New Design For Freedom Tower Surrenders Aesthetics For Safety

The newly proposed design would forego windows or shops at eye-level -- a basic tenant of urban building.

1 minute read

July 7, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

"Never in my most pessimistic imaginings could I have anticipated what we are now being shown: a tower rising above a solid concrete base with no windows,", writes Jeff B. Speck, Design Director at the NEA News. "...Reports claims this 20-story, above-ground base will be clad in a 'shimmering metal curtain that will give the impression of movement and light.' The operative word in that phrase is 'impression.' The first rule of planning for pedestrians is 'eyes on the street': windows and doors connecting inside and out. No one will happily walk past a blank wall, no matter how much it shimmers."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

FULL STORY: The Freedom Tower: 'An Alienating Monument to Surrender'

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 in MetropolisMag.com

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