Building Type: Memorial
Status: Honorable Mention, “Crime Victims’ Memorial within William R. Mason Regional Park
Site: Orange County, California
Year: 2013
The green manicured lawn landscape of William R. Mason Regional Park is interrupted by a slit of arcing black granite walls which drags across the ground surface to form a proposed Crime Victims Memorial. It is an abstract three-dimensional sculpture etched into the landscape. The memorial evokes pain of the victims and their loved ones - yet provides hope at the end of the journey.
The disappearance and re-appearance of visitors from the landscape symbolizes the lost moments in the lives of victims and their loved ones and the progress towards healing and new beginnings. Disappearance evokes the brutal reality of crimes encountered and reappearance the hope and determination of overcoming scars of the past. The stark contrasts inherent in the design explore the balance between honoring the memories of the past while navigating visitors a path to the brighter future.
A pair of black granite retaining walls which measures 5-foot in width cuts into the earth and draw visitors to descend along a singular tunnel-like path. The walls are inscribed with inspirational words in multiple languages for visitors to read and feel the words.
The floor of the monument is covered with ruby red granite paver on sand bed; a stark contrast against black wall. Each paver may be modified to a contribution plaque (stainless steel lettering insert) at later date.