A Moving Memorial Opens on the Island of Utøya in Norway

Four years after the tragic mass killing in Norway on July 22, 2011, a memorial has opened on the island of Utøya honoring the 69 people who were killed there while taking part in a youth Labour Party camp. Norwegian architecture firm 3RW is responsible for the tribute, called the Clearing. Located at the highest point on the island, the circular design slopes downward toward the water, creating an edge for seating and views of the landscape. A metal ring, inscribed with the names of the victims, hangs from the surrounding pine trees above a circle of logs embedded in the ground. Slate paving stones and plantings chosen to attract the native butterflies cover the rest of the circle.

The architects specifically designed the memorial to have few requirements for precision so that it could be built with the assistance of laypeople. A major portion of the construction was done by volunteers, the parents of victims, and former members of the youth Labour Party, as part of a Norwegian process known as dugnad, which encourages community collaboration to complete a common task. By incorporating the Norwegian tradition, the architects created a design that is healing both in its presence and in its process.