"The museum, which will also be a contemporary architectural landmark, is expected to open within the next two years," caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop announced yesterday at the presentation ceremony for the winner of the conceptual design competition for the Tsunami Memorial, held at Government House's Santi Mitree Building.

The winning design titled "Mountains of Remembrance" was created by a Spanish design team and submitted by the Thai architectural firm Naga Concepts Company, who also designed the Tsunami memorial at Ban Nam Khem in Phang Nga.

The selection process led by the Culture Ministry's Contemporary Arts and Culture Office took over a year and cost almost Bt50 million. The Spanish firm beat four other finalists from Finland, the United States, China and Australia.

Inspired by Buddhist architecture, the winning design features seven different structures and is designed to look like a temple with stupas hidden among trees in a forested area.

The project is set within a purpose-built park with the aim of providing people with a tranquil natural setting and a symbolic place to meditate on the tragic events and the powerful forces of nature.

The innovative ideas underpinning the project include an emphasis on a nondenominational approach inviting universal understanding and combining references from many different cultures and religions.

The chair of the panel of judges Briton David Stuart Elliott, the director of the Mori Museum in Tokyo, said the model had been specifically designed to blend in with the natural environment of the national park.

One of the Spanish designers behind the project explained that much of the inspiration for the project had come from meeting the Thai relatives of Tsunami victims, "Our team decided to participate the competition after we returned from Phuket last summer. We feel privileged to have won and hope the museum can be built soon," said Spanish designer Ana Somaza Jimenez from the firm DISC-O Architects.

"The next step is to present the winning design and the judges recommendations in the cabinet meeting next Tuesday in order to discuss the budget," Suwat said.

However he did not reveal how much budget the project would receive, although experts estimate that it will cost around Bt500 million.

"The financial support will either come from the Thai government or contributions from other countries affected by the tsunami," he said.

"Although the Thai Rak Thai is currently the country's caretaker government, I hope we will be able to approve the funding and construction processes, as this is an ongoing project which is now reaching its final stage," Suwat said.

Phatarawadee Phataranawik

The Nation