The sheer scale of loss in the 2004 tsunami is beyond comprehension, and certainly, beyond any type of direct architectural representation. Our proposal for the memorial therefore does not attempt to index the event literally, but rather through abstraction. It is a landform rather than an object, an experience rather than a focal point. It is a space which relates to the mystery and power and dynamics of nature as much as to the human impact of the event.

The landscape creates a clearing on the west cliff, allowing views of the ocean. It is separated from the Memorial Center by a pathway, which provides a buffer to the city as well as time to contemplate. Once at the platform, visitors descend into a tectonic rift, a private, protected space for both mourning loss as well as viewing the beauty of the ocean. A field of voids breaks down the continuity of the landscape, creating possibilities for private interaction and the placement of personal effects. From the rift, visitors loop back up to the main platform level via a winding stairway.

The Memorial Center supports the memorial with opportunities for meeting and learning as well as basic amenities. It is located near Highway 4 for easy access and parking. The programmatic elements are unified around a small plaza where people can orient themselves before embarking on their pilgrimage to the Memorial Landscape.