January 3rd Martyrs’ Memorial

“A Secret Revealed Only at the Price of Blood”

The memorial at the site of the Kerman terrorist attack is shaped around the idea of movement—the same path pilgrims take toward the tomb of Qassem Soleimani. The site contains two main orientations: the boulevard leading to the cemetery, and an existing route through rows of tall coniferous trees. The design concept is based on the intersection of these two horizontal axes and the addition of three vertical levels:

Lowered Level: A green sunken garden, referred to as the “Garden of Paradise,” where polished black stone cubes bear the names of the martyrs of the incident. At night, these cubes reflect light, creating a central focal point.

Ground Level: A suspended event platform above the garden, used for gatherings and displaying artifacts from the incident. Minimal paving preserves the natural soil, with only the bridge entrances at the north and south being surfaced.

Upper Level: A secondary movement path across the roof, with grated flooring that allows visual continuity with the levels below.

At the intersection of these layers stands a cubic volume clad with broken mirrors, reflecting the movement of visitors and the surrounding landscape, adding a sense of dynamism. A red steel bridge, coated for corrosion resistance, stretches from the entrance to the far end of the site, acting as a visual landmark and inviting gesture. This spatial organization guides visitors through a layered journey—from discovering the garden within the earth, to engaging with the event platform, and finally experiencing the view from above. In its straightforward form, the memorial maintains a close link between architecture, movement, and the memory of the incident—a movement that here signifies not just a physical path, but a vivid trace in the collective memory.