Bomber Command Memorial
Bomber Command Memorial
We were the structural and civil engineers for this memorial in Green Park, London, which commemorates the 55,573 airmen who were killed whilst flying bombing missions during the Second World War. It was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.
Designed by Liam O’Connor Architects in a Classical style and on an imposing scale, it comprises an open ‘hall’ flanked by Doric colonnades with a bronze 9-foot (2.7 m) sculpture of seven aircrew, designed by the sculptor Philip Jackson.
Tightly fitting Portland stone blocks were used as the load bearing structure, in a traditional manner. A departure from the classical style is the vaulted, stainless steel diagrid roof, which was designed to evoke the geodesic structure of the Vickers Wellington Bomber. Exceptionally, this structure has a 300 year design life.
Green Park is an exceptionally important green space in central London. As part of the project we also produced a characterisation study which looked not just at the Park but also the historical relationship between it, Piccadilly and Hyde Park Corner to demonstrate that the memorial would not affect the open and informal character of Green Park.
Client: Bomber Command Association