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Drawing her inspiration from historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Pierre L'Enfant and from classical architecture such as the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the Greek Epidaurus amphitheater, studio art professor Karolina Kawiaka designed a plan for the grounds of the Washington Monument that was selected in June as one of six finalists in the "National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds."
The contest, which opened in Summer 2010, is intended to promote a public discourse of the potential uses of the site, according to James Clark, president of the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects and chair of the competition's steering committee.
Kawiaka's design, "The People's Forum," includes a large-scale amphitheater, an underground Washington Monument museum and a visitor center for the National Mall.
"I was trying to use the classical language of architecture to give ideas about American democracy," Kawiaka said.
The six winners of the National Ideas Competition will be featured in exhibits at the Virginia Center for Architecture in Richmond and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
