The BRIEF "…The Garden is intended both as a living memorial and as a place of solitude, comfort and reflection; a truly British garden drawing from the many wonderful elements of the historic gardens of Britain. It will be a gift to the people of New York, a place for the community to enjoy and experience the historic friendship linking the two nations…."
Our concept underlying the competition submission for Hanover Square is concerned with the experience felt within the proposed space; hope, peace and freedom.
At the north end of the garden is a confined inward looking place for reflection. A dignified place where pain and hurt can be acknowledged and thoughts can be focused towards remembering the people who have been lost in the tragedy of the nearby World Trade Centre. The rush and pace of the street is to be partially masked by the sound of water falling around a basin pool. Reflected in the water are the surrounding tall and dense yew hedges with two shafts of piercing light angled toward the site of the fallen towers.
A sinuous line of dark welsh stone slate unwraps from around the pool and meanders toward the open garden area. The curves of the slate line are echoed by the curve of the benches and planting that surround it. The slate line cuts through the surrounding paving and is engraved with dates and names of the wars and conflicts that have been fought in recent times and have strengthened the unity between USA and UK. The line of slate leads out into a warmer, lighter, open area, where veins of metal etched into the paving extend outwards like rivulets.
- MASTERPLAN PROPOSALS
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