The Nordic countries had submitted 21 entries out of a total 679 to the official Thailand tsunami memorial design contest when the deadline for proposals was crossed 15 November. Finland leads the Nordic group with 11 entries, Sweden follows with 7, then comes Denmark with 2 and Norway 1. Most proposals, 151, came from the United States.
“The jury will convene at Le Meridien Khao Lak between 12 and 14 December to select five proposals that makes it to the final evaluation procedure to name the winning design which will be announced May 22 next year,” says Mr Mati Tungpanich, President Council of Architects Thailand and Chairman Tsunami Memorial Design Task Force.
One of the seven jurors is from Sweden, Mr Jonas Bohlin who is a renowned architect and interior designer, and one each from Germany, UK, United States, China and two from Thailand.
The memorial will be situated at a serene bay in the Khao Lak –Lamru national park and erected within two years after the winning proposal has been made public in May 2006.
“Two years at the most, it may be completed before” adds Dr Plodprasob Suraswadi, vice minister for Natural Resources and Environment and Chairman of the sub-committee for the tsunami memorial project.
