A significant new intervention to a historic memorial makes previously overlooked wartime service visible, combining conservation with contemporary memorial architecture and a civic beacon of light.
Freetown, Sierra Leone
About this story
Lagos-based Oshinowo Studio designed a structural-glass addition to Freetown’s existing war memorial, honoring the Sierra Leone Carrier Corps, whose members were not named on the original monument. The four glass blades rise above the historic memorial and carry the names of the fallen; the integrated beacon is intended to project light visibly across the city on commemorative occasions. The original monument was also restored. The project was commissioned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Studio founder Tosin Oshinowo is the credited architect. The public unveiling over the weekend of November 7–8, 2026, is reported by Wallpaper; the studio’s project page confirms the design and 2026 completion but does not independently confirm the unveiling date.
Status and timeline
Unveiled in November 2026; the project is listed as completed in 2026. The beacon is intended to be lit on significant commemorative dates.
Design highlights
A contemporary glass prism extends rather than replaces the historic memorial. Etched names and a beacon of light connect remembrance to the wider city, while restoration work addresses the existing stone monument. The studio describes a reinforcement strategy intended to support the addition without compromising the original masonry.
