No discussion of new architecture in New York could omit the World Trade Center – the Freedom Tower (or One WTC) in particular:
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Compared to much of what is happening in Asia and the Middle East, no, the building is not extraordinary. In other settings, like Dubai or Shanghai, we’d probably never recognize it, even though it’s listed as the tallest in the western hemisphere. But in this case, restraint is a virtue – and it fits in well in the Lower Manhattan skyline.
The base of the building, however, is an unfriendly disconnect from its surroundings – a deliberate statement to anyone thinking of trying to blow it up, I suppose. But add in the 9-11 Museum (the angled box on the lower right that looks like it’s built of stripped aluminum), that’s a lot of blank wall.
Fortunately there are other structures to capture the eye – notably Calatrava’s WTC Transportation Hub that is still emerging from its hoardings like some Jurassic beast:
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Hugely expensive and fraught with construction difficulties, the complex of transportation facilities and retail services really does add something special to NYC.
Thank you Calatrava