In the quiet expanse of Ethiopian farmland, the ET-302 Memorial Park stands as a profound testament to the 157 lives lost aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019. More than a traditional monument, this space is an architectural meditation on absence, guiding visitors through grief, revelation, and, ultimately, healing.
The Weight of Absence:-
The memorial’s design is anchored in three core principles: absence, revelation, and healing. These are not mere concepts but physical experiences, shaped into the land itself. Visitors begin their journey along a path marking the final six minutes and forty-four seconds of Flight ET-302’s doomed trajectory. Each step draws them closer to the heart of the memorial—**four towering, earth-red concrete forms**, tilted as if frozen in descent. These structures, raw and imposing, evoke the final moments of the victims, grounding tragedy in tangible form.
Healing in Steel and Stone:-
Nearby, the Healing Monument, a Corten steel sculpture, arcs like a fractured wing, its perforated surface filtering light in a metaphor for fragility and endurance. Adjacent to it, an amphitheater of six concentric rings serves as a gathering place for collective mourning, seating over 360 people—a space where grief becomes shared resilience.
The surrounding rock garden, initially conceived as a floral tribute, was reimagined as a field of upright local stones, their permanence symbolizing enduring memory. Two concentric paths encourage slow, contemplative movement, reinforcing the memorial’s invitation to pause, reflect, and remember.
A Discreet, Harmonious Presence:-
Supporting structures—**a facility building, restrooms, and security stations**—are clad in Corten steel, mirroring the memorial’s aesthetic while blending into the landscape. Solar panels and green roofs ensure sustainability, reflecting a commitment to **harmony with the land**—a land that now carries the weight of history.
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