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.

[Libertina]

I liked the garden of lights better, this seems to waste all the space that should have been filled with prosperous American working professionals. Anyway, it's not my land.

[AntiGuv]

Oh, I hadn't been following that so closely. In any case, unless I'm mistaken the current designs restore some 10.8 million square feet of office & retail space to the WTC site which replaces that which was lost. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Either way, with vacancy rates as they are in Manhattan, they don't even really need all that commercial space. 7-8 million ft² sounds more appropriate IMHO.

[randog]

Oddly enough, I like it...

Take away the white venetian blinds and I like it too. It's readily identifiable as the site of the twin towers and the waterfall is kewl.

I see one design flaw, however. All those 90-degree granite edges are just begging skateboarders, rollerskaters, et.al. to abuse them. They're going to have to install stoppers or they're going to have a big problem with a broken and scratched memorial.

[AntiGuv]

BTW, I would've been bitterly disgusted if they'd selected that wretched skating rink design as had been rumored..

[Diddle E. Squat]

Libeskind must be pissed. This is a big FU to his masterplan.

Good. Though I really wish Childs could have saved the design. The Freedom Tower is turning out to be just an odd mish-mash ugly compromise, ironic since Libeskind's FT design was the only part of his plan that I liked. But I do like this memorial.

[dandelion]

Yeah, I thought about that too. If not for my pro-life tendencies, I'd say the designers ought to make the stops so if boarders/skaters tried to thrash on the memorial, they'd fall down into the 110-ft deep hole.

.

Actually, that'd be cool.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Say, do you know how much and what changes were made to the chosen design from its original presentation(as depicted in the renderings above)?

I read some rumors that this design was selected after some modifications were agreed to, but nothing as to what the changes were. But it is the internet...

[Ohioan from Florida]

Let the memorial be a memorial.

Absolutely! It is sacred hallowed ground there. Anyone who has ever visited Ground Zero can tell you that. I think this memorial will retain the necessary reverance.

[finnman69]

After the freedom tower, no other towers will be built till tenants pop up.

[finnman69]

Apparently the changes involve landscaping and the plaza which he depicted as pretty bare. I suspect the ramp structures down may be different in appearance also.

[finnman69]

that Star Trek things was god awful.

[aShepard]

Ah! The skateboarders will love the ramps.

This place will look like trash in two years, and as the dirt and smog of NYC covers the glass "cloud" either an army of windowwashers will be employed, or the place will be empty!

[stanz]

I agree with you. I work right across the street at 1 Liberty Plaza and I ache to see the Towers back the way they were.
Last week, for the first time since 9/11, I had occasion to take the R train from 1 Liberty. They recently re-opened the escalator in my lobby leading down to the R and it was eerie being on that escalator again after two years. It brought tears to my eyes to think that I wouldn't be going to the WTC concourse, but only as far as the train platform.

[ppaul]

Goofy, dumb design.
It will require constant maintenance, electricity, etc.
Not really something of lasting value.
Constant problems with kids will throwing in dish detergent, clogged drains, etc.
In 20 - 30 years, they'll fill in the fountains with concrete.
Just another modernist/post-modern "urban vision" waste of taxpayer dollars littering the landscape, like so many around the city and the country.

[SoKatt]

That was beautiful... thanks for posting!

If you liked that tribute, you'll like this one as well.
It's a 7 mg file so it may take awhile to load, but trust me on this- it's worth the wait. Turn up the volume, and break out the box of tissues.
http://attacked911.tripod.com/
Never forget.

[ppaul]

Reflecting Absence" created by city designer Michael Arad

What "cities" has this genius "designed"?

[ppaul]

Your submissions please:
AMERICA ATTACKED/AMERICA GOES TO WAR: Online FReeper library -
Post your links to videos, photos, graphics, etc. HERE

:

[AntiGuv]

I'm still amazed that even made it anywhere close to finalist status. What were they thinking? That Fortress of Solitude scheme should've been nothing more than a headfake test. Any juror who appeared to favor its selection then would've been instantly disqualified from any further participation with the process.. ;^)

[Ohioan from Florida]

You've got mail.