Kursk
Designed by: Glen Clifton and Joe Weick
ID-ONE
Austin, TX, USA
What is it?
It's a memorial to be placed off the bow of the Russian submarine 'Kursk'
that sank in August 2000.
What makes this design different or better?
From the news reports of this event, we found it extremely sad when the
rescue mission failed and then that the mission for recovery of the bodies
also failed. These sailors will never receive a proper burial and will
forever be entombed in this submarine- their final resting place. We saw
a great need for some kind of memorial at the sub that paid respect the
dead inside and to also help their families to reach final closure. Also
having the cross be fabricated at the navy shipyard that built the Kursk
would be a great gesture from the Russian Navy and perhaps bring closure
to this sad episode in their history also.
The glass sphere suspended in the steel cross like a big air bubble (42"
across) will be made of Russian glass and will contain the a small momento
from each of the families of the unrecovered seamen, almost like a time
capsule. The sphere could also have a faint green 'glow' from in the dark
depths from low-power LED lamps- perhaps eluding to the fact that there
is still 'life' on board this boat. The nuclear reactor which will still
be active and running for many years to come.
The names of the 118 sailors could be inscribed on the four sides of the
cross.
The significance of the cross is religious as well as signifying the four
points of the compass.
Judges commentary:
Gareth: Making a glass sphere of air (the one thing that the sub occupants
needed and didn't have) the heart of the memorial I thought was brilliant.
I also liked the idea of an "eternal beacon" that's powered by the sub's
nuclear reactor (though this would not likely be feasible). While some
might wonder if it makes sense to have a memorial underwater where no
one can see it, thanks to our wired world, it could always be as close
as a webcam and an Internet site.
Ayse: A very thoughtful, sad and meaningful idea. Even if ordinary people
can not visit the memorial, the families will know that their close-ones
were remembered and honored. The concept of encapsulating air, the one
thing that those sailors needed and lacked, at the belly of the proposed
design made me believe in its validity.
Alberto: This elegant work of art moved me by the way that both elements
that the crew of the Kursk missed the most, air and contact with their
loved ones, are transferred below within the glass bubble.
