UPDATED 3.20pm: A curved memorial wall has been chosen for Canterbury's Earthquake Memorial.

The design, by Slovenian architect Grega Vezjak, has been chosen.

PHOTOS: Visual plans for Christchurch Earthquake Memorial

Close to 3000 submissions were received by CERA on the six short listed designs, with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee getting the final say.

CERA earthquake memorial development director Rob Kerr says the 150-metre wall provides plenty of space for gatherers to reflect.

"It's on the sunny side of the river, so it gets all day sun. Whereas some of the other designs - beautiful designs - but are underneath the tree where it gets a bit shady.

"Perhaps a little bit cold, especially at this time of year."

Tyler Adams told Newstalk ZB's Danny Watson it's a 150 metre long wall that will stretch along the Avon River in Oxford Terrace.

"It's a 3 metre high marble wall and in that marble wall will be placards dedicated to all the victims of the Canterbury earthquake, the February 22nd earthquake of course."

It will cost $11 million - $10 million will come from the government and the other $1 million from the Mayoral Fund.