The new memorial will honor not only notable figures and common soldiers but also the entire nation that supported and shared the burden of war. The trenches of World War I were at the center of this warfare and resources of each nation were focused on the trenches. The new memorial recreates these trenches as a way of providing past and remembering the time of World War I.

MEMORIAL OF EXPERIENCE – Trench Experience
The new memorial consists of five trenches of different depths and widths. Each trench, gradually delivering the visitors underground, provides a unique spatial experience to remember the weeks and months that the soldiers spent in the trenches.

MEMORIAL OF UNDERSTANDING – Information of World War I
An information path connects the trenches. This path is configured with data of World War I using ‘optical fiber cable’ which uses the aboveground daylight to relay the information. The ‘optical fiber cable’ enables a two-way transmission of light. During the daytime, daylight will be delivered to the underground. At night, artificial lighting of the underground will brighten the aboveground.

MEMORIAL OF CHANGE – Connecting time and spaces
The use of ‘optical fiber cable’ symbolizes the connection of time and spaces. The change of light transmission will change the ambience of the memorial at day and night.

MEMORIAL OF THE CITY
The site will be flattened to connect the Sherman Monument and Freedom Plaza, thus linking the green space and the city. The trenches will remain a quiet space of remembrance.

Design: Sang Hoon Youm, Yeeun kim, Sungjin Jang, Junghyun Cho