Babyn Yar

We propose an emotional experience that captures the palimpsest of historical events, creates a comprehensive memory and unifies, over time, the park by reclaiming the land in honor of those murdered and buried. A central space will proliferate plant species, endangered and symbolic, that will sustain the park's horticulture.

 Not a comfort zone but a disturbing, wordless space, where only the names of those killed appear. Our proposal affirms memory with materials and plants that are symbolic or create new meanings.    

 For the sites of execution, we propose to reserve the ground where atrocities took place and remains exist as unwalkable. From the air, the outline of Babyn Yar appears as a tree root. We extend this metaphor, creating a land turned inside out and filled with calcified roots. The ground above the burials at Babyn Yar and Pavlov are voids.  

Our proposal continues with a diamond matrix superimposed over the entire site for reconstituting and documenting the site's historical palimpsest. Plantings and meadows infill the diamonds. The paths are 40 meters apart. The matrix is both the map and the endless, contemplative paths. 

These paths and meadows will reclaim land surrounding existing non-park uses and their design bridges current use with the memorial mission. The desecrated tombstones will be recovered from the site and returned "home" to these infill areas within the borders of each cemetery. 

The reclaiming of sacred ground is sited at a central place where the ground opens, sheltering a protected island of local endangered plant species, a gift of life, of possibility, a place to honor the righteous and survivors of Babyn Yar and nurture our future– the ones that almost disappeared but survived with the help of the righteous. 

Symbolic of building unity for the memorial site, plantings are selected to reflect the specific cultures of the cemeteries. All cemeteries and historical events' boundaries are circumscribed by perimeter paths .

The Path of Sorrow is marked with four interventions from the march to Babyn Yar on September 29 - 30, 1941, and treated with a procession of “naked” debarked trees. 

Finally, the river path flows gently down through the ravine across the flood disaster zone and provides a nursery home for commemorative plants that replenish the memorial park.

Katia Shraga and Douglas Balder, 2016