In the aftermath of the Lindt Cafe siege a sea of flowers flooded Martin Place, covering the memories of fear and hurt, with new ones of hope and love.
Now, a year on, Martin Place will see as many as 400 floral cubes installed along the granite paving near the site of the siege.
The memorial will permanently honour the victims, Lindt cafe worker Tori Johnson and Barrister and mother-of-three, Katrina Dawson.
Developed by architectural firm Johnson Pilton Walker, the design was chosen by a government-appointed panel from a short list. The peaceful and reflective design was chosen for its thoughtful and pensive concept that reflects the image that defined memories of the Sydney Siege.
Each cube (pictured below) will be illuminated at night and is expected to be installed by early next year.
“The design concept creates a quiet, reflective and symbolic memory of the floral tributes left in the days following the siege, while working with the functional surroundings of the very busy pedestrian area that Martin Place is,” said Professor Johnson, whose firm was responsible for the design.
Premier Mike Baird said the memorial would not only be a fitting tribute to the tragedy that unfolded that day, but also the incredible response from the general public following the incident.
“We have worked closely with the Dawson and Johnson families to choose a design we believe captures the spirit of the outpouring of support we witnessed from people all over NSW,” Mr Baird said.
“It is appropriate that the memory of this community spirit live on here in Martin Place.”
He added that the flowers “showed [that] everyone across this city was prepared to stop what they were doing”.
“It also said ‘we are very proud of this city and that those that might want to come and bring hate, we have another message, we come together and respond in love’.”
“My hope is on that day we focus in on what brought us together rather than those forces that tried to drive us apart.”
JUST IN: Statement from the family of Katrina Dawson, who died in the Lindt Cafe siege. @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/eB4HGdz1kU
— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) December 14, 2015
