legacy of rememberance

parkland 17 memorial concept

ParkLand, FL

Three of our KoDA team members, who are also recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School alumni, each had personal connections to the event. Chance Stillman, Nikola Jovicic and Yagmur Akyuz came together working at our architecture firm to commemorate the lives lost. They used the design process as a way to cope and heal from the tragedy, and felt a pressing need to submit their work. Focused on the profound loss experienced by the community and inspired by the concept of "holding space," the design explores the power of emptiness as a mechanism for remembrance, connection, and closure.

The proposed memorial, in an abandoned golf course, introduces a hardwood hammock ecosystem, with 17 individual clearings within this habitat signifying each life lost, and creating space for visitors to reflect within a curated natural landscape. The design aims to bridge the gap between loss and environmental revitalization, fostering unity, remembrance, and hope for the future.

But even more captivating than their unique design, is their heartfelt connection to the school and community beyond their school years.