Salta Memorial

The Salta 2141 Memorial and Cultural Space is a poignant tribute to the 22 victims of a tragic explosion caused by a natural gas leak in Rosario, Argentina on August 6, 2013. The project aims to create a space of remembrance and cultural significance, inviting visitors to engage with the perception of time. Balancing conceptual and functional elements, the memorial integrates various sensory experiences that convey both the speed and character of perception. The design incorporates basic elements—water, light, and trees—to symbolize the creation and recreation of futures, reminiscent of the spatial experience found in great cathedrals.

The entrance to the memorial serves as an open and public space, welcoming students, families, and visitors without barriers. The arrival area is identified by white granite flooring, extending to the ceiling, creating a dynamic and continuous plaza. The use of materials like opaque and polished white granite maximizes natural light, emphasizing spatial and iconographic plasticity. The memorial’s entrance seamlessly connects with the nearby Music Institute, utilizing mirrored glass and diffused artificial light. “A rain of light,” a thin curtain of water, symbolically connects the corporeal with the eternal, providing a space for contemplation and remembrance. The water route culminates in the intimate space of a reflection pond with 22 pieces of polished granite, each representing a victim.

Over the reflecting pool, a commemorative sculpture by a contemporary Argentinian artist signifies the fragile balance between the earthly and the divine, the spiritual and the cultural, and the intersection of matter and memory. The memorial, through its design and symbolic elements, fosters an atmosphere of shared remembrance as visitors reflect on the tragedy within a cultural and creative environment.