1755

 

Personal Info

Name: Misha Efremov 

Nationality: Russian/American

Institution / Company: sosa design studio

Facebook: Misha Efremov 

LinkedIn: Misha Efremov

 

Name: Sebastian Rut

Nationality: Polish

Institution / Company: uglydog Design

 

-FINALIST of Non Architecture Award Competition | Category: Architecture

-FINALIST of Non Architecture Award Competition | Category: Landscape

 

1755 is a memorial to the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon on All Saints Day. It serves as a stark reminder about the power of nature’s forces and it’s often volatile relationship with humans. An earthquake shook the city and an entire river receded attracting onlookers to the shoreline only to return as a deadly tidal wave. The memorial consists of a visitor center that is cantilevered off the shoreline and a dammed off pit that represents the event of the tsunami. 

Exposing the river floor offers us a direct connection to that day when so many people along the river edge witnessed the water receding. At high tide some of the water flows over these sloping steel walls, draining at the bottom. A rock break water would be constructed around the site to keep boats out while fences toward the shore allow water to continue to flow in. Visitors inside this space will have the opportunity to feel nature’s forces first-hand. 

The building is comprised of two splitting volumes separated by a deep reveal hinting to the shifting of tectonic plates. Visitors can come here to learn and experience the city’s history, as well as the tragic events of 1755. Forced to reflect on our relationship to nature and the planet, visitors take with them a very powerful experience. On All Saint’s Day the hole is lit from within offering a glow from the dark waters. The light marks an event in our past and symbolizes hope for the future. 

 

Project Type: Earthquake memorial 

 

Jury Comments

– MUDA Architects

The title of the project directly points out the design theme. A monument was designed in memory of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which had a significant impact on the history of human civilization.

We have always believed that the future development of human construction will either enter the outer space or return to earth’s nature. The designer submerged this gigantic commemorative space under the water, using the extreme dimensions of the space to create a magnificent visual effect like separating the river, and avoided disrupting the original landscape of the place. 

The overall narrow and long sinking space seems to present the impact of the earthquake to the terrain under water. And the water flowing down the surrounding walls gives the audiences a sense of oppression, just like the huge tsunami caused by the earthquake. 

In the face of major natural disasters, mankind appears to be very little and fragile, but the resilient development of human civilization has brought all to peace after all kinds of hardships.