Latest news with #UnityBridge
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Queen Elizabeth II: Design chosen for special memorial
A new memorial will be created in St James's Park in London to celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British special place will include a statue and a glass bridge called the Unity Bridge. The bridge is inspired by the Queen's wedding tiara, a sparkling diamond crown she wore when she got married in 1947. The bridge will cross over the park's water and symbolise how the Queen brought people together from the UK, and countries in the Commonwealth. The new memorial will open in 2026, the year the Queen would have turned 100 years to the monarch's home in central London, Buckingham Palace, there will be a new space called Queen Elizabeth II Place. Located at Marlborough Gate down The Mall, the road that leads to Buckingham Palace, a statue of Queen Elizabeth sitting on a horse will reflect the former Queen's love of horses. On the other side of the park, by Birdcage Walk, a special Prince Philip Gate will be built, with a statue to remember the Queen's husband, Prince memorial will also have winding paths and several beautiful gardens called the "family of gardens". The design aims to support plants, animals, and wildlife living in the park. The winning design for Queen Elizabeth II's memorial was chosen from a list of five with feedback taken from a public vote. The winning design was put together by architect Lord Norman Foster, who was responsible for The Gherkin skyscraper, also in Queen's former private secretary Lord Janvrin, who worked very closely with her majesty and is chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, described the design as "ambitious and thoughtful".He added that it will "allow us and future generations to appreciate Queen Elizabeth's life of service as she balanced continuity and change with strong values, common sense and optimism throughout her long reign." Speaking about the design, Lord Foster said: "At the heart of our masterplan is a translucent bridge symbolic of Her Majesty as a unifying force, bringing together nations, countries, the Commonwealth, charities and the armed forces."The bridge, inspired by the then Princess Elizabeth's wedding tiara which was of great sentimental value to her majesty. Featuring 47 bars of diamonds, the tiara's antique metal frame famously snapped when the princess was getting ready on the morning of her wedding, and had to be rushed to a jewellers to be priceless headpiece was loaned, by the Queen, to her granddaughter Princess Beatrice for her wedding in 2020.
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Plans for Queen Elizabeth's memorial unveiled – with bridge inspired by her tiara & touching nod to Prince Philip
RENOWNED architect Lord Foster has won the bid to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. He will transform St James's Park, outside Buckingham Palace, with the tribute, which will include a statue of her at Marlborough Gate. Advertisement 7 An early artist's impression of the memorial shows the late Queen on horseback Credit: PA 7 Lord Foster has won the bid to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II Credit: PA 7 The glass Unity Bridge inspired by Queen Elizabeth's wedding day tiara Credit: PA 7 Lord Foster described it as an honour to be awarded the project Credit: Getty An early artist's impression shows her on horseback, but it is not known if it will make the final designs, due next year. There will also be a statue of the late Duke of Edinburgh on the other side of the park and a glass Unity Bridge inspired by Queen Elizabeth's wedding day tiara. A 'family of gardens' and a contemporary wind sculpture by artist Yinka Shonibare are included in Lord Foster's plan. He described it as an honour to be awarded the project. Advertisement Read more in Royals Lord Foster, who was the brains behind The Gherkin, the renovated Reichstag in Berlin, and Swindon's Renault distribution centre, beat four other shortlisted designs. The world famous architect said his tiara-style bridge was symbolic of the Queen as a "unifying force". He said: "I knew the Queen on formal occasions but also enjoyed her informality when attending events as a member of the Order of Merit. "We have sought to reflect these qualities of the formal and informal in our design, with an appeal across a wide range of ages and interests. Advertisement Most read in Royals Latest "To these ends, we have discreetly stretched the boundaries of art and technology with a deliberately gentle intervention. "Our design will have the minimum impact on the nature and biodiversity of the park and it will be phased to ensure that the precious route across it will never be closed. "At the heart of our masterplan is a translucent bridge symbolic of Her Majesty as a unifying force, bringing together nations, countries, the Commonwealth, charities and the armed forces." There will now be talks with potential sculptors to create two new statues for the national memorial. Advertisement It is expected to be finished and unveiled in 2026 when the late Queen would have turned 100-years-old. 7 Plans for the transformation of St James's Park Credit: PA 7 A contemporary wind sculpture by artist Yinka Shonibare is included in the plans Credit: PA 7 Members of the public will be able to enjoy the gardens Credit: PA Advertisement
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A New Memorial for Queen Elizabeth II Is Coming to London
A permanent memorial honoring Queen Elizabeth II—Britain's longest-reigning monarch—is officially underway. This month, the British government unveiled the final shortlist of five proposed designs for the landmark monument, set to rise in St. James's Park, near Buckingham Palace in the heart of London. The shortlisted proposals' designs include everything from a stone canopy of lilies by Heatherwick Studio to a cast of a Windsor oak tree by Tom Stuart-Smith, as each aims to translate the Queen's enduring legacy into lasting form. Renderings feature sculpted bridges, equestrian statues (in three of the designs), and immersive soundscapes. The teams in contention include Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, J&L Gibbons, Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, and WilkinsonEyre. Earlier this month, the U.K. Cabinet Office, which supports the Prime Minister, opened the proposals up to public feedback, inviting citizens to review the concept illustrations online and weigh in on their favorites. In addition to public sentiment, the designs will be judged on criteria like placemaking, visitor experience, and value for money. The winning design team will be chosen by summer 2025 and announced in April 2026, close to what would have been Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday. A separate search for the sculptor who will work alongside the winner to create a sculptural tribute, is also underway and will conclude later this year. Below are the proposed designs from the five competing firms. Foster + Partners' proposed concept gives a nod to famed British architect John Nash's romantic vision of St. James's Park. Their proposal features a path that winds through community gardens and a 'Unity Bridge" connecting Marlborough Gate, which has a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II, to Prince Philip Gate, where there is a sculpture of her husband. Along the path, there will be audio installations and inscriptions honoring the Queen's legacy. The U.K.-based firm, overseen by architect Norman Foster, will also bring in a contemporary art piece titled The Wind Sculpture, designed by artist Yinka Shonibare, that celebrates the Queen's love of flowers. Heatherwick Studio's design pays tribute to the Queen's lifelong cause, which was the idea of togetherness. This will be brought to life through a memorial walk with 70 lily pads, symbolic of stepping stones that 'bear reflections from voices across the Commonwealth and Realms,' the proposal read. At the center of the bridge, the studio envisioned a figurative sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II, protected by a canopy of eight sculptural lilies framing her presence. 'Crafted from limestone, the design celebrates materials that age with dignity,' the proposal read. 'Like her legacy, it is quietly monumental.' The proposed memorial designed by J&L Gibbons features a stone bridge composed of stone sourced from the four nations, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 'It will be crafted, timeless, and versatile,' the proposal read. 'An immersive landscape, enriching the heritage of the park, embracing resilience and holding narrative threads of an extraordinary life.' The bridge's minimalist design highlights wildlife and integrates seamlessly with its surrounding environment. Tom Stuart-Smith's proposed memorial honors Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy through personal objects. Central to the tribute is the bronze cast of an oak tree from Windsor Great Park, standing on a plinth in the park's lake. Beyond that, a stone bridge will connect to a memorial path made from stones sourced from across Britain. The area will also feature other bronze casts of objects from the Queen's life. WilkinsonEyre's memorial proposal 'draws inspiration from the many threads of her remarkable life and enduring legacy,' the proposal read. This will be demonstrated by a pair of bridges that span the lake, framing views of the park, royal palaces, and London skyline. Just beyond, a thread of pathways and landscapes create a contemplative journey that invites visitors to reflect on the Queen's seven decades of service. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
