Et-302 Memorial
Special Recognition in Architectural design
The ET-302 Memorial Park transforms a site of tragedy into a landscape of remembrance, healing and collective reflection. Honoring the 157 lives lost in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET-302 tragedy in Gimbichu, Ethiopia in 2019, the memorial is carefully integrated into the surrounding Rural landscape, allowing architecture, memory and nature to coexist in a meaningful dialogue. The design is guided by three interconnected principles: Absence, Revelation and Healing. Through a sequence of pathways, visitors are led on a contemplative journey that retraces the flight’s final moments, gradually revealing the story of the tragedy while creating opportunities for personal reflection and communal remembrance. The Main Monument rises as four sculptural forms representing Africa, Europe, North America and Asia symbolizing the continents which the victims are from. Beneath each structures there are plaques shaped like Boeing 737 MAX windows that list victim details by continent, with protruded spaces for private reflection. The Healing Monument is placed between the main monument and the amphitheatre. It is a corten steel sculpture recalling aerodynamic form and resilience. ET-302 Memorial serves as a Space of remembrance one that preserves memory, honors human dignity and offers future generations a place to reflect on loss, resilience and our shared humanity.
Participant category: Small company (< 10 employees)
Company name: Alebel Desta Consulting Architects and Engineers
Country: Ethiopia
Location: Gimbichu, Ethiopia
Client: The Boeing Company and Ethiopian Airlines Group
Team: Company-Alebel Desta Consulting Architects and Engineers Team-Alebel Desta,Biniyam Bewketu ,Daniel Waju,Edom Elias,Frezer Abrha,Tinsae Tsegahun,Abraham Lelisa,Kenimos Tesfaye,Elmi Olindo Contractors Photo credits-Aron Simeneh
Edition: 2026
Project status: Realised