The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission and the the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have launched the process to select the team to design the future memorial on the site of Grenfell Tower.
This is a hugely significant step in the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission’s journey to create a bold, fitting, and lasting memorial to remember the 72 victims who lost their lives in, and those whose lives were forever changed by, the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.
The commission’s publication of their design brief, provides the criteria that interested teams must meet, and details about how they can apply. Teams are being asked to demonstrate their relevant, professional and specialist expertise including architecture, landscape architecture, and structural and mechanical engineering. Teams must also have strong experience of working collaboratively with communities.
A shortlist of up to five teams will be notified in the autumn. The commission will ask these teams to prepare the design approach they would take if appointed. With direct input from the Grenfell community, the final team is expected to be selected and announced in spring 2025. It is anticipated that the memorial design should be sufficiently developed, in partnership with the community, to allow for a planning application in 2027.
In November 2023, the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission published its second report, detailing the Grenfell community’s wishes for a permanent memorial. The report called on the government to honour its earlier commitments and fulfil its moral duty to deliver all sixteen of the Commission’s recommendations.
Among the recommendations, are:
- the Grenfell community must always be central to decisions about the memorial
- the memorial must be a peaceful, sacred space for individual and communal remembrance and reflection
- the design must reflect the diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds of the Grenfell community
- the memorial should include a garden, a monument or other structure, and options for commemorating the names of those lost, featuring art, water, and light
This incredible and unique design team selection process sits naturally on an international stage, just as the tragedy resonated far across the globe.
Submissions for phase one must be received by 18 September 2024 at noon (BST).
Find out more at the https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/competitions-landing-page/grenfell-tower-memorial