Libeskind trade center design must be 'mutable'

Real Estate Weekly, June 18, 2003 by Barbara Nelson

Daniel Libeskind said his design for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center must be mutable in order to honor all those involved in the process and the freedom that Americans enjoy.

In February, Libeskind's design, which includes a 1,776-foot spiral building called the "freedom tower," was selected by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in a competition that included more than 400 designs from around the world. LMDC was formed by Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg to oversee the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and revitalization of lower Manhattan.

"This project has to be steered by public passion, public participation, the heart, the intellect and the soul of New Yorkers and Americans," said Libeskind, who along with his wife Nina Libeskind were guests at a B'nai B'rith Real Estate Unit luncheon at the Cornell Club last week. "That's what also protects it."

Libeskind pulled from his own experience as a polish immigrant in creating the design.

"Millions of immigrants have come to this country by boat," he said. "Coming to New York Harbor seeing the tip of Manhattan from that boat view. Seeing the statue of liberty is what it's a lot about. It's not just about the height."

His father, Nechman Libeskind, who during the 1900's was a factory worker two blocks from what is now ground zero, was also a great influence in his design.

In designing the project "I heard my father's voice," Libeskind said. "He used to say to me 'Why don't people realize that they should kiss the ground of this country and what its stands for.'"

The freedom his father spoke of also allows for freedom of expression, he said.

"There will be conflicts," he said. "There will be differences of opinions. There are different views, some are virtually opposed. I think it is my role as an architect, to be bring a consensus to the project."

Some of the conflict concerns the memorial site in which Libeskind's design exposes the slurry wall, a concrete wall that runs from the surface of the ground down to the bedrock.

"I realized that there was a silent hero in these foundations," Libeskind said. "It really revealed how New Yorkers built by a shared value of life. The memorial site should not only reflect the nostalgia of these events, but reasserts that whole memorial of the fabric of the city of New York and America."

Nina was adamant that the wall remain part of the design.

"Certainly there are people downtown that would like this memorial at grade and not 30-feet below grade," Nina said. "And I think that is something that we would fight tooth and nail. There is a need to have the sanctity of the site preserved and the need to show the slurry wall."

But whether or not all of Libeskind's design elements will be included is not the point.

"It's and adventure," he said. "It's not a story with a good or bad ending. The unfolding is a part of the process itself."

Although, Libeskind hopes his symbolism of the freedom tower will be left intact.

"I hope this is not just a high rise building with an antenna plopped on top of it," Libeskind said. "It is a very special building, a very special figure and a form that speaks to the sky."

Fredric Bell, executive director of The American Institute of Architects, led the conversation with the Libeskinds.