CNN reports that Freedom Tower will be Redesigned for ‘security reasons.’ Freedom Tower, of course, is the building that will replace the World Trade Center in New York City.
May I humbly submit that now would be a great opportunity to abandon the Libeskind plan entirely and go back to the drawing board? I’d prefer that the new WTC be impressive, pleasant, or at least not-ugly.
I have said since September 11, 2001, that we should rebuild the towers so they look largely as they did on September 10 (with improved strength, better emergency egress systems, and increased height [to make them ‘world’s tallest’ again]). That said, anything that inspires awe and reverence rather than a chorus of blahs would be fine with me.
Libeskind’s Freedom Tower plan was among the better submissions, and yet remains wholly inferior in style even to the relatively bland icons that came before. Restoring the NYC skyline requires something more formidable than a new-age spire. If not a new pair of block towers, than something equally as simple and powerful should rise over lower Manhattan.
When the Founders called the Constitutional Convention, they were charged with recommending updates to the preexisting Articles of Confederation. Instead, they started over from scratch. When officials in NYC come together to consider upgrades to to Libeskind plan, they should do the same.