A Real Organic Solution For Ground Zero

The efforts rebuild the site of the World Trade Center are a 'fiasco' but the area is starting to heal itself without the benefit of planning strategies.

1 minute read

September 7, 2002, 1:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"The idea of asking a single firm of architects to produce no less than six different ways of rebuilding the World Trade Centre, then whittling them down to three preferred options, and finally incorporating their least unpopular features into a single master plan could have come straight from the White House staff's modus operandi for explaining plans to effect a regime change in Baghdad to a president with a short attention span...So disillusioned was the New York Times that its architecture critic Herbert Muschamp assembled an all-star team of architects - including Peter Eisenman, Rafael Vinoly, Richard Meier, Steven Holl, Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas, as well as Maya Lin, creator of Washington's Vietnam memorial - to try to show that it could all be done much better...But even without any coherent planning strategies in place yet, the area is starting to heal itself, almost as if it were a living organism, seeking to repair damaged tissue."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Friday, September 6, 2002 in The Guardian Unlimited

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

July 2, 2025 - Mother Jones

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Paved walking path next to canal in The Woodlands, Texas with office buildings in background.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50

A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

February 19, 2025 - Greg Flisram

Screenshot of shade map of Buffalo, New York with legend.

Test News Post 1

This is a summary

0 seconds ago - 2TheAdvocate.com

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

18 minutes ago - Mother Jones

test alt text

Test News Headline 46

Test for the image on the front page.

March 5 - Cleantech blog