The central question was: “How would you shape the area around the Monument so that it can inspire another generation?” We designed a circular, glass-roofed space around the base of the monument, uncovering the foundations of the monument. Thus history is made visible and the monument provided with a new perspective. The new foot of the monument houses a museum space and facilities. The person and the ideas of George Washington were an important inspiration for the design. This is symbolized in the design by including the quotation from his “Farewell Address”: “independence, peace at home and abroad, safety, prosperity, and liberty are all dependent upon the Unity Between the states”.

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