Commemorative Bridge for
the INWMG Design Competition
Dublin, Ireland
This design for the RIAI’s Irish National War Memorial Garden Design Competition was a unique effort to bring to life Ireland’s cultural heritage.
The intention of this concept is to create memorable places along a ceremonial procession, inspiring visitors to pause and commemorate those who have given their lives for the love of Ireland. It represents the opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future, upon nature’s abundance and ability to nurture us, and the sacrifices that so many made so the Irish have the freedom to continue on. The Bridge itself is conceived as both path and place. Its serpentine form engages with the River Liffey’s edges, seeking to create places to reflect upon life and beyond.
The Bridge concept takes the fluid form of a river, a lyrical representation of the life and history of the Irish people, and weaves it along the axis extending from the National War Memorial and across the River Liffey. These interwoven forms broaden and lengthen the ceremonial procession both in expression and meaning. The serpentine shape of the bridge itself defines dynamic gathering places on either side of the River in what could be characterized as ‘back eddies’ to the bridge’s curved form. These act as gathering spaces where passersby can reflect upon life and the River.
A fundamental aspect of this design is for these back eddies to become vibrant and memorable public spaces on either side of the bridge. The visual connection between these reflective zones will elicit a sense of belonging and of being drawn to the other side of the river. These spaces also allow for views of the material detailing along the bridge and its structural tectonics to be appreciated from below.
