Aspect Studios: The National Emergency Services Memorial honors the thousands of men and women who serve and have served in Australia’s emergency services. The memorial provides a place to reflect on those who have fallen or perished while carrying out their duties for the benefit of the wider Australian community. The spirit of the emergency services is embodied in this single, powerful gesture of the memorial. In one instance the memorial breaks from the gentle continuity of the surrounding landscape, evoking the catastrophic events that call the Emergency Services into action. And on the other, the memorial becomes an inward folding form offering protection and comfort to all Australians during these times of tragedy.
The frieze gathers a collection of images reflecting the diversity of emergency services personnel at work, and records some of their experiences. The bronze memorial ledge frames the frieze and allows for contemplation of those who serve and those who accept their aid. The east face of the memorial displays words embodying the values and professionalism of the emergency services personnel.
Highly innovative design, computer modelling and manufacturing processes were incorporated. A new set of techniques, not previously used in Australia, were developed specifically for this project and enabled the design team to create a memorial of a far larger scale than traditional methods would have allowed.
This design has received many awards including 2005 CCAA Public Domain Awards Best National Project and winner in the Public Art category, 2004 Year of the Built Environment Exemplar and 2004 AILA VIC Merit Award Design in Landscape Architecture.
Landscape Architecture: Aspect Studios
Location: Canberra, ACT, Australia
Client: National Emergency Service Personnel Steering Committee & National Capital Authority
Photographer: Ben Wrigley
Budget: AUS $1 million
Consultants/Team: ASPECT Studios – Landscape Architecture (lead), DCG Design, Charles Anderson – Artist, SA Precast, MB Lighting Design
Scope: Wining national competition entry, design documentation & construction advice
Area: 8000 m²
Completion date: 2004
Designers: ASPECT Studios /
