New Freedom Tower design unveiled

[billy corgan19982]

I agree the antenna does look ridiculous. It seems like it was an afterthought.

 

[jozl]

I think the antenna warrants a name change to the "Viagra Tower".

 

[adma]

 

[tudararms]

okay, sorry to go against the flow here, but I like it. It is simple, straightforward, monolithic in its own way, and I think its strong vertical thrust rising out of the thicket of skyscrapers that is Manhattan will serve nicely as monument-as-building-type structure. No need here for the garish tricks associated with Dubai-type architecture. This building more than any other will become a symbol of an enduring city and an enduring nation, and so a simple iconic structure is appropriate. We outsiders can poo-poo all we want, it is not intended for our approbation.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

Reminds me of the MetLife (nee Pan Am) Building, but sliced at an angle, made of glass, and with a narwhal tusk.

Does anyone know why the original design was thought to be too easily attackable? Is this one just more fortress-like at ground level?

 

[unimaginative2]

Isn't that brilliant? They hired a bland commercial firm to design the site, and the people rose up in arms demanding something creative. Then they had an international competition, which Libeskind won as the consensus favourite. After all that, they slowly but surely strip away absolutely everything he designed other than the name of the tower, and hire a bland commercial firm to do it. The point of all this, other than public relations, is lost on me.

 

[wyliepoon]

Boring design, fortress-like ground level design, etc... the Freedom Tower might turn out to be a better tribute to the original WTC towers than the Libeskind design. Weren't the twin towers criticized in the same way when they were designed and built?

 

[bizorky]

Sadly, you make a good point.

 

[SD2]

This building more than any other will become a symbol of an enduring city and an enduring nation, and so a simple iconic structure is appropriate. We outsiders can poo-poo all we want, it is not intended for our approbation.

You could basically say the same for any project in any city (ie. that's made for the people in the said city first and foremost) - that doesn't change the fact that the antenna looks ridiculous.

 

[Junglab2002]

I think this tower is pathetically ironic - Freedom in name, fortress in fact. Or: majestic symbol of America's resilience in the face of tragedy and terrorism... turned into a bland construction whose form is dictated by the need to resist further terrorist attacks.
This is more America under siege than America the reborn.

 

[Canuck 36]

If that's the case then this tower fits the time period perfectly. This tower will be a reflection of the age in which it was built, and not - as some had hoped - one to usher in a new age of US culture.

 

[JoeyCuppa]

It's pretty ugly.... it looks like they couldn't figure out how to do the top, so they just stopped and put a crappy looking spire.

How hard is it to design a nice top/spire? Here's a crappy photoshop edit of how a "Freedom Tower" could look so much better:

 

[adma]

Wow! A stylus!

 

[tudararms]

Junglab2002: "I think this tower is pathetically ironic - Freedom in name, fortress in fact. Or: majestic symbol of America's resilience in the face of tragedy and terrorism... turned into a bland construction whose form is dictated by the need to resist further terrorist attacks.
This is more America under siege than America the reborn."

"Blandness" equates to a deconstruction of America's resilience? Nonesense! The rebuilding of this site is in and of itself an act of resilience. What do you expect, that designers should ignore the very real possibility of further attacks against what is now such a powerful and iconic building that is so clearly a target?? That would simply be idiotic and irresponsible. The WTC site is now America's 'Mecca'. America's enemies have made it so, adding to what is perhaps already the strongest weapon in America's arsenal which is that of propoganda. Cue the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as eyes mist over at the image of the liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and now the Freedom Tower. For a nation who's very genesis and mythology is tied to the notion of struggle against tyranny and evil, an attack on America is never viewed as a defeat, rather each attempt to bring down the great experiment of democrocy and free-enterprise that is the U.S.A. is only viewed as further justification of America's destiny and rightful place in the world as guiding beacon that evil forces will always try to destroy.

 

[elook]

Last weekend's NASCAR prerace featured the American symbol of freedom, the bald eagle. Like the Freedom Tower, which will offer anything but free access, the eagle was tethered and in captivity.

I supposed I was the only one who caught this irony.

As far as the tower is concerned, ditch the spire altogether. The 1776 ft. thing is hokey at best.