They unveiled the eight finalists today. Lots of gardens, reflecting pools, named inscribed on walls, light effects. Here’s an AP story with a brief description of each. The NY Times has a slide show on its main page, which I can’t figure out how to link directly. And the Lower Manhattan Development Corp has more detailed explanations and illustrations.
I don’t know. It’s hard to tell from one slide. The ones whose description I liked best were not neccessarily the slides I liked best. I’m not blown away by any of them, I kind of wish Libeskind were designing the memorial too–but his plan took a while to grow on me as well.
EDIT: ok, I looked at all the slides. I think I like “Reflecting Absence” the best. It has sort of a Louis Kahn feel. A lot of the others seem like too much.
These are all too high concept/maintenance. Nothing beats a long black stone wall with names enscribed.
I like the Garden of Lights, even if it is from a French architect. Though the Twin Piers proposal –
http://www.slate.com/id/2091407/
– really had something going for it.
I like the Twins Piers proposal, in combination with the annual light tribute and the exposed wall (is that still in the cards?) better than any of these, too.
I wonder if there’s still a chance….despite the weird, messy structure of the design process, public opinion does have a big role to play, judging by them going back to the drawing board when everyone disliked those mediocre proposals at the beginning.
As a result of missing (yes,seriously), the sterile, almost eerie plaza in front of the towers and the cavelike arcade beneath them, I lean toward Reflecting Absence for the former (minus the trees) and Dual Memory for the latter.
The WTC was neither lovely nor soothing. It was a strange antiseptic construct, a structure that through sheer force of mass redefined the meaning of New York Skyline to include all of Manhattan, not just from the 30s up. It is hard to make a memorial, sentimental by nature, to buildings that so eschewed any sentiment whatsoever.
Whatever design is chosen, though, without enforcement of peddling laws, any postive attributes it might have will be buried, as the area currently is, under a heap of vile opportunism and (if a lust for a glimpse of others’ misery can be termed so) a lecherous gawking from a segment of our population not quite clear on the idea that the term “human” does not necessarily apply unconditionally. When I was unfortunately in the area a few weeks ago, the throngs of tourists, souvenirs in hand, taking each others’ smiling photos in front of the crater, and the hapless fellow, moppet in tow, who referred to it as “Ground Zero” and was so unacquainted with the structure or its former occupants that he required directions to find it, reinforced a view of my fellow citizens that I generally try to keep in check, lest I lose the ability to maintain hope (or politeness).
When I was unfortunately in the area a few weeks ago, the throngs of tourists, souvenirs in hand, taking each others’ smiling photos in front of the crater, and the hapless fellow, moppet in tow, who referred to it as “Ground Zero” and was so unacquainted with the structure or its former occupants that he required directions to find it, reinforced a view of my fellow citizens that I generally try to keep in check, lest I lose the ability to maintain hope (or politeness).
I never visited New York when the WTC existed. One of those things.
When I visited New York last, February 2002, I didn’t even plan to go near where the WTC had been: to me it would have been like gawping at an open grave, or slowing down to watch a car crash.
But I was walking with a friend through downtown Manhattan and we were heading towards Chinatown when suddenly she said “That’s where it was. Behind the green fence.” It was an indescribable shock to me. I still had no impulse to gawp.
Oh yeah – I agree with Judson. For a long-term memorial, you want to think long-term: engraved stone works.
For some reason, I hate it when people refer to it as “Ground Zero.” It’s so action movie sounding. It’s so not New York.
I understand tourists going to the site even if they never did before–I’ve gone to the Vietnam memorial even though I wasn’t alive then and never lost anyone. But it’s part of this country’s history now.
Taking your own picture in front of it and the souvenirs and postcards are weird, though.
I really didn’t like that plaza. I did like them from a distance; I don’t know if that was architecture or sheer familiarity.
I understand tourists going to the site even if they never did before–I’ve gone to the Vietnam memorial even though I wasn’t alive then and never lost anyone. But it’s part of this country’s history now.
You’re absolutely right… it’s the lack of reverence that really chewed me up about it. I guess that added to my frustration with some people who didn’t previously give a hoot for New York or New Yorkers (actively held disdain for them, in fact) suddenly wearing their sympathy for the city (not very deep sympathy) on their sleeves to give me too much of a “locals only” attitude.
I really didn’t like that plaza. I did like them from a distance; I don’t know if that was architecture or sheer familiarity.
No, I didn’t like it or the underground mall either when they were still around. But, you know, I really miss them now. Guess I still haven’t gotten used to the idea it’s all gone forever. Had a fair amount of adventures around that complex. 🙂
I didn’t have so many adventures myself (only went up to the top once, when I was about 8….also finally got oriented there after wandering all over lower Manhattan looking for a courthouse one hot summer day.)
I didn’t learn till after it happened that they were finished only a year or two before I was born.
I’ve gotten a big NYC-against-the-world chip on my shoulder too. Bush’s disregard for the city, combined with the convention, is what personally lost me any residual post-tragedy respect. And don’t get me started on Pataki.
It is funny, walking by there now. I have a friend who lives only a few blocks a way, near city hall, and the first time I was there afterwards it was like there was this enormous hole. But now I don’t notice so much unless I happen to walk right by it.
“As a result of missing (yes,seriously), the sterile, almost eerie plaza in front of the towers and the cavelike arcade beneath them”
I miss them, too. The Path train to the WTC was part of my alternate commute: I’d visit there two, maybe three times a month to hit the bookstore there on my way to work. It was a really good bookstore. Then I’d go outside, light up a cigarette and look up… and up… and up… because, well, because I just felt like it.