The Artists Own Words

The first question in designing a memorial for the World Trade Center and the people who died in its collapse is whether or not to rebuild the powerful symbol of the twin towers. In my eyes, these two extremestwo colossal skyscrapers or their gaping absence in the middle of the city they had previously dominatedare the most powerful.

After hearing Gila Jones 02 suggestion, I think that in terms of the fundamental, personal experience of visiting a memorial, two low reflecting pools in the towers footprints would be the most appropriate. America, despite its arrogance, must admit that the towers can never truly be reconstructed, or at least its fallen tenants cannot be recreated.

My drawing, though, is of two towers replacing the World Trade Center. But although volumetrically identical to the originals, these two would be open to the sky, with no floor, empty. New York is the city of skyscrapers, dedicated to all sorts of things, and filled with money and people. I think that the experience of walking into an empty skyscraper would be overwhelming and force you to think about what it must have been like to know that you were going to die on the 80th floor or to jump to your death through that incredible height. Walls with transparent slits would focus your view directly to the heavens, in remembrance of those who died.

The site is a single, continuous reflecting pool, with the two towers rising from the center. Walkways, submerged a few millimeters underwater, would crisscross the landscape, but make you feel like you were walking on water. Although the periphery is lined with trees, the absence of greenery over the interior area, with dark stone holding up water instead, would stay true to the reality that the original, glorious construction was razed. In between the towers is a single airplane wing, in reference to the four airplanes that were also downed. Finally, the entire reflecting pool would also be a rock garden (although I gave up before drawing the rocks), with stone benches configured for people to sit and contemplate, remember, think, emote, and recognize the utmost importance of peaceful interaction on Earth, to avoid catastrophes like that of September 11, 2001.