Final WTC Design Chosen

[Gorgan]

I'm not sure if we are putting that structure there for the right reasons. To me it seems that we are constructing these new structures to show off and tell everybody we are the strong. This is what sets us apart from other countries. We have always given off an aura that we are stronger and different then everyone else and i think this is the source of a lot of peoples anger towards us. To be honest with you i think we need to re-evaluate the way we portray ourselves. Putting the stupid "glass shard" structure were the WTC used to stand would only fuel more anger. We shouldnt put anything more then a simple memorial there. Our "over-individualism" thought process towards the world is what started the anti-america concept. Maybe we should tone down all of the things we do and start thinking more about how we portray ourselves.

[VonDondu]

Here's what I believe that we should do with the site of the former WTC.

First of all, we should build a tasteful, appropriate memorial there to honor the fallen and remember the terrible thing that was done to America as a whole by the terrorists.

But "make no mistake": we shouldn't be hateful to the vast majority of the people in the Middle East who have never done us any harm. For example, I wouldn't "flip off" the entire Middle East. You see, we'll be playing right into the terrorists' hands if we let our anger get out of control. The terrorists want to start a full-scale world "war", and I for one don't want to give it to them. Enough people hate America as it is; we don't need to add fuel to the fire. We don't need to alienate ourselves from people we could get along with if we tried. It would only lead to more senseless violence. The best thing to do would be to make peace with the people of the Middle East (excluding the terrorists, of course). The worst thing we could do would be to make ALL of them hate us. We need to take this opportunity to promote peace and portray America in a positive light, not as a bunch of angry, ignorant rednecks.

Second of all, we need to "get on with our lives", so to speak. The terrorists have inflicted pain upon us, but they have NOT destroyed our way of life. (Not YET, anyway. Besides, we're more likely to do it to ourselves. But I digress.) I say we should treat the site of the old WTC partly as a prime piece of real estate, which is exactly what it is, and continue using it for viable commercial purposes. We don't need to get in anyone's face or be gauche about it; we just need to carry on as usual, and that will be symbolic enough. Therefore, whatever is appropriate for the site from a commercial perspective would be fine, at least in this narrow regard, whether it's a mall or new towers or whatever the market will bear.

And finally, we should treat the site with pride. Again, any display of pride should be tasteful and modest. The main thing is, we shouldn't be afraid to build there again, and whatever we put there should make it clear that we love America. It should say, "We like this site, and we want to put a nice building here where people can do things that make our 'system' work. Everyone will see!" (If you want to work in "rays of light", that's fine with me.) But we should definitely avoid the hate-mongering and the "cowboy talk" and the macho swaggering; it's not becoming of us.

[HighLordDave]

A jury picked the design for the Pentagon memorial. You can read the story from CNN.com and see the design here.

[VoodooDali]

Quote:

Originally posted by HighLordDave A jury picked the design for the Pentagon memorial. You can read the story from CNN.com and see the design here.

Pretty boring memorial.

[VoodooDali]

This is a really good article on how Minimalism in art - once despised by the American public - has now become de rigueur for public memorials. Came out in the NYTimes last year.

ART/ARCHITECTURE; Out of Minimalism, Monuments to Memory

[Scayde]

Quote:

Originally posted by HighLordDave A jury picked the design for the Pentagon memorial. You can read the story from CNN.com and see the design here.

As in the 'shattered crystal' appearance of the Trade Center design, this memorial also evokes in me images of destruction. My first impression upon seeing the Pentagon Memorial was shards of tiles destroyed in a blast. Rather apocalyptic looking IMO.

[Gruntboy]

Von Dondu, I think Aegis was being less "speak before I think Aegis" and more "break the serious discussion with a crack referring to an amusing e-mail that went round Aegis".

That is a beautiful view you have of the site and the world. It is a marked contrast to my initial reaction upon returning home from New York in September 2001.

I told a colleague I felt we should turn Afghanistan into an ashtray.

I guess time heals all wounds, even the heart.

[Aegis]

Quote:

Originally posted by Gruntboy Von Dondu, I think Aegis was being less "speak before I think Aegis" and more "break the serious discussion with a crack referring to an amusing e-mail that went round Aegis". That is a beautiful view you have of the site and the world. It is a marked contrast to my initial reaction upon returning home from New York in September 2001. I told a colleague I felt we should turn Afghanistan into an ashtray. I guess time heals all wounds, even the heart.

Phsaw. I thought about it. I merely used it as an attention grabber, and a modd lightenr. The rest of my post though stands. These plans for grand, elaborate designs just seem out of place, and overbearing on the memory. As is stated with the theory of Okam's(spelling) Razor. The simplest solution is often the correct one. I think it deals with this situation nicely. While the design chosen is still elaborate, it is simpler in design then some of the others (and much more then my personal idea, both in engineering terms, and and socially )

[VonDondu]

Quote:

Originally posted by HighLordDave A jury picked the design for the Pentagon memorial. You can read the story from CNN.com and see the design here.

The last line of the CNN article says, "Human remains will not be incorporated." I think I know why it says that: the memorial looks like a graveyard full of tombstones, which might make people wonder if the victims are buried there. I'm not saying this to be funny. If there's going to be confusion like that, then it's probably not an appropriate design.

Correction: not just "tombstones", but tombstones you're supposed to sit on.

[VonDondu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis Phsaw... I merely used it as an attention grabber, and a mood lightenr.

I realize that. My previous post was not directed specifically at you (although you may certainly take it as a counterpoint to your own post, if you wish). I had a couple of things in mind. First of all, I was thinking about the email that went around a few weeks after the attacks that purported to show "the design for the new WTC": five towers just like the original two arranged like fingers, with the middle one sticking up. Ha, ha. Second of all, I was thinking about the angry, ignorant rednecks I have to listen to everyday who really believe that we should nuke the rest of the world. There's nothing funny about that, and someone really needs to point out the alternative.

[Aegis]

Quote:

Originally posted by VonDondu I realize that. My previous post was not directed specifically at you (although you may certainly take it as a counterpoint to your own post, if you wish). I had a couple of things in mind. First of all, I was thinking about the email that went around a few weeks after the attacks that purported to show "the design for the new WTC": five towers just like the original two arranged like fingers, with the middle one sticking up. Ha, ha. Second of all, I was thinking about the angry, ignorant rednecks I have to listen to everyday who really believe that we should nuke the rest of the world. There's nothing funny about that, and someone really needs to point out the alternative.

Ok. I didn't think you were directing any ill will my way. Never saw that particular e-mail. I was hoping I was being clever

[VonDondu]

Aegis, here's a link to "The New Design for the World Trade Center". I have no idea who deserves the credit for thinking of it first; it seems to have been copied, forwarded, and repeated quite a bit. Unfortunately, you were not the first. But if it's any consolation to you, plenty of people found it amusing. Enjoy.

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I was simply adding to the line of thought that Fable, HighLordDave, you, Gorgan, etc. were following: what should we do with the site, and what sort of message should we convey? I was actually responding to a couple of the points that Gorgan made, with which I partially agree and partially disagree.

Gorgan states that we should not build anything but a memorial on the WTC site. I respect that opinion, so rather than quoting his (or her) message and highlighting my disagreement, I simply added my own thoughts to the message thread. But I would like to point out that I agree with something else that Gorgan said: "To be honest with you I think we need to re-evaluate the way we portray ourselves... Maybe we should tone down all of the things we do and start thinking more about how we portray ourselves." Personally, I believe that we can send the message "We are strong" without also sending the message "And the rest of you are nothing", but Gorgan is correct in pointing out that we should be very careful not to send the wrong message. It's a very good point.

[Aegis]

Quote:

Personally, I believe that we can send the message "We are strong" without also sending the message "And the rest of you are nothing", but Gorgan is correct in pointing out that we should be very careful not to send the wrong message

Wow. Thats a really good point, and I've been in a lot of discussions with My Yankee cousins to the south. To be quite honest, this one really through me off my train of thought, never havening expected to here an American say that, especially after 9/11 (sorry for my stereotyping, but it's a sad fact ). I agree whole-heartily, that that is the best method. I'll have to re-read Gorgan's post, to see what exactly he has in mind (if he mentioned it). But, this goes right along the lines of what I was thinking about the nice, simple memorial. That seems to be the popular idea here in Ontario (not sure 'bout those messed BC folk out west @DW ). The way it should be decided (the memorial aspect of the reconstruction) should be by the familes of the victims of the the event. While it should be something that is astehically pleasing, it should also be something that isn't so grandoise(sp) in design that it's only acheivement is flaunting America's economic might. Something like would over-shadow the whole purpose to it being in existence.

Simplicity is the best method, in this case. Plain and simple.

EDIT: I was mistaken, I have seen that picture before. Must've pulled it up without realizing it. Yet again: Damn, thought I was being clever...