Memorial to 9/11 Victims Is Selected

Associated Press ^ | January 06, 2004 | Amy Westfeldt

[AntiGuv]

NEW YORK - Two pools of water with pine trees and a paved stone field has been chosen as the design for the World Trade Center memorial, capping an eight-month international contest that drew more than 5,000 submissions, The Associated Press has learned.

"Reflecting Absence" created by city designer Michael Arad, was chosen by a 13-member jury of artists, architects, civic and cultural leaders after months of intense deliberation that culminated in a marathon 12-hour-long meeting this week.

The decision was to be announced publicly later Tuesday.

[AntiGuv]

[mlbford2]

Looks like the Mirage--Vegas.

[AntiGuv]

[areafiftyone]

You are right it does look like Mirage in Vegas. I don't like it.

[AntiGuv]

[finnman69]

This is the one I have been rooting for all along.

[finnman69]

Reflecting Absence

This design proposes a space that resonates with the feelings of loss and absence that were generated by the death and destruction at the World Trade Center. A pair of reflective pools marks the location of the towers' footprints. The surface of these pools is broken by large voids. These voids can be read as containers of loss, being close-by yet inaccessible.

The pools are submerged thirty feet below street level in the middle of a large open plaza. They too are large voids, open and visible reminders of the absence. The pools are fed by a constant stream of water, cascading down the walls which enclose them. Bordering each pool is a pair of sloped buildings. These buildings create a sense of enclosure, capturing the exposed outer corners of the memorial site and defining a path of circulation around each pool. They also guide visitors to the site into the memorial itself.

Visitors begin their descent into the memorial by entering one of these buildings. This descent removes them from the sights and sounds of the city and immerses them in a cool darkness. As they gradually proceed, step by step, the sound of water falling grows louder, and more daylight filters in from below. At the bottom of their descent, they find themselves behind a thin curtain of water, staring out at an enormous pool that flows endlessly towards a central void that remains empty. A ribbon of names surrounds this pool and the enormity of this space and the multitude of names lining it underscore the vast scope of the tragedy that took place at this site. Standing there at the water's edge, looking at a pool of water that is flowing away into an abyss, a visitor to the site can sense that what is beyond this curtain of water and ribbon of names is inaccessible.

The names of the deceased appear to be in no discernible order. The apparent randomness reflects the haphazard brutality of the deaths and allows for flexibility in the placement of names of friends and relatives in ways that permit for meaningful adjacencies; for example, siblings who perished together at the site could have their names listed side by side. Family members seeking out the name of a loved one are guided by on-site staff or a printed directory to their specific location. The location of the name marks a spot that is their own.

In between the two pools is a short passageway that links them at this subterranean level. At its center is a small alcove where visitors can light a candle. Across from it, a long corridor leads to a chamber that houses unidentified remains. This space is only open to family members and serves as a private contemplative space.

The end of a visit to the memorial is marked by an ascent back to street level. Visitors are again ensconced by darkness, but now the long and narrow passageway leads up towards daylight. As they emerge from the ramped enclosure, they find themselves back in the open plaza.

The western edge of the plaza is bounded by a cultural building that shelters the site from the highway. The remaining three sides are open and link the plaza to adjacent streets and neighborhoods. Tall pines punctuate the plaza's surface, softening its character and creating shaded areas within this large outdoor room. Designed to be a mediating space, the plaza belongs both to the city and to the memorial. It encourages uses that are both contemplative and everyday. It is a living part of the city.

[AnnaZ]

Ugh.

[ServesURight]

Look, it's better than nothing. How long are people going to complain about the new WTC design and memorials?

Build it and get it over with. The time is now for cranes, cement and construction workers, not endless bickering from hand-wringers who have more input on the project than the relatives of 9/11 victims themselves.

[Physicist]

"The Toddler Motel"

[Shermy]

The white structure is definitely hotel-y.

What's with the pine trees?

[rintense]

Will each stone have a victim's name on it?

[finnman69]

they picked they scheme I liked.

I should have submitted a design. My idea was very similar to this scheme.

[mlbford2]

I think there should be a 30ft bronze statue of Dubya with a bull horn. Think the Dems would go for that?

[Ronin]

Ugh is OK. Puke is better.

There should be buildings there. TALL, STRONG, PROUD buildings, filled with strong, proud American and allied businesses. Anything less is surrender.

This design will cause snickers and contempt among our enemies because each time they look at those holes they can say "Hey! Look at that we did!"

God, some of the designs I saw previously were bad, but this is absolutely the WORST!!!

[Shermy]

[mlbford2]

I think we should just build underground with huge gun turrets on the surface. But the flowers, trees and waterfalls are nice too.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Never Forget

A pretty autumn morning,
The sky so clear and blue.
But soon the peace was shattered,
They hit the towers two.
Our Pentagon assaulted,
Americans were killed.
Some heroes saved one target,
By crashing in a field.
It seems like it just happened,
It’s been two years today.
So take a solemn moment,
I hope that most will pray.
God bless our troops and leaders,
Give guidance to us all.
For only with your blessing,
Will this great evil fall.

Conspiracy Guy 9/11/2003

[mlbford2]

Its funny. I just got a email from the Mirage just a couple a minutes ago. Maybe this is a sign I should stay there in on my vacation to Vegas in May.