MEMORIAL OF HEROES
Architectural Competition | Lviv, Ukraine | 2024
I'm excited to share my vision for The Memorial of Heroes — an architectural competition focused on designing a military cemetery on Mechnikova Street in Lviv, Ukraine. The design is inspired by the ancient pre-Christian barrows, known as 'kurgans,' which are scattered across the Ukrainian steppe. At the heart of the proposal is a modern kurgan—a cenotaph symbolizing the resting place of an unidentified soldier.
The formal composition is organized along a strong axial connection, linking the public space (Memorial Plaza), the ceremonial space (existing graves of Ukrainian Insurgent Army soldiers), the cemetery, and the kurgan, which serves as the most secluded and peaceful area. The dominant kurgan is contrasted by a subterranean museum. A line of granite columbarium stone blocks runs along the right side of the main axis, culminating in a memorial multi-religious chapel. On the left side, an existing spring water stream is channeled to flow alongside the cemetery and into the memorial museum, where it transforms into a quiet waterfall.
Formal Diagram
The lighting design accentuates the primary formal characteristics of the complex. Light beams form an illuminated wall along the columbarium, visually separating urban life from the tranquility of the memorial. A kurgan light beam highlights the main axis and emphasizes the birch cross—a symbol of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army—positioned at the end of the complex's processional path.
Evening view of the Memorial Complex
Plan of the Memorial Complex
View as you enter the Complex from Mechnykova Street
Propylaea is designed to serve as a threshold, separating the busy urban environment from the tranquility of the memorial complex. The Propylaea trellis creates a comfortable public space and symbolically compresses the larger urban space before entering the memorial complex.
Memorial Plaza Plan
View of The War Museum
Central to our vision was the creation of an underground war memorial, designed to honor the enduring memory of the suffering and sacrifice experienced during the war. Additionally, we propose incorporating a natural spring, symbolizing purity and the cycle of renewal. Flowing through the cemetery site, the spring infuses the memorial with a sense of vitality and hope for the future.
The War Museum - Plan and Section
The Underground Museum includes a circular exhibition space and an amphitheater for lectures and ceremonies. It also accommodates the cemetery administration and public amenities.
View of the Columbarium Wall and Cemetery
The design of the cemetery is inspired by the old Ukrainian cemeteries scattered across the Ukrainian steppe. We aimed to create a space that emphasizes the tragedy of the warriors' sacrifice while showcasing their unity, strength, and dignity. The relationship between the simple grass field, granite gravestones, and the open sky is central to this vision.
Cemetery Plan Detail
In designing the cemetery landscape, we sought to gracefully incorporate a recently discovered spring into our design. We were inspired by the beauty and tranquility of Carlo Scarpa's design for the Tomba Brion.
View of Memorial Kurgan
The central element of the design, the Kurgan, incorporates the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Its ceremonial significance is emphasized through openness. By opening the Kurgan, we established a strong visual connection along the central axis—from the entrance to the Birch Cross, a powerful symbol of the Ukrainian Resistance Army. This connection symbolically represents the continuity of Ukraine’s struggle for freedom.
The vaulted ceiling of the Kurgan consists of two sections that gradually converge, nearly touching at the top. This design plays with light, allowing more illumination at the entrance while creating a dimmer, more chamber-like atmosphere toward the middle, enhancing the sense of enclosure.
Combined Plan & Section of Kurgan - The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier
The interior of the Kurgan features 24 niches, each representing one of the 24 regions that make up Ukraine, including the region of Crimea, which is currently under occupation by Russia. Each niche displays the engraved names of fallen soldiers from that region.
Entry into the Kurgan and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The image shows the nearly touching vaults and the entrance to the Kurgan. The rough stone of the entrance contrasts with the highly polished granite of the interior.
Section C - Kurgan
The section drawing through the Kurgan illustrates the enfilade spatial relationship of the entry sequence. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is not visible from the entrance, as it is recessed into the ground, while the Birch Cross is elevated as a flanking element of the composition, visually guiding the mourning processions.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The interior of the Kurgan is made of dark polished granite. A sliver of sunlight coming from the vaulted ceiling symbolizes hope and the continuity of life. The interior is open to the weather of the outside world. The sunlight, the sound of rain, falling rainwater, and snow emphasize the connection between the solemn interior and the world outside, further symbolizing life and death.
Section A - The Chapel - shows the integration of columbarium wall into the architecture of the Chapel
The chapel is made of stone pillars similar to those of the columbarium, which fold to create the interior space. The interior is lit by colorful stained glass windows between the pillars. The roof appears to float above the pillars, and the oculus in the center of the roof is open to the outside, collecting rainwater into a pool in the middle of the chapel. The chapel is not connected to any specific religion and is thought of as a spiritual space for mourning and contemplation.
View of Memorial Garden with Gazebo, Chapel, and Birch Cross
The park gazebo is similar in design to the chapel, yet fully open to the outside, providing shade and protection from the weather. The floor of the gazebo is sunk into the earth to lower the visitor's eye level, creating a visual connection to the flower field and the memorial park surrounding the gazebo.
Section B - Gazebo
Our intention was to deemphasize the cross as a religious symbol while ensuring that all headstones have a uniform silhouette, regardless of religion. Religious affiliation is marked at the very top of the headstone, above the water-etched portrait. The name, call sign, date of birth and death, and rank are carved into the stone. The symbols of military units and the Ukrainian Army motto are carved at the bottom.
Visualization of the Headstone design for fallen soldiers
