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 the committee have just taken a monumental step 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 Parkcomprising 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 Mallwhich 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 millionand 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 the initial competition stages (that involved prospective design teams submitting examples of relevant previous work), five teams have been shortlisted for the project.
Recently announced on the UK government website, 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 are now required to develop their design concept, and the winner will be announced in the summer. Designs will be judged by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committeebased on factors including value for money, placemaking, and visitor experience. The memorial masterplans will be submitted and assessed, and the chosen 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.
