A memorial to commemorate the life and service of the UK’s longest-reigning monarch is set to be built in London soon. And since a monumental step has just been taken in the direction of its construction, we thought we’d tell you everything we know about it so far.
Where will the Queen Elizabeth II memorial be built?
The site for the memorial will be located inside the iconic St James’s Park, comprising the area adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate and the land surrounding the pathway down to the lake. This was certainly no close-your-eyes-and-point-to-a-place-on-a-map-of-London situation. The location was specifically chosen because of its proximity to The Mall, which holds huge historical significance and great personal connection to the late monarch.
How much will the memorial cost to build?
Now, I’m not going to beat around the bush. The provisional construction budget is pretty eye-watering. The memorial is set to cost between £23 million and £46 million, and the money will be taken out of public funds. The budget is still very much a guide figure, as the final costs will be dependent on the budget of the winning design.
Who is in the running to build the Queen Elizabeth II memorial?
Speaking of the winning design, you may recall that back in September, the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee announced an open competition to find the perfect team to design the monumental memorial. Well, following initial competition stages (that involved prospective design teams submitting examples of relevant previous work), five teams were shortlisted for the project – and their proposed designs have just been unveiled.
The shortlisted design teams are Foster + Partners (the brains behind the Gherkin and the former City Hall), Heatherwick Studio (the company that created The Tree of Trees at Buckingham Palace), J&L Gibbons (the team behind Canal Park in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), Tom Stuart-Smith (whose previous work includes the Queen’s Jubilee Garden at Windsor Castle), and WilkinsonEyre (the masterminds behind Battersea Power Station’s recent refurb). So yes, the competition is looking pretty darn fierce.
What happens next?
Shortlisted teams have now developed their design concepts, and their memorial masterplans have just been unveiled in an online showcase. Alongside factors including value for money, placemaking, and visitor experience being taken into account by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, the public is also being asked for its thoughts and feedback on the five early design concepts. And the competition to pick the final design is being held by Malcom Reading Consultants.
Credit: @malcomreadingconsultants via Instagram
Design concepts include the likes of a cast Windsor oak tree, recordings of the late Queen’s voice, a canopy of stone lily-pads, and a state of Queen Elizabeth II next to Prince Philip. The public have been welcomed to offer feedback on the proposed design ideas by May 19 and the winning design will be announced in the summer. The selected design is set to be unveiled next year, in time to celebrate the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial will be the perfect spot for Londoners and beyond to take a moment reflect on the late monarch’s lifelong service and connect with an important piece of shared history.
Take a peek at the five shortlisted design concepts and offer your feedback by May 19 here.