The London mayor, who was on the judging panel for the memorial design, spoke of the need for security measures at the £50 million development
October 24, 2017 15:56
The new national Holocaust memorial in Westminster could become the target of “criminal damage” and “hatred against the building”, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has admitted.
Speaking at the unveiling of the design for the new memorial and learning centre next to Parliament, Mr Khan said “clever design” would “minimise the chances of antisemitic or other sorts of crime”.
Mr Khan – who was on the judging panel for the competition which was won by a team led by architect Sir David Adjaye - spoke of the need for security measures at the £50 million development after being questioned on the subject by Shoah survivor Lily Pohlmann.
Asked by Ms Pohlmann about the security issue “bearing in mind the world we live in today”, Mr Khan said: “One of the things the jury did with each of the ten finalists was to ask questions about future-proofing.
“It’s a heritage park, it has got residents nearby, security is obviously a big issue… examples of criminal damage, hatred against the building.
“We are going to make sure that working closely with those building the memorial, the Holocaust centre, that once it is built we will make sure it is safe.
“That includes the obvious things about the security of the Royal Park, but it will also make sure that precautions are taken – you can design out some of these crimes.
“There are examples around the world of clever design making sure you can minimise the chances of antisemitic or other sorts of crime.
“There are other places around the world that have these centres which unfortunately can be a target for bad behaviour. We will work with them as well.”
Responding to a separate question, Sir Peter Bazalgette, chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, rejected claims of tension between the foundation and the leadership of a Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.
He said: “We actually agreed a joint statement with the Imperial War Museum two months ago. We agreed a joint statement in which their Holocaust exhibition very much puts the story of the Holocaust in the context of the Second World War.
“The distinction is this Holocaust memorial and learning centre very much puts the Holocaust in the context of today – our society today, our civic values. Being in the shadow of Parliament it is about civic society.
“You are quite right that subsequent to agreeing that statement with us they expressed some doubts. We are looking forward to sitting down with them in a matter of days, which they have agreed to do, to discuss it further.”
Sir Peter said he was confident that both projects would “work well” together in the future.
He also said the memorial, which is due to be completed in 2021, would prove satisfactory to all after a period of consultation.
He said: “I am confident that everybody, including all the members of parliament, will be satisfied we have done something for the nation, and we have also done something sympathetic to the locality.”
