El primer „Memorial Mundial a la Pandemia“ podría construirse en Uruguay.

Many people here in Uruguay ask themselves right now: „Has Uruguay not other, more important, problems to solve than building a new monument?“

        The pandemic itself is the actual problem and not the erection of another monument.

As I, living here in the country for over 10 years now, can see, Uruguayans like monuments. Monuments and presumed artistic erections are everywhere in Uruguay. One will see them in small towns, across the country, and everywhere throughout the city of Montevideo. It’s a matter of mentality and to me no wonder, the whole world is fighting hard against the pandemic, but in Uruguay, they discuss a new memorial monument.

Artist rendering of the planned Pandemia Memorial Monument.

Do we really need another monument ?

On the other hand, why not ??? Why not coming up with an idea, before someone else or somewhere else a similar idea is born. I think it’s o.k. to discuss, not saying I like it or I don’t and not saying anything about the costs, and and and.

Following the story and some artistic pictures about the actual (01.Nov.2020) discussion. Some text and pics from the local press releases:

A World Memorial to the Corona Pandemic.

On October 21, the Heritage Commission approved the installation of the World Memorial to the Pandemic in the Rambla. The work, proposed by the architects‘ office Gomez Platero, would cost approximately 1.300.000 US-dollars and, once the final approval is obtained, it could be executed from beginning to end in six months.

      First, an artist rendering showing the idea and then a construction drawing. Click on pictures to size them up.

The project would be located on the Rambla of the Puerto del Buceo on the water and rocks at the height of the Oribe Customs. A footbridge that would leave the existing dock in that place would lead to a great horizontal concave disc made of concrete, whose empty center would let the rocks and the waves be seen, that is, „nature“.

But what effects could a work of this magnitude have on the ecosystem of the place? The biologist Luis Orlando, member of the Laboratory of Marine Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Republic (Udelar), who weeks ago gave his vision on how negative this memorial could be in dialogue with the podcast Mezcla de la diario, considered that the work „follows the logic of zoos“.

Cosse asked if the construction of the World Pandemic Memorial is timely and urgent.

  Carolina Cosse.

The new elected mayor of Montevideo, Carolina Cosse, asked if the construction of the World Memorial to the Pandemic in the Rambla del Buceo is opportune and urgent, as proposed by the architecture and urbanism study Gómez Platero and approved by the Heritage Commission. „In the face of something so important and in moments of crisis, the population must participate and define if it is the moment to carry it out“.

In August, the architecture and urbanism study Gómez Platero, presented to the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, the proposal to build a World Memorial to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The circular geometry of the proposal „summarizes the concept of unity and community“. It takes the form of a concave sheet with which the architecture offers a precise point of reference that reveals the constant variation of the natural landscape, a scale to measure the strength of the sea, a place of refuge and exposure to the wind, indicates the Gómez Platero studio in its web page.

„The form is only interrupted by the crack at the entrance of the place, the breach or rupture that reminds us of a singular fact, a global phenomenon“, it is expressed.

The public space is a place of reflection. „Although its construction starts from the experience of this pandemic, its purpose is to build a collective consciousness that reminds us that humanity is not the center of the ecosystem in which it lives, but that we will always be subordinated to nature itself“.

On Wednesday, October 21, the Heritage Commission approved by the majority, five votes in favor, two against, and two abstentions, the installation of the World Monument to the Pandemic in the Rambla of Montevideo.

Do we, Uruguayans, want to do it?

This Friday, October 30th, the mayor, Carolina Cosse, was asked by the press about the initiative and responded: „Do we, Uruguayans, want to do it? If we want to do it, then it requires a significant participation in what message we give“, she added. „We must also ask ourselves if it is appropriate. It is a deeper issue than whether I like it or not“.

We will wait and see how the discussion evaluates and what and when final decisions and actions will happen. Whatever it will be another attraction in Uruguay and surely gain more tourists to this „World Memorial to the Pandemic“ ! Another Bus-Selfie-Stop ! Not too bad for a country which lives mostly on the tourist-dollar !