THOUGHTS ON MEMORIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 8

THOUGHTS ON MEMORIALS

Sir,—ln these days the subject of memorials is becoming of increasing interest once again in communities all over the world. Here in this corner of civilisation we are thinking of centennial memorials and will soon be considering memorials to the fallen in the recent war. But despite this awakening of a constructive urge there has as yet been no sound or ordered thinking on the matter. No one has thought to define a memorial, and simple though this may appear, such a definition would immediately limit the scope of the proposals The application of the term memorial to any structure we choose to build or area of land we propose to improve does not ipso facto make it such. No one has thought to place the concept of a memorial in relation to the civic and cultural needs of the community according to a well-defined and wide-visioned plan for city and province now and for years to come. We may erect a community centre here or there and call it a memorial. It may function efficiently, even be handsome architecturally, but yet be no integral part of the community, and after a time it will die.

If we continue in our present ill-woven pattern of thought and fall to see the problem clearly we shall in future years erect more memorials, each satisfactory in itself and dedicated to a noble subject, but badly placed and without any harmonious relation to the others or to community life. This will be confusion worse confounded if such memorials are civic facilities such as social centres, swimming baths, art galleries, and public libraries. There is great need for a long-range scheme of city planning as a background to any memorial. Personally, I should look to the new school of architects for a lead. There is a need of men of vision with appreciation of the material, cultural, and aesthetic tastes of the people. Are there any?—l am. etc., Onward.