This project was designed for the national competition for the monument of the Railway. In the railway transportation system, many components take part in shaping the railways. Among them, Steel profiles caught our attention because of their forms and how they directly remind us of railways. They are typically 6 meters in length, and are aligned to form the continuous track of a railway. In Iran, due to the low standards of wagons and harsh environmental conditions, these rails often need to be replaced and decommissioned earlier than expected.

These led us to wonder:
Can this familiar element be repurposed as an unconventional material for creating a memorial?
How can a monument be designed to reflect its cause both literally and figuratively?
What happens when we take something utilitarian and ask it to perform as a monument?
How can the rail transcend function to become a symbol?

We decided to arrange typically Horizontal rails, vertically on a 6x6 grid, 75 centimeters apart, on a concrete platform. Therefore discarded railway rails will be repurposed to create a monument that transcends their original utilitarian function. The design explores the dialogue between material memory and architectural innovation, emphasizing sustainability by giving a second life to used materials.
Through a carefully constructed grid of sanded metal profiles, the monument reflects its surroundings, constantly changing with light and perspective, symbolizing the dynamism of railways and their enduring cultural legacy. By shifting the narrative from efficiency to expression, the monument invites viewers to engage with the historical and material essence of rails, reinterpreting them as elements of art and reflection.