The Design brief is for a National memorial for Soldiers to be built in hear of Lutyens Delhi,
adjacent to the India Gate and Amar Jawan Jyoti, which is a centrally situated ceremonial
space built in memory of Indian soldiers. It is proposed that lawns within the Hexagon,
without disturbing Lawns V, VI, Chhatri (Canopy) and Children’s’ Park be utilized as the site
for the memorial. The built component of the memorial should be below human eye level
with a maximum height of 1.5m above road level and focuses on landscape based
intervention.

Pride, elegance, history and context are the main design drivers for the proposal “Reflecting
the Past”. With minimum intervention the design looks at reflecting the past. It strengthens
the existing axial urban alignment and with a symmetrical positioning within lawn II and III. It
locates itself in harmony and strengthens the position of the monument Chhatri, India Gate
and Lutyens Delhi urban planning.

A thin sheet of water located symmetrically in the heart of the proposal reflects India Gate
and the Chhatri. It reflects the history and amalgamates the past and present. The present
being the design proposal of the commemorative wall which is flanked around this water
surface. The emotion of pride is enhanced for a person visiting the commemorative wall with
the grand reflection of a very symbolic Indian monument.

Proposed design looks at creating a thin sheet of water body between Park no II and park no
III on the axis that can be driven over in case of emergency ensuring that emergency
movement route is not blocked. The shallow water body and the sub base will ensure fire
tender movement and also heavy military movement (if required). For pedestrians, steps in
the water are provided for direct access or passing over the plaza or the commemorative
wall.

The commemorative wall is designed as a place of serenity and peace remembering the
brave soldiers of the Indian Defence forces. Located with a back drop of water reflecting
monuments and the sky, each soldier has an individual plank on the wall. Visitors can sit in
peace next to the water surface on an integrated bench in the space. This space is covered
and is nested one and half meter below ground. The opposite wall shows art murals and
provides the possibility of an extension of the commemorative wall if required in the future.
From there you can enter the hall of remembrance which has crystals suspended in air on
different heights and names of the soldiers are echoed in this space. When one name is
called out one crystal will glow in red colour. As a moment of reminding the presence an
existing tree is highlighted and a view to the sky is giving light and hope.

The central zone is segregated in three different zones: Air (representing Air Force), Water
(representing Navy) and Earth (representing Army). As a homage to the three gallant forces,
these three zones attempt to capture the experience for the visitor in a very subtle way.
These three zones have distinct characteristics and all are enhancing the feeling and
connecting with the ground where sacrifices were made.

In the Earth zone an uneven terrain is provided to relate to the experience of the soldiers.
Light pillars are provided, that act as a space of interaction and enhance the feeling for the
visitors of walking through the forest. In the night creates an animated garden of light which
represents life. Soil is form different states where soldiers fought to defend the country. In
the flower garden the flowers are from different states of India, this echoes the charm of a
Mughal Garden.

In the water zone, animated water spouts going up and down are provided that represent life
and also acts as a point of interest for visitors and helps in cooling the air. Trees proposed to
shade the plaza and create a comfortable climate with evaporative cooling and shading.
In the Air zone a cloud is proposed that would be artificially suspended over the sheet of
water. This is proposed to be done on special occasions and celebrations. On a normal day,
during the day it reflects India Gate and during the night animated LED lights embedded
below the sheet of water are lit up. These individual lights create a synchronized
amalgamation represents the contribution of Individuals acting as a unit in the defence
forces.

It was critical for the design proposal to retain the existing trees on the site. The design
adapts and integrates the existing trees in the various zones. The earth zone extends into
Lawn I and IV to connect to the existing and invite people to the new monument. Behind
Lawn I we added a “breathe in” zone where elevated fresh air is provided within dense trees.
High pressure misting systems invites visitors to relax and breathe in good quality air in a
comfortable climate. Next to this we kept the existing lawn I for people to use it like they use
the lawns right now for sport actives such as cricket.