The selected teams are as follows:
Foster + Partners with Yinka Shonibare and Michel Desvigne Paysagiste: The internationally renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners collaborates with artist Yinka Shonibare and landscape architect Michel Desvigne to develop a proposal that will blend architecture and art.
Heatherwick Studio with Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, Webb Yates, and Arup: The team from Heatherwick Studio, known for its innovative approach, collaborates with sculptor Halima Cassell, MRG Studio, as well as engineering firms Webb Yates and Arup.
J&L Gibbons with Michael Levine RDI, William Matthews Associates, Structure Workshop, and Arup: Landscape architecture firm J&L Gibbons leads a team that includes designer Michael Levine RDI, architectural firm William Matthews Associates, engineering company Structure Workshop, and Arup.
Tom Stuart-Smith with Jamie Fobert Architects, Adam Lowe (Factum Arte), and Structure Workshop: Landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith collaborates with Jamie Fobert Architects, artist Adam Lowe from Factum Arte, and Structure Workshop to develop their proposal.
WilkinsonEyre with Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, Andy Sturgeon Design, Atelier One, and Hilson Moran: Architectural firm WilkinsonEyre collaborates with designers Lisa Vandy and Fiona Clark, landscape architecture firm Andy Sturgeon Design, engineering company Atelier One, and Hilson Moran.
The selection process began a few months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The committee, comprising representatives from the royal family, government officials, and experts in architecture and design, considered the experience, innovation, and sensitivity of the candidates to historical and cultural issues.
The selected teams are invited to submit their design proposals in the spring, with the aim of celebrating the remarkable life and contributions of Queen Elizabeth II. The monument will be placed in St James’s Park, near The Mall at Marlborough Gate, a location of historical and constitutional significance, with a personal connection to the Queen.
The five finalists are asked to submit detailed proposals, including architectural designs, budgets, and implementation timelines. The committee will evaluate the proposals based on aesthetics, functionality, harmony with the surroundings, and the monument’s ability to convey the Queen’s legacy to future generations.
The announcement of the winning team is expected in the summer of 2025, following the evaluation of proposals by the selection committee. The final design will be officially presented in April 2026, coinciding with the year that would have marked the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
The creation of the monument is not only an architectural challenge but also an opportunity for the city of London to highlight its history by honoring a leadership figure who shaped the 20th and 21st centuries. The architectural proposals are expected to blend tradition with modern aesthetics, creating a space that will integrate harmoniously into the urban landscape while standing out as a monument of national significance.
As the process progresses, public and media interest remains high, with discussions focusing on potential design directions and how the monument will reflect the personality and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. Regardless of the final choice, this project will be a significant addition to London’s cultural and historical mosaic.
Photo: Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners, with Queen Elizabeth II
