Martyrs' Memorial
Bachir Yellès · Algiers, Algeria · 1982
Algiers’ Martyrs’ Memorial is formed by three enormous concrete palm-like fins that rise and meet around an elevated central core. Built to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Algerian independence, the monument combines sculpture, structure and urban symbolism at a scale visible across the capital. The curving concrete elements create a ceremonial space beneath the crown while the elevated site reinforces the memorial’s presence in the city skyline. Its architecture is closely tied to post-independence national identity and to the monumental public building programs of the period.