National Police Memorial, New Delhi | Studio Lotus

The site for the National Police Memorial (NPM) is located at the head of the Shanti Path Vista - the second such planned axis in New Delhi, the first being Rajpath which connects Raisina Hill with India Gate - a war memorial built by the Imperial British Government. This Vista is unique as it is 125 metres wide, stretching over a length of 1.75 kms, and looks straight into the site designated for the NPM. The prize winning design for the NPM seeks to exploit this contextual asset of the site. The axis between Shanti Path and Rashtrapati Bhawan has been taken through the Memorial. It is also conceptualized as a place of ceremony that will serve to pay homage to, instill pride in, and increase awareness of the sacrifices made by various arms of the Indian Police. The design is a synthesis of tradition and modern concepts. A Parikrama rings the memorial, much like the traditional walking paths around most Indian religious shrines, emphasizing the sanctity of the memorial. The innermost protective layer is a sloping earth berm that embraces the Memorial Space. The form of the earth berm is invoked from the idea of two sheltering, protective hands.