Oshinowo Studio‘s memorial design for Sierra Leone’s forgotten WWI carrier corps is one of those rare projects that hits you right in the gut – powerful, restrained, and loaded with meaning. The Lagos-based firm recently revealed their winning proposal commemorating the over 17,000 Sierra Leoneans who transported supplies, ammunition, and wounded soldiers during the war, yet remain largely invisible in historical accounts.
Reclaiming Erased Histories Through Form
The memorial features weathered Corten steel columns arranged in formation – each representing a carrier who served in the war. These columns vary slightly in height and positioning, creating a subtle rhythm suggesting both order and individuality.
“We were struck by how completely erased these men have been from official war narratives,” explains Tosin Oshinowo, founder and principal architect. “Our design creates a physical presence that demands acknowledgment – you literally cannot pass through this space without navigating between these standing figures.” Similar approaches to abstraction in memorial architecture have been explored in projects that balance commemoration with contemplation.
Material Language and Visitor Experience
The Corten steel will develop a protective rust patina over time, metaphorically representing the passage of time and gradual recognition of these forgotten figures. The memorial’s base uses locally quarried granite, grounding the project in its specific location. Shallow reflecting pools catch and amplify light at specific times of day.
The memorial orchestrates movement along a gently sloping path that gradually reveals the installation. At the center lies a small pavilion housing historical documentation and personal accounts from descendants of the carriers. Digital interfaces allow visitors to search records and contribute family stories, making the memorial an evolving archive. This consideration of material performance in tropical climates builds on research into climate-responsive memorial design.
The columns are positioned based on solar studies to create dramatic shadow patterns that change throughout the day. On the anniversary of the carrier corps’ departure, morning sun aligns with a specific viewing corridor, illuminating a bronze plaque bearing the known names of carrier corps members.
The project is scheduled to break ground later this year, with completion expected in 2026, coinciding with the 110th anniversary of the carrier corps’ formation. When completed, it will stand as a powerful testament to both historical truths and architectural imagination – showing how thoughtful design can make visible what has long been hidden from public consciousness.
