TRI ÂN Vietnam War Monument - Kentucky, USA

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War and Life

The concept of the design is generated from link between war and life. The trees in the woods adjacent to the site represent growth and life. And it serves as a backdrop of this project. This monument leads the visitors gradually getting in the historical timeline, allowing them to experience how the soul of the architecture reveals the memorial sentiment towards Vietnam War.

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Architecture and Chronometer

The site is extended to included part of the woods. The exterior walls of the buildings define the 4 axes which represent the key moments of Vietnam War, namely: 1) Origin of Conflicts; 2) Beginning of Vietnam War; 3) End of Vietnam War and 4) Peace and Continuation of Peace.

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Between 1 and 2
The torpedo is remained in the existing location. It marks the beginning of the whole journey where there is a path leading visitors to the entrance of the main memorial hall. The ramp at the entrance takes visitors down to the atrium where there are exhibition spaces showing histories about Vietnamese country and the War. From the atrium space, visitors can look out to the Eden Garden which represents the serenity before any conflicts and wars appeared.

 

Between 2 & 3
The arc-shaped tunnel is the path that allows visitors to memorialize the causalities of the War. Continuing with the journey visitors will encounter the first split where one leads to a glass box and the other to a stone house representing life and death respectively. Further onto the journey, visitors will come to the second split leading visitor either to a small chapel or outdoor meditation space for meditations and commemoration. The end of the path takes visitors up back on the ground to Garden of Peace.

 

Between 3 & 4
Fronting rows of trees from the woods, Garden of Peace is an outdoor space that can accommodate more than 100 people. With the steps along the slope and the landscape features, the Garden merges with the woods in the background. When everything eventually returns to the mother earth – Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...