terms of history, the victims’ dignity, art, culture,
and anthropology; in the most positive sense of any
democratic memorial of societies.
Proposed action
The monument to the Fallen represents an insult
to democracy and to victims’ families murdered by
the Franco regime. The imposition at a symbolic,
architecture and monument level also means an
insult to the current society, which somehow tries
to make the structure go unnoticed, without success.
Nobody knows anything, but the monument for
the Fallen has an imposing, indestructible and
hierarchical presence in the city. The monument
holds an imposing position, which seems to talk,
lead and controls the city, and it can be seen from
the old town, while having a coffee in the Plaza del
Castillo, shopping in the sales term in the expansion
district, going to the chemist’s, shops, offices and
government offices
In a first consideration, it seems logical that such
an imposing presence should be demolished. As for
Project of ideas for a temporary intervention in the Monument to the Fallen
on Pamplona, by Nuria Ricart and Jordi Guixé | Photomontage: Núria Ricart
substance and form, this presence is annoying and
arrogant. This is the reason why the monument
was built and there are still obstacles from its somehow monstrous, which represents a symbol
initial function. Demystification is a necessary and of a terror that sometimes turns to nostalgia,
indispensable concept. The main step was taken: although hopefully for only a few. This is the reason
exhuming and moving the remains of the “fallen”. why the intervention must overcome the sacred
However, that is not enough. A whole symbolism and nostalgic symbolism that has already taken
survives in the walls, in the construction itself, in more years from our democratic present than from
the environment and, as we know, in its interior. our dictatorial past. This intervention cannot be
hijacked by all the political-social rumours. It also
The debate is therefore clear, and implies
two options: the total destruction and
demolition or a commitment with a
contemporary cultural and memorial
intervention project (which cannot be
partial, timid or stony).
entails the problem of overcoming the complex
clichés that the society from Pamplona and Navarre
- generally or particularly- is conservative and
“foral-catholic” (relative to the fueros pertaining to
the privileges of that region) “per se”. The symbol
of the turning point, the 21st century, the new ages
and socio-political dynamics can and must also be
The second option implies a double problem that I the intervention in the monument to the Fallen. This
have considered from the beginning: the memorial cannot be understood otherwise from an outside
intervention must be contemporary and bold, perspective.
social, civic and versatile, but it must also coexist In my opinion, the concealment of the physical
with a disproportionate, mythical structure and imposition of the victory and the movement of
Expert’s view
29