A meaningful memorial should be an immersive experience. It is not about the observation of some spectacular structure, but the participation of each visitor and the collaboration between movement, moment, and memory. A memorial is a journey, a calling, an ascent, an Aliyah.
A memorial on the boardwalk at Atlantic City must take visitors far from the banality of the everyday streetscape and move them to the sublimity of the natural seascape, while retaining a secure connection with the life of the city. It must acknowledge the iconic power and beauty of the boardwalk itself. The memorial, made completely of Ipe-wood, would serve as a projection of the boardwalk; a bridge between city and sea. A gentle ramp draws visitors back and forth through a forest of vertical wooden boards, shimmering in motion between transparency and opacity; exposure and enclosure. Visitors reach a sheltered clearing overlooking the sea, providing space for contemplation and reflection. The memorial sustains an experience of loss and discovery; ascent and return.