Strategic Tendencies in Memorial Design Competitions and the Case of Mojkovac

Abstract

This study examines the design principles of award-winning projects in recent memorial design competitions held in Montenegro and explores how jury evaluation practices shape contemporary approaches to memorial architecture. Taking the Mojkovac War Memorial Center competition as a case study, the research analyzes the alignment and tensions between jury criteria and the authors’ unawarded proposal. Using qualitative content analysis of jury reports, competition briefs, and project presentations, the study evaluates design strategies across six thematic dimensions: representation of historical context, environmental integration, materiality and sustainability, public interaction, architectural language, and structural feasibility. The findings show that award-winning projects consistently favor abstract, timeless, and context-sensitive design languages, strong integration with topography, durable yet sustainable material choices, and immersive spatial experiences that position visitors as active participants. By linking jury discourses with design outcomes, the study proposes an analytical framework for understanding jury tendencies in contemporary memorial competitions and contributes to the literature on memorial architecture at both conceptual and methodological levels, offering practical insights for future competition strategies.