World's tallest building planned for WTC site

[chequita guevara]

Wow, those two designs are cool as hell. But they don't belong in NYC. They belong in the Sunbelt or California. NYC buildings need a modernist look, like the Chrysler and Empire State buildings.

[Boris Godunov]

Yeah, I will say that the ESB and Chrysler buildings are both very beautiful. Classic, simple and elegant designs. Plus, the Chrysler building has gargoyles. You can't beat that.

[Ned]

Actually, I think it is time we see something along the lines of skyscrapers we see in science fiction films. I am thinking of Coruscant as a good example. Does anyone have any pictures?

[Kepler]

The WTC was ugly too, we just got used to it. The ESB is pretty ugly. The Chyrsler is great if you like Gothic (which I do).

They won't build the tall building because tall buildings lose money. The ESB took 35 years to break even. The WTC *never* did.

[Kepler]

But if we must go phallic, then ef-it, build Frank Lloyd Wright's mile tall building and let the rest of the world try and beat it.

[Jac de Molay]

I've had a longstanding interest in Ethiopian culture and history, which rivals that of the surrounding area. I'd like to see a new building modeled around one of these sacred obelisks .

I dont understand why you would necessarily want to build the tallest building in the world, as if to thumb our nose at the rest of the world. Just build something that will be a subtle, respectful monument.

[Drake Tungsten]

Subtle? Respectful? Are you really an American? I want nothing more than to thumb my nose at the rest of the world. Those ****ers can destroy our buildings, but we can build them again, bigger and better.

[DanS]

"Subtle? Respectful? Are you really an American?"

[Jac de Molay]

Yes, I am an american. And one who thinks you don't need to disrespect the memory of those that perished with some garish monstrosity that says "Nyah nyah, we can build one bigger"

[Drake Tungsten]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I can't think of anything more American than building a garish monstrosity out of spite...

[mrboo123]

I seen it, WAY too unreasilies, COPPER PADS!!! Really, some one could hijack it, put guns on it, and treeorist the cities, REALLY!

[DRoseDARs]

ADG, those are atrocious designs. The "Mutant Aliens from Pluto" look is so hideous it makes me physically ill. The only time that such designs remotely look appropriate to me is when they're used for Art Galleries/Museums.

And Kepler, FLW's Mile High was meant for Chicago, not New York (I was born in Chicago, so for me to say otherwise would be blasphemous ). They should get a design tailored for their skyline, not someone else's.

For the naysayers of the link I provided, I like that design not because of its looks (which yes, could be better...), but because of its practicality. It makes efficient use of the space alotted to it, in that instead of a cluster of short buildings seperated by large, open spaces, it's a tight group of four 1300 foot towers inter-connected and cross-braced for support in the event of a major disaster. The sheer girth of the building almost garauntees (sp?) that the impact of a commercial jet would not be enough to bring it down. Such a large building allows more opportunity for escape and more ways of bringing in resources like water and electricity to combat fires. And in addition to the above, this is Lower Manhattan we're talking about people, on of the most valuable and expensive stretches of land in the world. Do you really believe that the WTC site is going to be made into a 16 acre park? It just won't happen, despite the emotional charge of the issue. The WTC was too important an institution to allow it to remain as dust. They must rebuild it and its former site is the most sensible place to rebuild.

Like I said, the design I linked to may not be the most creative and inspiring design, but it is the most practical, given the economy and also the public's traditional jitteriness/cautiousness/warriness towards mega-projects of bizarre designs.

[Promethus]

What I want to know is what is this "sound wave" technology they claim can repell aircraft?

[Zylka]

Oh, great, another kitsch monstrosity by that hack Ghery. It'll be the equivalent of looking at a tacky 60's strip mall in 20 years. Build three of them!

[Urban Ranger]

ADG, those designs you linked are even worse than the four pillar monstrosity. Are those ones made for an ugliness competition?