London Holocaust Memorial by David Adjaye Faces Environmentalist Backlash

The Holocaust Memorial designed by David Adjaye with Ron Arad Architects and Gustafson Porter + Bowman is under fierce criticism in England. The £50 million monument, set to open next to the Palace of Westminster in 2021, has sparked protests from citizen groups and environmentalists. Critics argue the structure's size will obstruct views of the historic Westminster Palace, parts of which date back to 1097, and that it will destroy the Victoria Tower Gardens. Others claim the design is illegible and unsuitable for commemorating victims, while the cost is deemed excessive for public administration. The memorial commemorates six million Jews and other victims including Roma, gay people, and disabled individuals persecuted by Nazis. It will feature 23 patinated bronze planes forcing visitors to walk individually to an underground hall and Learning Center, inspired by the Latin phrase 'Historia magistra vitae' from Cicero's De Oratore. The project won an international competition in 2016 unanimously, beating ten high-profile firms including Norman Foster, Caruso St. John, Zaha Hadid, and Daniel Libeskind. The jury included Julia Peyton-Jones, Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. Adjaye, born in Tanzania to Ghanaian parents, calls himself a 'global architect' and gained worldwide recognition with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Despite protests, construction plans are proceeding.