Eternal Flame
Cotton Tree Cenotaph Maroochydore
This project connects and extends my architectural and artistic works. The works were commissioned by Maroochy RSL as an extension to the Cotton Tree Cenotaph at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast of Australia for the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice of WW1.
This is the first artificially illuminated exterior Eternal Flame in Australia. The brief and subsequent design developed with an emphasis on the creation of a sacred space for the place on the eastern arm of the Cenotaph’s two axes. The space is created by a low and gently curving wall of precast concrete panels clad in black granite. The wall protects the flame plinth also of precast concrete. The project team considered a number of options before deciding to deliver a ‘green’ alternative to the traditional gas flames. The designs flame element has been cast in solid bronze and is protected from direct sunlight by four bronze shields. Each shield represents a division of the Australian armed forces: Navy, Army, Air Force and Merchant Navy - which collectively protect the flame. The flame is animated from below using a system of computer controlled LED lighting which adjusts from daylight to night.
The mural wall depicts other ‘natural monuments’ of the Sunshine Coast - from the left, Mount Coolum (and breaching Humpback Whale), Mudjimba or ‘Old Woman’ Island, The Pandanus trees of Alexandra Headlands and on the right, the view to the Glasshouse Mountains from Mary Cairn Cross on the ranges just behind our beautiful beaches. These have been sandblasted onto polished slabs of black granite.
The photographs are my own with the exception of the Whale (acknowledgements and thanks to Sunreef Mooloolaba). The photographs were manipulated into vector art for application of stencils for sandblasting.
The design delivers on our intention to create a local and significant connection for our community’s remembrance of all past conflicts and in particular of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, or healthy minds and bodies over the short span of Australia’s modern history.
The photographs below are from our 3D CAD software and are part of the initial design submission to Sunshine Coast Council.
Crossley Architects team's design as presented to Council.
Another view.
The original design was round and developed into the square to keep to the budget. A better result in the end.
One section right hand portion of the wall has been inscribed with 2 verses of the Ode for the Fallen written by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) , one of which reads:
‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Above these words is a bronze triangle which depicts the texture of a wall, our world, cracked and broken by conflict. From this crack a poppy flower emerges, in memory of the fallen and with seed pods as symbol of both hope and possibility for our collective future.
The memorial was dedicated on Saturday 10 November 2018 and on Sunday, 11 November 2018 our community gathered here to remember the fallen, and to reflect upon the significance of the 100th Anniversary of the silence of the guns of the Great War.
‘Lest we forget’.
Night view
Dusk view
Daytime view
Evening view
My heartfelt appreciation and thanks to:
Mick Liddelow & Ian Smylie (President and Board Member, Maroochy RSL )
Phillip Piperides, Perides Art Foundry (Ceramic shell bronze casting, finishing, assembly and patination)
Jesse Muntz, Danny Long and Simone Toce (Crossley Architects crew)
James Graham (Luxplot Lighting Design)
MMS Memorials (Sandblasting)
Sunreef Mooloolaba (Whale Breaching photograph)
Park Forge Group (Construction)
Janice Pryde (Studio assistance, support and love)
The progressive photos below show the sculptural process of the bronze elements direct in the wax.
The clay form for the flame shields. This was made using hinged plywood form, one for each shield shape.
The plaster mould. Each shield has a different diameter and width dimension. Four moulds then, 1 for each.
The inside of each mould retains the lines of the form moving across the clay. I wanted to keep this in the wax and into the bronze!
The molten wax was slush laid into each mold and finished with tools to a precise thickness. Thicker at the base to provide maximum strength for the finished shields.
3 of the 4 moulded waxes. They were kept laying in their moulds to ensure they retained their correct shape in the heat of the day.
A close of of the tooled finish to the inside. I wanted a combed finish to create a soft glow of reflected light.
The flame element is cast in one piece and around 30kg. Vandal proof and theft proof. It locks into place.
The panel including a fresh poppy emerging from the wall at the rear of memorial. This was sculpted direct in the wax.
The full triangular wax panel ready for casting. The poppy emerging from the crack symbolises new life rising again from the ravages of war.
The foundry furnace in the background with crucible lifting and pouring tools in the foreground. Also in the foreground is the freshly cast flame element just released from the ceramic shell encasement.
The 4 shield components were cast in multiple pieces and welded together due to their size. These are then welded together and finished.
Checking the setout of the shields prior to welding.
The final bronze flame shield completed, welded together, patinated and being given a final wax coating.
The stone slabs for the rear wall of the memorial being prepared for sandblasting. Two layers of adhesive film were applied, cut to create a 3 tone effect. Polished stone, single spray and double spray create black and 2 tones of grey.
The finished slabs on site after sandblasting went to plan.
Precast concrete elements lifted into place and grouted in position. The segmented wall to the rear is waiting for the installation of the stone panels.
The stone panels being installed.
The finished memorial is lit from below with computer controlled RGB multi-colour LED lighting. This is the first of it's type in Australia.
A close up of the colour changing effect of the lighting with creates a stylised flame effect on the cast bronze element. The bronze shields protect the flame from direct sunlight to allow them to be seen well during daylight hours.
A close up night view.
A night view of the completed eternal flame.