There are plans for a memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth II to be constructed in St James Park, with 5 shortlisted proposals released in the news today. Take a look at them here (tip jump to the layouts at the bottom of each proposal to get a good overview).
When I read 'memorial', I assumed it was to be one 'object' but each proposal is actually a major upgrade to the park, incorporating a new bridge and various landscaping and features.
I'm very interested in this, as I love St James Park. I used to walk the length of it on my way to work. When you stand in the middle of the pedestrian bridge across the lake (with Buckingham Palace behind you) there is a fairytale view looking across towards Whitehall. Flocks of pigeons swoop low and flash the sun towards you as they fly. Whilst the pelicans are more lowly and try to eat the pigeons by catching them in their baggy beaks. In the Summer there are deck chairs and brass bands. It's lovely. Very English. One morning I nipped out from work for a break, and there was a quite severe military operation interrupting the tourist perambulations. Soldiers in scarlet uniforms, with bear hats and bayonets, were stalking invisible grid lines across the dozy park with absolute zero, tolerance. It was brusque, bizarre and unexpected. Very anachronistic. Maybe I had entered a time warp. In an idle, or perhaps meditative moment, I stood on my head in St James park.
Royal
St James Park is one of the 8 Royal Parks which are owned by the Crown. They are made available to the public, with the government responsible for them, and a charity running them. So they were once the private land of the Royals - I'm only slightly fibbing when I said I walked around the Queens garden.
Favourite
Of the 5 proposals for The Queen Elizabeth Memorial I like the Tom Stuart-Smith's 'The Queen's Oak' best. At first I thought, it's a bit weird to have an oak tree in the water, because it's not a watery tree like a Willow. But it is magnificent looking and magical. It fits perfectly with the slightly unreal but majestic situation. And I like the bridge design best. It is relaxed with seating and different levels.
Foster & Partners - a bit boring around the bridge area and I don't like the chunky memorial statues and flashy sculpture.
Heatherwick Studio - nice idea but how did they manage to make a lily so ugly? Fungal lillies. This choice would date so quickly. There used to be a cafe called the Cake House with an equally distinctive look. It got demolished.
Also, I think if you're going to have a horse, don't make it a great, chunky, block prancer. Make it more Frink. Or Wallinger.
J&L Gibbons - I'm not sure scattering a few seeds and hoping it looks like embroidery is really going to cut it.
WilkinsonEyre - the high and low levels would be a lovely viewing platform. But this spaghetti junction spoils the view from every other angle. Especially where you see the concrete supports. It's like those graffiti kingdoms under flyovers (which I actually like, but not for this). I can imagine the street artists pulling on waders to get the first tag. Well they wouldn't wear waders. They'd parkour straight into the water and walk out defiantly in wet denim and dry hoodies taking sly selfies.
So please let it be the Queen's Oak! It's the only one I'd make a pilgrimage to see, the only one a swan's wings would applaud.
Queen cartoon Frankie Sinclair ©2022