New WTC Complex Tower Designs Unveiled

[PhilsCafe 8]

Although I've never seen the twin towers for real, I kinda miss them. I feel regret when I see them on pictures, mainly because what happened there but also because I don't have the chance to visit them anymore... and because the first concepts didn't convince me at all, I always wished they had rebuilt that tower. But I now have understood that this was rather selfish of me. Why pretending that everything's like it used to be? It isn't, a lot of people lost their loved ones there and even 5 years later, they can't just go on with their lives... well, I guess I'm repeating myself

...what I want to say though is, that people need to go on with their lives but the scars won't heal, that's why I like the idea of combining a memorial park with office towers, it's a great message. Freedom Tower symbolizes that life goes on and that the people of New York are standing tall, while the memorial is a place where people can remember their loved ones and it lets us never forget what happened. I have looked into the details of this new complex now and the more I looked into it, the more I'm liking the whole complex. I like the footprints of the twin towers a lot, they're a great memorial and the buildings look very nice too.

[lestatdl1 0]

I think the new designs are very "nice." They will fit in with the skyline not just now, but for quite a ways into the future. They bring back a decent amount of the lost office space to downtown Manhattan, and will contain a sufficient memorial.

That's my problem with the design; it's "nice," "decent," "sufficient," etc. It's not "amazing," "epic," or a "wonder." It's not grand, and that's what I need it to be. When I look at the new design, I'm very much aware that it's not the WTC, it's not as grand or distinctive. It's disappointing. I would have liked something that was awe-inspiring, that dropped jaws and was a source of pride. Something almost ostentatious and defiant in its size, architecture, and technological leap forward. Something so tall it stood for decades as the overwhemingly tallest structure on the planet. The freedom tower will be in the top 5 or so for a few years, but nothing that makes it really stand out. I wanted a show of strength in the new design, something that screamed: "You think we're beaten down, well top this!" In doing that we'd have one heck of a memorial, too.

Oh well.

[JWUT 2]

Yes, yes, YES!

lestatdl1, you have hit the proverbial nail right on the head. The designs that have been approved are totally inadequate.

Couldn't have said it better.

[HighRiser 6]

The building on the left looks like someone stuck a birthday candle on top of it, the next building in looks like a collection of solar panels, and the next two buildings are just plane ole blah.

[MrFingers 0]

How on earth can any of you LIKE the old towers??!! They were THE ugliest buildings in new york - by a country mile!!!

[MayorVieira 1]

Originally posted by: MrFingers How on earth can any of you LIKE the old towers??!! They were THE ugliest buildings in new york - by a country mile!!!quote>

 

No, that would be the MetLife (PanAm) Building.

[MrFingers 0]

That is an ugly building, but not as bad as the WTC towers. atleast the metlife building is more than just a uniform grey rectangle.

[manman99 2]

  

When the World Trade Center were built, they were considered the ugliest buildings ever built in NYC, only because of how modern they were.  Then through the years, everyone around the world loved, and I mean absolutely loved these buildings, they were iconic, and great symbols of American Pride.  The same thing happened with the Eiffel Tower.  It was only built for the world fair, and people in Paris HATED it!!!  Because of the use of metal, and not the already classic stone.  Then, today people from around the world come to see that structure.   

So I think that everyone will end up loving the new WTC Complex.   People dont like it mainly because of how "modern" it is.  When the Eiffel Tower and WTC were built they were the most modern buildings at their time, so I predict that evryone will soon enjoy these buildings in the mere future.

Plus these are just paintings, they will probalbly look a lot nicer in real life.  And I also like the fact that they are very random buildings.  Thats what I love about NYC,  no 2 buildings are the same!

                           Manman99                  

[M-SIL 2]

It looks ok but it just doesn't match the city well. In my opinion, the former WTC made the NYC skyline look majestic and kinda breathtaking, not the new WTC towers!  Rebuilding the former World Trade Towers (just making it alot stronger and safer) is a better idea because it will not only a big positive statement to the world but it would be the world's tallest memorial monument. 

[JDRCRASH 53]

Yup, thats better than them Libeskind towers, but still, i think the Freedom Twin Towers would look good, not alot people know about that proposal.

[manman99 2]

M-SIL-AAAahhhh, you see, that is where you are wrong.   If you have just read my last message I said that the WTC did not exactly fit in the skyline at first, but through the years it did, everyone got used to the 2 buildings and the same thing will happen with this new complex.  It may look like the buildings dont match the skyline, but you just wait and see.

                             Manman99                     

[MrFingers 0]

dude people only 'like' the WTC towers because they were lost in an emotional way. I guarantee you 80% of new yorkers thought they were ugly prior to 9/11.

[manman99 2]

no you are absolutely wrong about that.  If they were ugly buildings to the New Yorkers, than how come 80% of them want them back????   Plus I live on the east coast just 45 min away from NYC, let me tell you one thing, if they were considered ugly to New Yorkers, then the whole of the USA wouldnt like them.  The buildings wouldnt have been a symbol of America then.

                             Manman99                   

[JDRCRASH 53]

Then why did New Yorkers used to call them 'shoeboxes standing on end'?

And why are Dark Element and i are the only ones who think a freedom twin tower complex would look good?

[manman99 2]

Not every New Yorker called it that, you will find very few who say that.   There is a quote by someone whos name I cant remember when they were built, but it went like this.

" These are big buildings, but not great architecture"   NYC has a HUGE diversity of architecture and the WTC made that architecture go even further, not because of the boxy outside, but the insdide interior. The WTC were the first buildings to have ever been built with a concrete core, so you may call them a prototype.  

                            Manman99               

[Micah 16]

The new design is far more better than the original one which was a spiral. The four buildings are truly impressive. Not to mention the memorial will add tons to the landscape of the city.

[MrFingers 0]

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[manman99 2]

MrFingers, please no name calling.   There are 8 million people living in NYC, 22million living in the Metro area,  you are but just one person out of all 22 million, sure many people didnt like them, but many people did like them too, we all have our own opinion on things and I just happen to know a lot of people from the city, and their friends that loved the buildings prior to 9/11, you cant have a city of 8 million people hate those 2 buildings, its practically impossible.

                            Manman99

[MrFingers 0]

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[manman99 2]

not a fact.  As I said, if they were ugly, they would not have been one of the greatest symbols in America.

                          Manman99                    

Edit:  well anyways, if you all go to http://www.wtc.com/  go to the left where it says " videos" click on the first one, you will be amazed at how realistic it looks, and it has great music to go with it so turn up your speakers.

[MrFingers 0]

they were symbols because they were the largest buildings in america and the world for a while and in new york up until they came down. they were also in the heart of new york's financial district. that is why they were symbols. I don't understand what you find beautiful about two grey rectangles, their size was only relative.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I really think the NY skyline is extremley bare with out the WTC. These towers fill the gap, but only just... and having 2012 as a com pletion date is a little too omtimistic... unless the started construction like, yesterday, they don't have a hope in hell finishing all 5(?) by then.

Also-

I like that... it kinda looks like WTC 1, makes me happy that they used just a little bit of the former WTC's as inspiration

Personally, after watching "Loose Change 2", I've come to suspect the whole 9/11 thing is a conspiracy... but thats just me.

[Red1530 1]

The reason for the new towers was a compromise between people who wanted the WTC rebuilt the way it was before 9/11 and the people who wanted a memorial.

[MrFingers 0]

It's fairly hard for it not to resemble atleast in some way a grey rectangle though isnt it?

[Rymac91 15]

when I saw the New Freedom tower design erlier this year, I was wondering if they were going to make another one just like it except without the spire...but thats just my opinion. I think the new design is wonderful...though that far right building lacks anything to it to make it look like something other than a bunch of computer designed polygons...

[Yoman3 5]

1 I must say I rather like the new towers. They bring a contrast to NY that has been the heart and soul of NY for many many years. The NY skyline is so distinctive because no Two buildings are the same and there are hundreds of buildings. These buildings comprimise on being Uniform with the same appearence in glass and being completely different looking.

2 I am disgusted by what some ppl said saying things like  "who cares about the victims". Thats real nice of you to say in an area where ppl like me who knew some of the ppl that died can view it. Imagine if someone came into your town or city and knocked down the heart of it along with killing 1000's of ppl.

3 Rebuilding the old Towers is not right. They are in the past we should not try to get them back. They are gone we need to move on.

4 Those are ulgy towers ALONE. In your mind take a picture of some low rise only city and put them in. They look like crap. But put them where they were where they belonged in lower manhatten and they were beautiful. You see an amazing skyline with 2 huge imposing towers standing over it like watchmen. It was truley impressive. With the skyline they were truley the nicest buildings ever built.

MrFingers - You are saying that you are in the position to make the judgement for 22 million ppl. I suggest running for mayor or govener then. Dont say "well I'm a New Yorker and I know best" because that is BS. Last I checked a couple hundred ppl at most doesnt = 22 million. I was born in the city. I lived there half my life. I currently live in the suburbs of NY (Chappaqua). You can judge for yourself if they are ulgy buildings, but you CAN NOT judge for 22 million people. I know hundreds of people who live in NY and are just as much New Yorkers as you are and will say that they werent ulgy. I'm sure a few would say they were but they would also say that the skyline wouldnt be right without them because:



This picture doesnt look right AT ALL like this:

[MrFingers 0]

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[JDRCRASH 53]

@To Everyone:  Well think about this.....what would happen if it was the Empire State Building that had fallen and not the WTC....... i think it would be an open spaced memorial. Theres too much history in it.

What i'm trying to say is......we should be gratefull of the things that didn't happen

@manman99: i never implied that everyone said that.  I'm only saying that the media thought that for a while.  True....the fact that it wasn't torn down intentionally and that it was brought down to hurt people makes it difficult to make something new, but if we dwell on the past we'll never heal what happened on September 11, 2001 A.D.(Just looking at that date makes my heart fill with sadness .)

@Yoman3:  I definatly agree, the new complex is better than old.  Its just one of those things that we need to move on with.

@MrFingers: Listen i agree that many people didn't like it at first, but i have to say you really need to chill out.

(OFF TOPIC:and since when are you the almighty universal creator?  or is it a joke)

ALSO....as a citizen of a roaring mid-rise building city of 4 million people( and its not 3.5!  People exaggarate that L.A. is small compared to New York City) and 19 million people in metro out southwest, i know the odds of someone liking something new are not all that great.

[MrFingers 0]

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[packerfan386 3]

Originally posted by: MrFingers ~Edited~ quote>

What  the heck are you talking about?!?

(at least try to sound some what awake)

Anyway... I like the new clear glass facade it looks really cool and ultra modern!

We will NEVER EVER forget those who where murdered that one sunny fall morning in 2001.