Architecture Visiting Faculty Recognized for Design of Memorial Concept

UNITEDLAB’s latest award-winning project, 416 Memorial Park, is a concept submitted for an international competition. The project has received three prestigious awards and attracted attention from various architectural publications.

The project was honored with the 2023 AIANY Design Awards Citation by The AIA New York State, signifying its excellence and contribution to the architectural field. Additionally, it received the 2023 American Architecture Awards Winner in the Parks and Gardens category by the Chicago Athenaeum and an AN’s 2023 Best of Design Awards Honorable Mention from the Architect’s Newspaper.

The purpose of 416 Memorial Park is to create a cultural space commemorating the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed over three hundred lives in 2014. Designed as a complex of exhibition and educational facilities along with a columbarium, the park serves as a touching reminder of the tragedy and a space for collective remembrance.

In the project’s description, the architects aimed to build “a place of sublimation rather than a simple memorial space.” They sought to encapsulate the profound sorrow and loss experienced by those affected by the disaster while offering a space for healing and reflection. The roof garden, featuring 250 birch trees planted to commemorate the victims, symbolizes “the conception of new life and is a sustainable design element.”

The project maximizes the visitor experience through thoughtful design elements, such as a gradual descent into the memorial space, mirroring the sinking ship, and a sequence of movements that leads visitors through various interconnected spaces. It also includes a pop-up event space and connects to educational and exhibition facilities, providing public engagement and commemorative events.