The Australian War Memorial London
Description
Peter Tonkin, architect of the Memorial, states ‘The form chosen for the Memorial reflects the sweep of Australian landscape, the breadth and generosity of our people, the openness that we believe should characterise our culture.’ Inspired by the contours of Hyde Park Corner, the Australian War Memorial becomes partly a landform, rising from the surface and creating a focus for the site. Its use of green/grey Australian granite reflects the essence of the bush.
The design of the Memorial was also constrained by guidelines resulting from the master plan report on initiatives to improve and upgrade the area. The report was commissioned by English Heritage on behalf of the Hyde Park Corner Steering Group.
With Wellington Arch the central element, Hyde Park Corner provides the pivot of the processional route linking the Royal Palaces through the Royal Parks from Admiralty Arch to Marble Arch. In seeking to reduce traffic noise and screen peripheral roads, the report proposed ‘a wall of water and light’ which would be designed to provide a focus at the base of the slope and screen the corner from traffic.
History
The Australian War Memorial, London, was dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard MP on 11 November 2003. It commemorates the Australian Servicemen and women who fought in defence of freedom alongside Britons in the two World Wars. Battles of a world at war in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 are reflected in 47 battle names highlighted on the wall.
The Memorial also reflects on the impact of war beyond the battlefield. Also on the wall are 24,000 home towns of those who served in the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Merchant Navy in the two World Wars. Of those one and a half million, over 101,000 did not return home. Further information is available at www.awmlondon.gov.au
Construction Information
A limited, by invitation, design competition was conducted to select the preferred design. The winning proposal was submitted by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Pty Ltd architects in association with Janet Laurence, artist.
The Memorial has been constructed using green/grey Australian granite from Jerramungup, Western Australia. Granite has also been used for paving around the memorial. In accordance with design requirements, water falls across the face of the memorial in a programmed sequence, and is recycled via a series of concealed ducts and weirs. LED lighting bars illuminate the panels by night.
Water feature installed and maintained by Waterforms UK LTD.
All visible components of the Memorial were sourced from Australia, despatched to the site, and incorporated during the construction phase. All the Australian granite was shaped and finished in Australia and fixed on-site by Australian tradesmen.
Location
Corner of Grosvenor Place and Wellington Place, London, England.
The site of the Australian War Memorial is within the 1.5 hectare parkland known as Hyde Park Corner, in the heart of London.
