FREEDOM TOWER

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

This was written on Design Community many years ago, on June 01, 2006. Today is the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I responded to comment in the context of the raging debate about Larry A. Silverstein and the economic terms at ground zero that reduced his role on the 16-acre site but also cleared the way for construction of the freedom tower. The deal called for Mr. Silverstein to surrender control of the $2 billion Freedom Tower, along with more than one third of the ground zero site, to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. But he would retain the right to build three office towers on the most valuable parcels there. The news article by the New York Times April 26, 2006, prompted a heated online debate on the Design Community Architects forum. I have been asked by friends to post it again. My response below:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9776

Freedom Tower

This is a crucible from which a new world symbol will rise, an event and a place of tremendous symbolic power. If it is in the nature of that which is mixed there, in that crucible, to empower injustice and self interest at the expense of the common man then it is probable that this attitude will be an enduring reality when built. If that is what is so, where it is conceived and in the manner in which it is delivered then that is likely to be it's enduring character.

Such an error would hand a great symbolic victory to a ruthless enemy.

But it is not so, there is no shortage of debate or deliberation, no shortage of consensus building efforts, or vision from any stakeholder. A park or a tower or both; regardless of the form it takes there will rise in the crucible the symbol of an open democracy where all men can speak openly, live freely, worship god freely and choose to serve according to their beliefs and values. This is a monument to giants who were disguised as ordinary people. This is a monument to those qualities of human character embodied in the lives of these giants who chose to serve and to live and die there according to the values upon which this nation was conceived and built. In my view the raging debate and endless diatribe are the triumphant thunder of a free society and a powerful and successful democracy at work. The power is in the diversity and deep and passionate unity by millions who do care.

The trees will grow, everywhere.
TERRY L. WALKER, AIA

[Landy]

I think to our advantage we aren't the "globalizers" anymore the United Arab Emirates and China assumed that role. We no longer build symbols of power. After seeing freedom tower in person the building seems more suburban rather that an urban symbol of corporate dominance.

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

Residential scale? REALLY?

Freedom Tower,is the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The 105-story supertall skyscraper is being constructed in the northwest corner of the World Trade Center site, occupying the location where the original 8-story 6 World Trade Center once stood. The north side of the tower runs between the intersection of Vesey and West streets on the northwest and the intersection of Vesey and Washington streets on the northeast, with the site of the original North Tower/1 WTC offset to the south.

Construction on below-ground utility relocations, footings, and foundations for the building began on April 27, 2006. On March 30, 2009, the Port Authority confirmed that the building would be known by its legal name of One World Trade Center, rather than the colloquial name, Freedom Tower. Upon its completion in 2013,[13] One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the United States and one of the tallest in the world, with its radio antenna reaching a symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541.3 m) in reference to the year of American independence.

Regarding China and the United Arab Emirates they have constructed some cool buildings. In the former case the buildings were built because the US and Western Europe with WTO involvement began trading with China, and in the later case the world is temporarily addicted to oil.

New cities built to create a new image for nation states arising in a new age may be impressive and suggest a new supremacy in the world of free trade, if were but for one thing.... The only big markets for the things they sell are here! They exist in our image.

[Landy]

Freedom tower in a nutshell sucks!

I meant the tower has certain scale* that is somewhat a better fit to the city skyline if compared to the past silhouete of the twin towers. And when you compare it with the Petronas in Malaysia, Taipei 101 or Burj Dubai freedom tower falls way behind on being a significant skyscraper.

*the word scale used in a purely postmodern fashion*

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

ok