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| Families key to creating memorial | Families key to creating memorial |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Andy McFarlane BBC News Saba Mozakka was one of the family representatives who helped guide creation of the memorial | By Andy McFarlane BBC News Saba Mozakka was one of the family representatives who helped guide creation of the memorial |
| A permanent memorial is being unveiled in London's Hyde Park, four years after suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured hundreds more by detonating backpacks loaded with high-explosives on the city's transport network. | A permanent memorial is being unveiled in London's Hyde Park, four years after suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured hundreds more by detonating backpacks loaded with high-explosives on the city's transport network. |
| Tall and imposing, the 3.5m (11.5ft) tall stainless steel pillars - or "stelae" - tower above those who wander in between. | Tall and imposing, the 3.5m (11.5ft) tall stainless steel pillars - or "stelae" - tower above those who wander in between. |
| There is one for each victim of the bombs that wrought chaos and destruction across central London on 7 July 2005. | There is one for each victim of the bombs that wrought chaos and destruction across central London on 7 July 2005. |
| The pillars are grouped into four clusters, symbolising the four attack sites - King's Cross, Aldgate and Edgware Road on the Underground and Tavistock Square, where the last of the explosions hit the number 30 bus. | The pillars are grouped into four clusters, symbolising the four attack sites - King's Cross, Aldgate and Edgware Road on the Underground and Tavistock Square, where the last of the explosions hit the number 30 bus. |
| The casting process has ensured that each stelae - while produced from the same mould - has unique characteristics. | The casting process has ensured that each stelae - while produced from the same mould - has unique characteristics. |
| Among the names of victims listed on a nearby plaque is that of Behnaz Mozakka, a 47-year-old biomedical officer at Great Ormond Street children's hospital and mother of two who died aboard a Piccadilly Line Tube train near King's Cross. | Among the names of victims listed on a nearby plaque is that of Behnaz Mozakka, a 47-year-old biomedical officer at Great Ormond Street children's hospital and mother of two who died aboard a Piccadilly Line Tube train near King's Cross. |
| It's a huge responsibility to deliver something meaningful on behalf of the bereaved families Architect Andrew Groarke | It's a huge responsibility to deliver something meaningful on behalf of the bereaved families Architect Andrew Groarke |
| After seeing the pillars in situ for the first time, her daughter Saba, 28, from Finchley, described it as "a poignant moment... a very important step in terms of our personal grief". | After seeing the pillars in situ for the first time, her daughter Saba, 28, from Finchley, described it as "a poignant moment... a very important step in terms of our personal grief". |
| "We haven't had anywhere we can properly pay tribute to those we've lost." | "We haven't had anywhere we can properly pay tribute to those we've lost." |
| For her, it marked the end of 18 months' work liaising with the design team on behalf of the families. | For her, it marked the end of 18 months' work liaising with the design team on behalf of the families. |
| Saba described the results as "truly incredible", and her reaction was welcomed by the memorial's creators - London-based architects Carmody Groarke. | Saba described the results as "truly incredible", and her reaction was welcomed by the memorial's creators - London-based architects Carmody Groarke. |
| Two years ago, when Kevin Carmody and Andrew Groarke bid for the contract from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, they offered no designs or even firm ideas. | Two years ago, when Kevin Carmody and Andrew Groarke bid for the contract from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, they offered no designs or even firm ideas. |
| But their offer of a "process" involving consulting victims' families at every stage of development struck a chord with the relatives. | But their offer of a "process" involving consulting victims' families at every stage of development struck a chord with the relatives. |
| "It was about them [the architects] listening to the needs of the families," said Ms Mozakka. | "It was about them [the architects] listening to the needs of the families," said Ms Mozakka. |
| As the design team trod the fine line between allowing for public remembrance and private reflection, so they built a strong personal connection with the project. | As the design team trod the fine line between allowing for public remembrance and private reflection, so they built a strong personal connection with the project. |
| "It's a huge responsibility to deliver something meaningful on behalf of the bereaved families," said Mr Groarke. | "It's a huge responsibility to deliver something meaningful on behalf of the bereaved families," said Mr Groarke. |
| They asked what the relatives wanted, gained their trust and began formulating ideas. | They asked what the relatives wanted, gained their trust and began formulating ideas. |
| 'Pride' | 'Pride' |
| Deciding on location was the first key step. | Deciding on location was the first key step. |
| Initial suggestions that it should be situated in Tavistock Square - where 13 people died aboard the number 30 bus - had already been rejected. | Initial suggestions that it should be situated in Tavistock Square - where 13 people died aboard the number 30 bus - had already been rejected. |
| Ms Mozakka said: "It was important to get a location in central London which reflected the enormity of events. | Ms Mozakka said: "It was important to get a location in central London which reflected the enormity of events. |
| "We wanted something high-profile and grand enough to show how important those who died were and we are very proud that it's being created in Hyde Park." | "We wanted something high-profile and grand enough to show how important those who died were and we are very proud that it's being created in Hyde Park." |
| The team looked into the park's history and decided on a site next to Park Lane, where a path once led to a gate before both were removed during the 1970s during road widening. | The team looked into the park's history and decided on a site next to Park Lane, where a path once led to a gate before both were removed during the 1970s during road widening. |
| Nearby grass banking was extended and trees planted to give the site some shelter. | Nearby grass banking was extended and trees planted to give the site some shelter. |
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| Relatives of 7/7 victims on the new memorial | |
| As you stroll along Lover's Walk, the stelae reveal themselves in rows - the patterns of the groupings changing as you approach. | As you stroll along Lover's Walk, the stelae reveal themselves in rows - the patterns of the groupings changing as you approach. |
| Glinting in the sun - or given intriguing surface patterns by rain - they are designed to draw in passers-by, inviting them to discover the significance of the pillars. | Glinting in the sun - or given intriguing surface patterns by rain - they are designed to draw in passers-by, inviting them to discover the significance of the pillars. |
| Mr Carmody said: "We wanted people to meander through, discovering the memorial's meaning by interacting with it." | Mr Carmody said: "We wanted people to meander through, discovering the memorial's meaning by interacting with it." |
| Closer inspection reveals only the front, featuring the inscription of the date, time and location of the bombing it represents, to be a "perfect", smooth surface. | Closer inspection reveals only the front, featuring the inscription of the date, time and location of the bombing it represents, to be a "perfect", smooth surface. |
| Its sides appear mottled and grainy, thanks to an ancient technique using sand moulds employed by Sheffield's Norton Cast Products. | Its sides appear mottled and grainy, thanks to an ancient technique using sand moulds employed by Sheffield's Norton Cast Products. |
| Random swirls adorn the remaining face, created naturally as the hot metal reacted with air during the open-casting process. | Random swirls adorn the remaining face, created naturally as the hot metal reacted with air during the open-casting process. |
| "People seem compelled to touch the stainless steel," said Mr Carmody. | "People seem compelled to touch the stainless steel," said Mr Carmody. |
| The architects' near-obsessive approach led them to have a new typeface created for the inscriptions, described as an evolution of a centuries-old London font which inspired the Underground lettering. | The architects' near-obsessive approach led them to have a new typeface created for the inscriptions, described as an evolution of a centuries-old London font which inspired the Underground lettering. |
| Sensitive | Sensitive |
| They admit such a sensitive project "required a different level of understanding". For example, relatives became so involved they asked to visit the foundry to view the castings. | They admit such a sensitive project "required a different level of understanding". For example, relatives became so involved they asked to visit the foundry to view the castings. |
| Those who worked on the project were mindful of it's significance. Martin Bhatia, of Colvin & Moggridge landscape architects, described it as "an honour". | Those who worked on the project were mindful of it's significance. Martin Bhatia, of Colvin & Moggridge landscape architects, described it as "an honour". |
| "There's a sense that it could easily have been us who died," he said. | "There's a sense that it could easily have been us who died," he said. |
| Perhaps inevitably with a public installation, it is not to everyone's liking. | Perhaps inevitably with a public installation, it is not to everyone's liking. |
| "It's completely meaningless to me," said one bereaved relative, who is not attending the unveiling. | "It's completely meaningless to me," said one bereaved relative, who is not attending the unveiling. |
| "I understand the concept but I'm just not comfortable with it. I don't feel it will give me a sense of peace." | "I understand the concept but I'm just not comfortable with it. I don't feel it will give me a sense of peace." |
| The woman, who asked for her name to be withheld to avoid offending other victims' relatives, said the steel could not reflect her relative's character. | The woman, who asked for her name to be withheld to avoid offending other victims' relatives, said the steel could not reflect her relative's character. |
| "I would have preferred a garden... something growing and not static," she said. | "I would have preferred a garden... something growing and not static," she said. |
| However, she admitted the liaison with the families had ensured the process had been fair. | However, she admitted the liaison with the families had ensured the process had been fair. |
| "You can't please all the people, all of the time. Perhaps when I go to see it, I might be more touched." | "You can't please all the people, all of the time. Perhaps when I go to see it, I might be more touched." |
| However, for Ms Mosakka, the 52 individual pillars are a reminder of the characters behind the headlines. | However, for Ms Mosakka, the 52 individual pillars are a reminder of the characters behind the headlines. |
| "They will stand tall in memory, as they did in life," she said. | "They will stand tall in memory, as they did in life," she said. |