# WTC Rebuilds: Nine New Designs Are Released **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623 "2002-12-18T19:08:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/21 "2002-12-19T16:05:16Z")
That’s one of the things I like about the wedge of light (again, the name must go) – it’s very deliberate and incorporates actual information like the time of the attack and things like that. I confess that I simply cut and pasted the designer’s name from a previous post, I shall have to double check in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/22 "2002-12-19T16:21:32Z")
I think [Libeskind](http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/pro.html?ID=2) is fantastic, in the amount of thought and depth he puts to his proposals. Hs work is always honest, reflective, deliberate, thoughtful and inspiring. But I don’t think he will win this competition, as the public vote rarely goes to the design with the most depth. Only when the choice is confined to a panel of professional judges does he stand a chance. Too much conflict of opinion in the public sphere. It will, eventually, go to the one with the best ‘colouring in’ job. (i.e. presentation). Libeskinds ‘style’ or approach to design doesn’t resonate strongly with the general public. Sorry about pointing out the name spelling, I thought if it was a common name perhaps adding in the ‘e’ was a standard variant in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/23 "2002-12-19T16:29:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\*This one looks like they’re holding hands waiting for the next attack. \*\* \< snort! \> Originally, I thought they looked like giant number signs, but geez, you’re right. Kinda like doomed Gumbies cowering together. 😛 Hate the Buckminster Fuller slinky design – reminds me of the vent hose that attaches to my dryer. I kind of like the old fashioned one. Looks like it would intergrate well with the city. Though in some of the other slides it looks like it’s made out of stacked sugar cubes. Otherwise, the one with the vertical garden is the best, though I agree, the office towers should be bigger. ---
**Author:** ![alexandria2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@alexandria2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandria2000)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/24 "2002-12-19T17:29:16Z")
Nah, the first time any of us saw it at work, the first thing out of our mouths was “It looks like a freaking ivy trellis!” Then someone said, “I really feel the urge to play tic-tac-toe with it…” -A2K ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/25 "2002-12-19T18:02:55Z")
Why is everyone so obsessed with making it as big as possible? Is it some kind of penis thing that I’m missing out on? Building a giant hulk of the building will not send any messege to the terrorists. They arn’t going to see it and decide never to mess with America again. It’s not going to impress them into submission. They arn’t going to be awed by it’s giant-building powers. It might send a messege to America, but what will that be? Our national pride rests on our ability to make huge edifices? The best answer to attacks on our culture is to make giant monuments to our obsession with conspicous consumption? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/26 "2002-12-19T18:09:28Z")
**Sven** , I like tall buildings, and I think a properly designed one (or a properly designed pair of them, actually) would make an excellent memorial. Nothing to do with phallic symbols. I admit that _maybe_ national pride has something to do with it, but the same sort of pride had to have gone into the Pyramids or the Eiffel Tower. The WTC towers were an impressive symbol, so the building(s) that replace them should be equally or even more impressive. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/27 "2002-12-19T18:19:17Z")
Overly tall buildings are a tremendous waste of money. The rents you can charge are just not worth the added costs and ineffeciencies that are inherent in the design of those monsters. Which is why the only people building them these days are egotistical billionaires. None of the designs shown have a chance in hell of getting built. (But they’re fun to look at!) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/28 "2002-12-19T18:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by even sven \* > \*\*Why is everyone so obsessed with making it as big as possible? Is it some kind of penis thing that I’m missing out on? > \*\* Yes it is without a doubt a “penis” thing. The world’s skyline is a huge dick measuring contest that never stops. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/29 "2002-12-19T18:27:44Z")
Here’s my unasked for opinions of each design, some of which I posted on the [skyscraperpage.com](http://skyscraperpage.com) forum. [United Architects Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_f/slides/images/Slide11.jpg) - It’s the right color, but it’s a bit too angular. It would make a great design for a Bond villain’s corporate HQ, however. [THINK Design Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_e/slides/images/Slide55.jpg) - Looks like something permenantly under construction or demolition. [Skidmore, Owens and Merrill Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_c/slides/images/Slide18.jpg) - French fries. [Richard Meier & Partners Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_g/slides/images/Slide40.jpg) - Either a colossal tic-tac-toe grid or a jungle gym for King Kong. [Studio Daniel Liebskind Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_d/slides/images/Slide28.jpg) - An 1800 foot ivy trelace. [Peterson/Littenberg Submission](http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2002-12/5912241.jpg) - This one would be better if the two towers were taller and of equal width all the way to the top. IMO, I think this comes closest to what will eventually be built. As it is, unfortunately, it resembles either two small, square cigarette packs or a pair of Uzis stuck into the ground. [Foster and Partners Submission](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_a/slides/images/Slide35.jpg) - Suffers from a case of JLWSS. Just Looks Wrong Somehow Syndrome. \*\* [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/30 "2002-12-19T19:05:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*That “thing” is intended to be a museum of some sort, which leads me to believe that, yeah, it’s intended to resemble an airplane. Methinks THINK doesn’t. \*\* If it indeed is supposed to represent an airplane, whoever is running this freakshow that is the Lower Manhatten Development District needs to be fired. Now. Actually He/She should be fired just for presenting these terrible, terrible designs to the public. A tic-tac-toe grid? Come on. The first set of designs were uninspired, but the second set range from ugly to offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/31 "2002-12-19T19:54:29Z")
I like the Big [Colossus](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_f/slides/images/Slide26.jpg). It reminds me of _Metropolis_. [Vertical Garden](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_d/slides/images/Slide21.jpg) is good, but not tall enough. [Bland and old fashioned](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_b/slides/images/Slide3.jpg) is workwithable. [Overkill](http://lowermanhattan.info/rebuild/new_design_plans/firm_c/slides/images/Slide18.jpg) is impressive when viewed from within, but looking at it from the Hudson it’s just a lot of junk stacked together. And look, they’re praying in a circle too. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/32 "2002-12-19T20:02:49Z")
I actually like the United Architects design. It looks like something out of _Blade Runner_. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/33 "2002-12-19T20:24:31Z")
I like the United Architects one. Isn’t there an arcology in SimCity 2000 that looks similar? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/34 "2002-12-19T22:42:42Z")
Come to think of it, yes there was. I’ll try to find an image of it. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/35 "2002-12-19T23:35:40Z")
Is it a submission requirement that all of the designs have to be hideous and tasteless? I haven’t liked any of the designs submitted since this whole thing began. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/36 "2002-12-19T23:40:29Z")
Can someone explain what the deal with the THINK design is? I mean, how come they didn’t fill them with buildings? I couldn’t get over Somethingawful’s take on some of the kids proposed designs. [http://somethingawful.com/archives/daily/news-archive-4-12-2002.htm](http://somethingawful.com/archives/daily/news-archive-4-12-2002.htm) Yes, yes. Totally cruel and insensitve… but geez. Crying buildings? CRYING BUILDINGS? Of course, the real question is whether the families will go for any of these. They seem to have something of a veto over anything that doesn’t at least preserve the “bathtub” areas. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/37 "2002-12-19T23:53:12Z")
Honestly, I’m just glad that they’re gonna build _something_. I hope The Highest Exalted One, Rudy Guiliani doesn’t start lisping on again about how **nothing** at all should be built there. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/38 "2002-12-20T00:03:02Z")
Ug. Yeah. He doesn’t seem to be thinking for the ages, it’s like he’s thinking “what keeps me and my concerns front and center, forever.” Guiliani in 2008! ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/39 "2002-12-20T01:22:29Z")
I totally forgot about the cost question. None of these plans included even a rough figure on the cost. It will be interesting to see how feasible most of these will costwise, and even constructionwise. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623/40 "2002-12-20T02:48:07Z")
Personally, out of all the proposed designs, I _still_ say that the five towers one, with the middle one being the tallest is the best. _That_, sends a message to the terrorists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-rebuilds-nine-new-designs-are-released/143623.md?page=3)