compiled by Eimear McKeith

Filling the void: more on the World Trade Centre designs (January 8, 2004)

Selected from eight finalists and from 5201 entrants, the winner of the hotly contested competition for the memorial at Ground Zero was announced by the 13-member jury on January 5.The selected design, Reflecting absence by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, will consist of two reflective pools of water in the footprints of the Twin Towers, a memorial building and a grove of trees in the surrounding plaza. The design has developed considerably since the original submission, details of which will be revealed next week.

Chairman of the jury, Vartan Gregorian, spoke of their decision:

In its powerful, yet simple articulation of the footprints of the Twin Towers, Reflecting absence has made the gaping voids left by the Towers' destruction the primary symbol of loss. While these voids still remain empty and inconsolable, the surrounding plaza's design has evolved to include a teeming groves of trees, traditional affirmations of life and rebirth. The result is a memorial that expresses both the incalculable loss of life and its regeneration. Not only does this memorial creatively address its mandate to preserve the footprints, recognize individual victims and provide access to bedrock, but it also wonderfully reconnects this site to the fabric of its urban community.

In the original design of Reflecting Absence, the two deep pools are submerged 30ft below street level, with the surfaces of the water broken by large voids. According to Arad, these voids "can be read as containers of loss, being close-by yet inaccessible." Visitors will descend by steps into the memorial building, arriving at an enormous pool that flows towards a central void. A ribbon of the names of those who died on September 11, 2001 surrounds the pool. These names appear in no particular order - "the apparent randomness reflects the haphazard brutality of the deaths." There will also be a chamber that houses unidentified remains, which will be a "private contemplative space" accessible only to family members of victims. The plaza, enclosed on two sides, is intended to belong "both to the city and to the memorial. It encourages uses that are both contemplative and everyday. It is a living part of the city."¹

Interestingly, the seven other finalists all incorporated similar elements in their designs, using water, trees and lights to articulate the space and to confer meaning, with titles such as Votives in suspension, Suspending memory, Dual memory, Lower wWaters, Passages of light, Garden of lights and Inversion of light. They can be viewed at www.wtcmemorial.org.

The choice of Reflecting absence has not met unanimous approval, however, with mixed reactions from the family members of victims. Michael Macko, whose father died in the 1993 bomb in the north tower, said "the 1993 families are very happy to be included...I had some reservations about each of the memorial finalists, but I felt that if they selected any one of the eight, I would be happy".

However, spokeman for the Coalition of 9/11 Families, Anthony Gardner, whose brother died in the north tower on September 11, said that "we are extrememly disappointed that they went ahead and chose a design despite all the concerns that have been expressed by the families and the public." He added: "I think it doesn't matter what the winning design is, the finalists are all the same and don't incorporate any of the trade centre artifacts that are important to the families. I think it's time for another compettion".

Michael Arad said of the jury's choice:

I am very honoured and overwhelmed by the news that the jury has selected my design. I hope that I will be able to honour the memory of all those who perished, and create a place where we may all grieve and find meaning.

¹Quotes taken from Michael Arad's submission statement for Reflecting Absence. See www.wtcmemorial.org/fin7.html

Source of information The New York Times and here and here to read more. See also www.wtcmemorial.org

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