Aerial shot of the memorial design showcasing the three main elements of the design. | Remember: There are five concrete walls cutting through the site with each incision representing the altered reality of the family and friends of the victims. The walls swell to bench height, providing a personalized space to rest, reflect and remember these lives. | Heal: Sand dunes cover one side of each of the five concrete benches. Over time, the benches and landscape will transform by indigenous plants, just as the community will evolve and heal from this tragedy. | Honor: The community of Sebring, represented by a circle, will never be whole, but a delicate steel rebar armature provides the structure for healing. Native flowering plants will overtake the frame, providing a covered, shady place for the community to honor the victims and contemplate the future.
Conceptual images developed in stage 1 of our process: Stage 1 of the process was to split into teams and develop conceptual designs based on the events that occurred at the location, the local community, and physical site context. Ultimately, many of the designs had similarities of site development and concept. These commonalities were carried forward into the final unified design.
Conceptual site design sketch drafted on trace showing the branch as the central location of healing with the broken circle and 5 paths representing the victims leading to the site.
Conceptual site design sketch drafted and inked on trace showing further development of the sketch above showing the 5 paths transformed as interventions in the landscape and the memorial becoming more integrated into the landscape.
Conceptual section sketched and drafted on trace showing the broken circle as a delicate wooden finned armature filtering the light and allowing for native vegetation to grow upon it.
One of the final sketches made together as a team before 3D modeling of the site occurred.
Final site plan of the memorial: The five berms are symbolic of wounds, cut into the earth and given the chance to heal. Framing smaller areas of solitude where the community can come to heal, the berms surround the central memorial wall. Our intent for this memorial is to pay respects to the individuals who lost their loved ones and allow visitors to pay their respects and honor the five women who were lost in this tragedy.
Closeup of the delicate rebar armature small, allowing visitors to both pay and display their respects as well as allowing the native vegetation to grow and evolve the landscape. The landscape of the site is inspired by the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem, of which the site and surrounding area are a part, and composed of plants indigenous to the Sebring area, restoring life to the site just as the memorial contributes to the healing process. Specific plants were chosen to contribute to this rare ecosystem as they are uniquely adapted to the environment and will provide low-maintenance xeriscaping. Scrub Oak, Sand Live Oak, Chapman's Oak, Florida Rosemary, and Saw Palmetto will form a low but dense ground cover interspersed with patches of white sand and indigenous herbs that lead up to the five sand berms of Honor and the paths of Remembrance.
