“I learn many things from them,” he said. “I want to give shape to that, based on that composition. The learning from them is basically, that the memorial is not only a place. That the memorial is for everybody in the world. Everybody is watching what we can realize on that place and how to create peace over the war on terrorism is very much connected with the future of us.”
Once the completed memorial is dedicated, visitors will have a unique experience.
“Visitors will have a very quiet experience in that memorial,” Kuma said. “The memorial itself is not a super high building, it is not super high as a monument, it is merging to the environment, and the water is the protagonist of the memorial. And the waters reflect everything. Water reflects sky, reflects clouds, and by the conversation with the waters, the guests can go to their own experience deeply. That is the basic philosophy behind the memorial.”
Bognár said, “It's a chance to invite people to exchange their experiences on site. It's a war memorial. It's a warrior memorial. It's a chance to be human together.”
The designers also want the memorial to be an educational resource decades from now.
“What we're trying to do is to provide the catalyst for sharing those stories, to keep those experiences alive and clear and important, despite the fact that many of them are very difficult to talk about,” Bognár said. “But if we don't talk about them, then we will be in a recurring pattern. I also would love for future generations, that includes my daughters and all the kids who have been affected, to carry forward in a very real and meaningful way. I would love for future generations to come to see this as vital, important. It's about hope, it's about humanity, it's about strength.”
Each episode is available at legion.org/tangoalphalima, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,YouTube and other major podcast-hosting sites.
- Tango Alpha Lima