Nagasaki Monument

"We aim to achieve monumentality through a simple form that symbolizes peace. The undisturbed mass embodies a sense of tranquility through the purity of its shape. Our goal was to convey the modern interpretation of world peace with minimalistic design. We envisioned engraving the names of world cities, representing the unity of the entire world. At the same time, we questioned why monuments remain distant from people. Why should they only be observed from afar? Why not invite people to touch, interact, and feel the monument? Given the daily influx of tourists to the park, allowing people to engage with the monument would offer an added layer of attraction. We took Nagasaki as a symbol and placed it prominently, slightly larger, to ensure it stands out and can be easily found. Using a simple periscope concept, visitors can peer through a small hole to view an image placed atop the structure. With a hollow shaft, the natural sunlight—our key element—illuminates the image, removing the need for electricity. An instruction board would guide visitors in this interactive experience. To honor the memory of the atomic bomb tragedy, we could fix the angle of the image to be most visible at exactly 11:02:25 AM daily. However, this observational feature remains an optional aspect of the design."