I probably just wasn't paying attention, but I didn't know this was the design they came up with for the Sept. 11 Memorial. I don't claim to know much about architecture, but I do have some form of taste. I see things that I like, and I see things that look awful. Most of it falls somewhere in between, although I constantly find myself annoyed by all of the boxy strip malls of Bed Bath & Beyonds and Office Depots.
But this goes beyond the cheap architecture of suburbia. This is New York. Our biggest, most recognized city. It is a major symbol of America. Yet this building is wrong on so many levels. Keep in mind, I'm writing this as a sort of knee jerk reaction to seeing the above photo. I don't like how it completely dominates the skyline. It leaves me wondering, should we build a massive (and in my opinion ugly) building that turns the NYC skyline into exclusively a 9/11 memorial?
Should New York forever scream "9/11" to every resident and visitor? It seems unhealthy to me.
As I've said, I don't claim to possess any particular architectural knowledge, but I suspect that many of you will find the building ugly as well. For me, its just one of those instant visual gag reflexes. Perhaps you can articulate it for me, I'm at a loss. And I just don't understand why it can't be somewhat subtle. Must it scream, "Ha! Blow us up again fuckers!?!" I know many people would prefer that we did say that. These people are idiots. Little is accomplished by intentionally egging on the enemy. Instead, perhaps we could focus more on a tasteful memorial created to serve the families of those who lost their loved ones on that tragic day.
4 comments:
I also would like to know if this is the final revision. It seems to look like a giant hypodermic needle. Everyone took it for granted that we needed to build a giant replacement for it. I don't necessarily disagree, but I would think that a tasteful memorial that essentially left the gap in the skyline may have been another possibility.
When I saw NYC in person, it really struck me how obvious the gap in the skyline was. It made me feel really somber and reflective. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it's better to be reflective about past tragedies than to forget. Also, sometimes you can say a lot by saying very little. The Vietnam Memorial is iconic, yet incredibly simple. I felt the same way about the twin light towers in the sky afterwards. This tower, while definintely impressive, doesn't seem nearly as elegant.
I'm sure one of the major reasons they don't do a simple memorial is because they are replacing billions of dollars of real estate, but then again, that's no excuse to sacrifice the memorial aspect for the sake of more office space.
I liked what both of you said. I am not sure of the intentions. I suspect that you would not find a stated intention for the building to be strictly a memorial. But I think symbolically, it will be just that.
My understanding is that this is what they've decided on, but people are now pushing to change. I think change is possible, but this is what they're planning on.
I just don't think this building has any style at all. I seems like a giant piece of bad public space art. It turns the skyline into a triangle that meets at this building, one which looks like a sore thumb compared to the buildings that surround it. And the needle with the flashlight on the end of it seems pretty tacky to me too.
With regard to office space, what can I say? I think its a relevant concern, but in this situation should not be the top priority. Furthermore, I believe that a 9/11 lesson that was lost on many is that it may be time to reconsider the benefit of building mega-structures intended for human populations. Many experts have suggested that such structures pose serious safety risks to their occupants for many reasons, including terrorism.
Remember that Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it was first constructed, while today it is Paris' most recognizable architectural icon... no one would dare think of Paris without it. The same goes for the insanely modern Centre George Pompidou. Like a new song, or a wildly different type of painting style, some things grow on you over time. I wonder what people thought of the twin World Trade Centers when they were first built?
Not only does this new design look like a hypodermic needle, but -- as a monument to 9/11 -- it kind of resembles a massive middle finger, too. :)
Couldn't have said it better myself Dave. I'm sick of hearing that the world changed on 9/11. The world didn't change. We just began too se it in a different way.
I think it would be a huge mistake to make 9/11 the focus of everything. There are too many other great things that are happening and have happened. Why spend so much money to remind everyone of such a tragic event? Do people really need a reminder?
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