Libeskind trumps Adjaye in Canada’s
National Holocaust Monument contest

News: a design team featuring architect Daniel Libeskind and artist Edward Burtynsky has triumphed in a competition to design a National Holocaust Monument for Ottawa, Canada.

The team led by museum planner Gail Dexter-Lord, which also features landscape architect Claude Cormier and university scholar Doris Berger, saw off entries from architect David Adjaye, designer Ron Arad and architect Gilles Saucier to land the commission for the monument.

Entitled Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival, the winning proposal is based on the form of a Star of David and will be prominently located in the heart of the Canadian capital, opposite the Canadian War Museum.

The six points of the star are intended to “provides a unique theme and ambiance for interpretation, contemplation and artistic expression” and together will frame a large gathering space.

“We are deeply honoured to be entrusted with designing the monument to Holocaust victims and survivors, and we are committed to creating a place of meaning and value for all Canadians in our country’s capital,” said Gail Dexter-Lord, who is also co-president of cultural organisation Lord Cultural Resources.

The official inauguration of the monument is scheduled for autumn 2015.

“This new landmark in our nation’s capital will encourage people to reflect on the events of the Holocaust, remember the victims and pay tribute to the survivors. It will also be a solemn place for reflection and learning, and an unforgettable experience for Canadians and visitors alike,” commented Canadian foreign affairs minister John Baird.

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