Freedom Tower

The WTC replacement was revealed at a press conference today. To tell you the truth, I really don't know what I think of the design just yet, it is kinda hard to tell what the upper part of the building is doing. But I like the name.

Update: Here's a NYT link that I think gives a better idea of what is going on. Does anyone else think that populating the open upper part of the structure with windmills instead of human beings is a de facto nod to terror? All the steel cabling certainly reminds me of barrage balloons.

Comments

[Julian Sanchez]

Cool design. But why are they naming it after the French?

[joe]

It bothers me that the view from New Jersey is considered more important than the experience of someone working next door, or walking from the train to their office two blocks north.

It's not a sculpture on a shelf.

[beanie]

That's a pretty good point, Joe, although I wonder if the view from "someone next door" wasn't considered. Perhaps it's better than a view from afar, yet we don't have the luxury of experiencing that context from a photo. I do hope that was taken into consideration, also, I'm interested in learning more about the interior beyond square footage. Is it an advancement of Skyscraper architecture, or just a different shell?

[mike]

It's not the same. It doesn't have the same imposing size and shape. Even though the building is technically taller, there will only be 70 stories, instead of 110. The rest just looks like filler. Style over substance, if you ask me. That being said, I am glad that the world's tallest building is returning to the site. It's the only way to prove we've won. We have won, right?

[beanie]

My gut reaction maps fairly closely to Mike's. It certainly doesn't have the same presence. It more closely resembles Hong Kong skyscraper architecture than it does American. This is by no means a negative critique, just an observation. Is it possible that we shouldn't want a new building to have a relationship to the one it's replacing due to the fact that their respective genesis' were of very different contexts? I'd wager this new direction may prove to have been the wisest. I do share your dissapointment with the number of stories.

[grant]

I just don't like the name. Freedom tower?

[Markus]

Instead of Freedom Tower, how about Jingo Junction?

[ed]

I can't wait till the birds start hitting the windmills.

[beanie]

"Freedom Tower" is a bit contrived, is it not?

[Russ]

To me, the whole hoopla about what would replace the old buildings was more than mildly annoying.

The idea that 'the public good' must be considered in the design of the building is entirely ridiculous. Only one thing should matter and that is the return on investment for the property owner. I couldn't care less if he decided to turn the area into an anti-terrorist theme park.

As far as the building itself looks, I personally liked the old buildings better. Big boxes without fancy ornamentation. They said "strictly business". I haven't figured out exactly what the new building will say. Probably something like "Look at my windmills; am I politically correct enough for you?"

[StMack]

It doesn't work for me on just about every level.

[Mark Fox]

So if I walk around with a fan on top of my head, can I claim to be the tallest guy on my block?

It is a seventy-story building with 2000 feet of hype. And something intended to be iconic shouldn't require an explanation. The goofy shape is to mimic the Statue of Liberty? Not for me.

Send all the politicians and architects to Hoboken, face them east, and it might well provide 20% of the power for all Manhattan.

[joe]

"It more closely resembles Hong Kong skyscraper architecture than it does American."

American high rise architecture has sucked since the 50s. We used to build the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. The Twin Towers/Sears Tower/John Hancock style is just awful. I'm glad we've moved beyond the "all business" tedium of high modernism. The city is supposed to be the place to live the good life!

[Swamp Justice]

I prefer this design which includes Tesla coils instead of windmills:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/wtc.ideas/designs/page.116/content6.html

[Jake]

Frankly, I think they should have gone back to the original prints and just built them back again. Call them The World Trade Center and leave it at that.

Business as usual, nothing to see here, if you think you're going to ruin us with a few deaths you're SADLY mistaken.

But maybe I'm just stubborn.

[Jake]

Frankly, I think they should have gone back to the original prints and just built them back again. Call them The World Trade Center and leave it at that.

Business as usual, nothing to see here, if you think you're going to ruin us with a few deaths you're SADLY mistaken.

But maybe I'm just stubborn.

[beanie]

Joe,

Chrysler and Empire, both excellent buildings. John Hancock, not as glamorous, but hardly awful.

Anyway, that was, in part, my point, (although not because I dislike High Modernism) the new context requires new architecture.

[Russ]

Perhaps it's my age that leads me to appreciate the modern, minimalist style of buildings, instead of the post-modern, expressive-conceptual style of architecture.

It may also be related to the fact that I've never worn a ponytail.

[Russ]

Perhaps it's my age that leads me to appreciate the modern, minimalist style of buildings, instead of the post-modern, expressive-conceptual style of architecture.

It may also be related to the fact that I've never worn a ponytail.

[ed]

Is today Groundhog day?
Is today Groundhog day?

[Mark Fox]

C'mon, joe, a few simple Mies/Johnson style buildings are O.K. My trouble is that nobody built anything different for 30 years, then we've been beset by Pei/Gehry/Seuss oddities for the last 20.

Jake: I like your sentiment. Let's insert an extra 5 or 6 floors in the new towers, just as an extra act of defiance.

[mike]

Personally, I like looking at a skyline and seeing variety and change- the Art-Deco Chrysler and Empire State represent their time and place in architectural history as surely as the international style old WTC and the, uhh, I guess post-modern (?) new WTC represent theirs. Geez, we might as well have an aesthetic debate about whether clothing in the 70's was uglier than the 80's. (Definitely) I like being able to see the evolution of the skyscraper as I look across Manhattan, and whether you like the style or not, you have to admit that the WTC represented mid-60's architectural hubris perfectly.

[Hmm]

Is anybody else alarmed at the thought of having heavy, moving pieces of metal overhead in a city? Windmills have been known to fall down.

[joe]

"Pei/Gehry/Seuss oddities" Nice touch.

Mike, you're right. They were the crowning achievement of the movement. Although to me, that's like talking about Jermaine Jackson's greatest album.

[david f]

Julian - nice reference. have some freedom toast while you're at it!!! 🙂

Joe - you don't like our big john building??? horrors! granted, it's not the tribune tower, but still...... anyways, that and sears are a lot nicer than the wtc wanna be amoco bldg that cost more than an arm and a leg to fix when its facade began slipping.

happy friday,
drf

[Warren]

I could believe that this is the least annoying of all possible designs, if it wasn't for the windmills and the name.

[mike]

I'm pretty sure that either Giuliani or Bloomberg came up with that name. Ironic, in a Republican way.

[StMack]

Whatever asinine name they give it - 99.9% of the population will call it the World Trade Center.

[joe]

Well it is the World Trade Center. That's the name of the site. The Freedom Tower is just one building at the World Trade Center.

[Steven Crane]

Drf!

The Amoco building HAS a facade? Is it even called the Amoco building anymore? Last time I was up there, it had some different name to it.

Anyway, the Smurfit-Stone building is #1.

[Kevin Carson]

Russ,

Your "private property" point would be a lot more convincing if the original WTC hadn't been a deal cooked up by David Rockefeller and the Port Authority.

[david f]

hey Steven Crane!

yup - you're right, it's the aeon or aon or something. it's like "northwestern station vs. ogilvie transportation center" - something you just can't get rid of.

i dunno of the stone facing/casing (that's probably a better discription than "facade") story about that building is true or not, but it's been at least an urban legend here that there were parts of the building that needed fixing due to the slipping of some of the outer gingerbread. but yes, that could be a rumor.

merry christmas to you!
drf

[Rhywun]

Kevin, I think it's private property now - the Port Authority sold the lease to Larry Silverstein just before 9/11 - altho the stuff I've read on that aspect has been a little confusing. That said, it's perfectly obvious to me that there has to be some sort of public input given what happened there. Too bad the public input has been ignored in favor of starchitect Libeskind's bizarre deconstructivist fantasies. The original plan had exploded cubes tumbling down into the pit - from the new photos that aspect looks to have been toned down, but it's hard to tell. Since I work one block away, I'm more interested in what happens on the ground. The original WTC was frankly a terrible example of 60's anti-city planning (the shopping was *underground*). I hope they come up with something more urban this time around.

[Pogo]

Has anyone thought about the severe slope of the (five) building?s roofs ? In an area that occasionally has snow/ice storms ? Where there are people walking below ? Will this be a perpetual ?hard hat? area ? How far can sheets of ice blow in the wind ?

[peter jung]

It's a more efficient design- the terrorists will be able to knock it down with just one airplane, not two.

[Ingolfr]

Why isn't this a huge story? My whole sense of things in NYC, on the airwaves, in the news??all of it?is like 9-11 lacks any real meaning. The name Freedom Tower doesn't relate to anything regarding the event. Bin Laden etc doesn't want to take our freedoms, they want to actually destroy us. Even the Soviets had an ideology that, at least on the face of it, espoused a utopian society. The Sovs insane hatred was based on class, something truly universal. These cats are truly nihilistic, despite the Allah bullshit. How come nobody seems to get that? The name of the tower should have a defiant ring, a resounding F__k you to ANYONE in the world, something like the Phoenix Tower.

[Gary McGath]

Will Peter Jackson's King Kong climb it?

[Rhywun]

I'm getting a little tired of hearing how it's going to be "the world's tallest building" when the last several hundred feet are going to be an empty lattice.

[joe]

Actually, by longstanding convention, the height of tall building is measured from the ceiling of the highest occupied floor. So this isn't even close to the world's tallest.

[not Weishaupt]

If it does reach up to 2k feet, then won't it qualify as the world's tallest free-standing structure?

[Douglas Fletcher]

Why it shouldn't look like a giant middle finger, I'll never understand.

[Snapper McGauhey]

Freedom Tower? ... 'Gutless Wonder' you mean. This pathetic monstrosity is a clear terrorist victory...first: the total destruction of America's magnificent World Trade Center and 3,000 lost souls...followed by second: The worlds shortest tallest building.

Yes, it is clear that the height of the structure is the tallest man made...but like a spineless jelly fish, the useable floors and leasable square footage is WELL BELOW ALL THE WOLRD'S TALLEST BUILDINGS!

What is all the pathetic iron work doing ABOVE the human occupied stories? This is a cowardly slam in America's face...a knife blade thrust into her back. I can not in good conscience consider any of those many 'floors' sticking out of the occupied lower stories to be anything but false bluster.

This is the world's shortest tallest building, a very goofy and pathetic and very embarrassing response...or cowaring...to Muslim terrorists.

First the Muslims succeeded in changing the election of our former ally, Spain...which turned out to be another gutless wonder in the end, unfortunately...and after the Spanish had won my heart too...sigh...

And now the Muslim cult has succeeded in cowaring the greated country in the history of mankind, by this example of fraudulent architecture...a tall building where one-third of it is not even useable space...nothing but a very ugly girder-work, forever appearing as if the building is not complete...forever presenting the appearance that America gutlessly cringes in the face of outside force and evil.

This abhorable monstrosity is more suited for Spain or France or Germany, than the America I know and love. Put a skirt around it, a figure of a blind lady with an upraised arm, middle finger extended and ship it to Paris where it'll fit in with the nature of its citizens more appropriately.

As an American I am appalled. And the typical politician's propoganda of calling something by a name other than what it is...in this case the world's tallest 'building'... and pretending to give it nobility in hallow words a.k.a. "Freedom Tower", will not belie the fact it is not all building, and is far, far too much tower than building, and in reality is not as much evidence of 'Freedom' as it is of 'Timidity'.

And thus as an American, this tall piece of disparaging scaffolding sickens me.

[Snapper McGauhey]

Freedom Tower? ... 'Gutless Wonder' you mean. This pathetic monstrosity is a clear terrorist victory...first: the total destruction of America's magnificent World Trade Center and 3,000 lost souls...followed by second: The worlds shortest tallest building.

Yes, it is clear that the height of the structure is the tallest man made...but like a spineless jelly fish, the useable floors and leasable square footage is WELL BELOW ALL THE WOLRD'S TALLEST BUILDINGS!

What is all that pathetic iron work doing ABOVE the human occupied stories? This is a cowardly slam in America's face...a knife blade thrust into her back. I can not in good conscience consider any of those many 'floors' sticking out of the occupied lower stories to be anything but false bluster.

This is the world's shortest tallest building, a very goofy and pathetic and very embarrassing response...or cowaring...to Muslim terrorists.

First the Muslims succeeded in changing the election of our former ally, Spain...which turned out to be another gutless wonder in the end, unfortunately...and after the Spanish had won my heart too...sigh...

And now the Muslim cult has succeeded in cowaring the greatest country in the history of mankind, by this example of fraudulent architecture which was supposed to represent our NATIONAL PRIDE...a tall building where one-third of it is not even useable space...nothing but a very ugly girder-work, forever appearing as if the building is not yet complete...forever presenting the appearance that America gutlessly cringes in the face of outside force and evil.

This abhorable monstrosity is more suited for Spain or France or Germany, than the America I know and love. Put a skirt around it, a figure of a blind lady with an upraised arm, middle finger extended and ship it to Paris where it'll fit in with the nature of those citizens more appropriately than here.

As an American I am appalled. And the typical politician's propoganda of calling something by a name other than what it is...in this case the world's tallest 'building'... and pretending to give it nobility in hallow words a.k.a. "Freedom Tower", will not belie the fact it is not all building, and is far, far too much tower than building, and in reality is not as much evidence of 'Freedom' as it is of 'Timidity'.

And thus as an American, this tall piece of disparaging scaffolding sickens me.

[Kirk Dogg Slim]

Snapper McGauhey you are the spineless pile of shit that makes this country hated by everyone else. I bet youre a redneck hillbilly that went around after 9/11 harassing anyone that so much resembled a muslim, but now your just like most of the people in this country that walk around talking about unity. Youre a fucking hypocrite, and I dont even know you, alls i have to do is read your stupid fucking comments. Instead of crying about how tall or how much space the new building will or wont be & have, how about you for just one second think of modesty. Yeah the top floors may be nothing but show, but by building the tallest piece of architecture ever it shows these muslim terrorists that they cannot break the spirit or soul of this country. And if you are so sick by this "monstrosity of a building" move to Nebraska where you can look at an aplothera of five story high rises with full available and no wasted office space; that might be more to your liking. Go fuck yourself.

[Prescription Drugs]

Prescription Drugs

[Jaz]

I dont like it...it doesn't do justice to the real world trade centre.
Muslims need to know that they will never win and their cult is nearing its final end.
All countries bordering the Islamic empire should unite. Long live the true freedom fighters. Long live America. Long live the fighters of terror: India-Russia-Serbia-Israel-America.

[Perry]

I think the design by Libeskind/Child, although beautiful in its own right, is not the right design for the WTC replacement. It should be a multi-purpose, sleek, modern, and very safe skyscraper. It should also be the tallest man-made structure in the world. The right design is the WTC2002 design, see http://www.wtc2002.com, and it is 2200 feet above ground level. Put the Libeskind/Child design in the Long Island City area, in Queens Borough. That would rejuvenate the Long Island City area that is long time overdue. So have the WTC2002 design at ground zero and the Libeskind design in Queens. You can have both.

[Perry]

I think the design by Libeskind/Child, although beautiful in its own right, is not the right design for the WTC replacement. It should be a multi-purpose, sleek, modern, and very safe skyscraper. It should also be the tallest man-made structure in the world. The right design is the WTC2002 design, see http://www.wtc2002.com, and it is 2200 feet above ground level. Put the Libeskind/Child design in the Long Island City area, in Queens Borough. That would rejuvenate the Long Island City area that is long time overdue. So have the WTC2002 design at ground zero and the Libeskind design in Queens. You can have both.

[Perry]

I think the design by Libeskind/Child, although beautiful in its own right, is not the right design for the WTC replacement. It should be a multi-purpose, sleek, modern, and very safe skyscraper. It should also be the tallest man-made structure in the world. The right design is the WTC2002 design, see http://www.wtc2002.com, and it is 2200 feet above ground level. Put the Libeskind/Child design in the Long Island City area, in Queens Borough. That would rejuvenate the Long Island City area that is long time overdue. So have the WTC2002 design at ground zero and the Libeskind design in Queens. You can have both.

[klot-rothschilde]

Kirk Dogg Slime's tirade has nothing constructive to offer, he simply bashes what other people have said. Dont take that noisemaker seriously. I am seriously bothered by those empty upper frameworks, they represent the sham and pretense that has thoroughly infected architecture today. The modernists used to castigate the "useless" ornamentation on older buildings, but now we have useless structures! There are industrial buildings around here with all this useless ugly "ornamental" ironwork flying purposelessly off the tops of their lobbies. They are an architectural statement which says:"Eiihiggowwwaarrrggghhhh".

[coyoteac]

I have tried to like this design and I just hate it. Who is approving this crap, anyway? This design looks to me to be the product of unfocused minds belonging to people who truly believe beer is not just for breakfast anymore.

The WTC Towers should be replaced as was and be named (are you ready?) The World Trade Center!
This would communicate to the world our own reaffirmation of our beliefs, aspirations, and ability to withstand attacks from even the most
brain damaged forces around the world.

I believe in bending in the wind but this time I think we should blow the wind right back!

We have honored the innocent and heroic victims of 9/11, as we have honored victims of previous attacks, and we have felt the anguish of our loss and I don't believe this design addresses anything pertinent to our current reality...and no, I would not sit on a toilet seat if I saw this design on it.

If tall is important, then make it tall. If tallest is important, then make it tallest. Whatever it is make it real. The inflated specifications are an insult and if it wasn't supposed to be the replacement for WTC it would be funny. If this were a small sculpture I would drop it in the trash. I've seen more intentional, purposeful, and even prettier entities through the lens of a microscope.

Freedom Tower-freedom from what? These crazed Islamic terrorists don't care if we are free or
not, they want us dead! They are killing, not capturing for Allah.

I am open to new designs and I'm not stuck on just copying what was there, but it would come a lot closer to being what it should be than this self-indulgent mind-scatter put to paper.

[OfficerCandidate]

I just found out about this tower, and I haven't yet made up my mind about what design I prefer or what name goes best with the building.

Stop talking about Islam as though it is the root of terror though. As a member of the military and a student of Arabic I have made it a point to study terrorists in my spare time. First of all, terrorists are not always Muslim. From what some of you said about killing Muslims, I could very well designate you a terrorist whether you are Christian, Jewish or Buddhist. We are fighting against people in other countries who have the same beligerant attitude that several people here have.

And I am glad we are building something in place of the Twin Towers no matter what it is.

By the way. The country which has the highest population of Muslim people is Indonesia, which is not an Arabic speaking nation, nor is is a major terror supporter.

[GetaGrip]

Great comments "OfficerCandidate"!

I especially agree with your "From what some of you said..." comment. Some of us do indeed sound a lot like terrorist ilk these days.

"Wind" ...I can't believe your comment. Who in the world would want to finance, or even gaze upon, thousands of vertical feet of utterly useless structure?

Personally I was not sure I liked the proposed structure's top end, till I read about the windmills. That's genious. I just hope they reconsider that "fickle finger of fate" at the tippy top.

[wind]

Why couldn't they have built a very tall monument that was solid rock or concret ? Why does it need offices ? I think it should be a memorial to the almost 3,000 people that lost their lives, not another office building that will have people forgetting why it was built.

[Ice]

Well, I must say this is a very intelligent argument (besides Kirk). I like Freedom Tower's artistic and innovative ideas, but I must agree with Snapper McGauhey's argument. It really is the world's "shortest tallest building." Its slender shape, while eye pleasing, fails to represent our victory over the terrorist.
OfficerCandidate, I understand your position. Like you, I have come from a different country, and like America, terrorists are trying to topple and scare my government. The middle east terrorists are rooted in a holy war where there aren't any enemies. No predominate Muslim nations are taking a stand against whats going on. Saudi and Turkey have lent support, but not their people. America is trying to be tollerant, but like the rest of the world, we're getting tired.
What America hears most often regarding Muslims, are the terrorists. Most of us never see Muslims in their truest form. Terrorists may bring down our buildings, but don't doubt America will raise new ones (and hopefully larger and stronger ones as well)

[EUROTRASH]

iF AMERICA KEEPS SLAUGHTERING INNOCENT CHILDREN & IMPROSONING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION / RACE IN THE NAME OF "FREEDOM" & WHEN THE SO CALLED FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS no better than "COKE OR PEPSI?"
DONT DOUBT THAT THE FUTURE TERRORISTS WILL BE LARGER & STRONGER TOO.this does not mean that i support terrorists in fact i hate terrorism and any actionthat puts fear into the hearts of ordinary people should be classed as terrorism.
why not just copy the wtc design it sends out a stronger message in my view.God bless America & F**k GW BUSH

[Summer]

I don't think that this design captures the emotion of the event. I do not think that it does the site justice at all. I think that it is more for show than anything, and frankly, the underground design with the water is very uncomforting. I took the virtual tour on the memorial website, and it just does not do for me what I thought it would. To me, it seems like they are trying to fill the void in the structure that NYC residents feel with the towers gone, rather than pay tribute to the victims and the honorable deeds done on that day and in months following the disaster. I think that the design needs an incredible amount of work. Maybe it is because I am from Oklahoma, and I feel that there is more heart in the OKC Bombing Memorial than what this is planned to be.

[ALEX]

FREEDOM TOWER.............. ARE WE REALLY FREE??

[ALEX]

FREEDOM TOWER.............. ARE WE REALLY FREE??

[ALEX]

FREEDOM TOWER.............. ARE WE REALLY FREE??

[Chris D.]

Bin Laden won. - NY is now officially a second class city.

[deesee]

Ever stop and actually think about what can be said by man-made object...out of steel and glass...I've always wanted to visit New York and now i have another great reason to. First of all the void at the top of the scraper MIGHT have some significance Snatcher McGaggy...Like perhaps paying tribute and respect to those unfortunate souls lost on that dark tuesday. Not to mention the footprint (of the now gone WTC 1&2) monuments. Secondly the terrorists have not won. American responded in the most appropriate way they could. By building the TALLEST BUILDING in the world. I love and i've only seen the artists renderings

[Iturralde Lucilla]

EMAIL: [e-mail]
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DATE: 01/26/2004 08:04:22
I would like to get more inofs about