It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, I sat at my desk at my architectural job, and remembered hearing screams at the end of the hall. At first, it sounded like someone had played a silly joke on a co-worker, and then the entire office froze. As the hours went on, the rumors became reality, and all of our worlds were changed for a lifetime.

September 11, 2001 – The day will forever change all of our worlds

Image courtesy of Henry Wagner Photography

On this day, I ask you to remember why we inhabit this Earth. Why we all enjoy conversing with each other worldwide, every minute of the day. Embrace our differences, and celebrate our commonalities.

Enjoy your family, your friends, your opportunities, and the possibilities that come with each day. For tomorrow isn’t promised, but right now is.

To the world, take this moment of silence for those that are not here. For every second is valuable…

… Be Blessed

-Ronique

]]> https://stagetecture.com/world-rememberance-silence-for-911-10th-anniversary/feed/ 0 18069 https://stagetecture.com/awe-inspiring-design-look-at-911-national-memorial-nyc-10th-anniversary/ https://stagetecture.com/awe-inspiring-design-look-at-911-national-memorial-nyc-10th-anniversary/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:54:06 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=18022 Entry #650, September 9, 2011

The National September 11th Memorial in New York City, New York

Image via: Kcoy

The National September 11 Memorial

is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.

The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.

Source – 911 Memorial

Names on the Memorials

THE NEARLY 3,000 names of the men, women, and children killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 will be inscribed on bronze parapets surrounding the twin Memorial pools.

The display of these names is the very heart of the Memorial. The design of the names parapet provides a direct relationship between the visitor, the names, and the water, allowing for a feeling of quiet reverence between the visitor and the Memorial.

Names will be stencil-cut into the parapets, allowing visitors to look through the names at the water, and to create paper impressions or rubbings of individual names. At night, light will shine up through the voids created by each letter of a name.

Source – 911 Memorial/Names

Sustainable Design

The Memorial plaza has been created as one of the most sustainable, green plazas ever constructed. Its irrigation, storm water and pest management systems will conserve energy, water and other resources.

Rainwater will be collected in storage tanks below the plaza surface. A majority of the daily and monthly irrigation requirements will be met by the harvested water.

The project is pursuing the Gold certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for New Construction program. LEED is a third party certification program for green building, design and construction. The plaza is also built to meet requirements of New York State Executive Order 11 and the WTC Sustainable Design Guidelines, which both promote environment-friendly practices.

This urban forest will flourish near adjacent green spaces, including Battery Park City, City Hall Park, Liberty Plaza, the churchyards at Liberty Church and St. Paul’s Chapel as well as the planned Liberty Park just south of the Memorial.

Source – 911 Memorial/Sustainable Design

Selecting Trees

Crews selected and harvested trees from within a 500-mile radius of the World Trade Center site, with additional ones coming from locations in Pennsylvania and near Washington, D.C. (Maryland), areas impacted on September 11, 2001.

Swamp white oaks (Quercus bicolor) were picked because of their durability and leaf color. In fall, the leaf color ranges from amber to a golden brown – and sometimes pink. The trees can grow to reach heights as tall as 60 feet in conditions similar to those on the plaza. The trees will never be identical, growing at different heights and changing leaves at different times, a physical reminder that they are living individuals.

Source – 911 Memorial/Selecting Trees

Plaza Details

With its grove of trees, the Memorial’s plaza is an actual green roof for the structure housing the 9/11 Memorial Museum, a train station and other facilities 70 feet below street level. Landscape architecture firm Peter Walker and Partners designed the plaza and a “suspended paving system” to support the swamp white oak trees growing on the plaza.

All Renderings – Squared Design Lab

The paving of the plaza sits on a series of concrete tables that suspend the plaza over troughs of nutrient-rich soil for the planted trees. The system’s design allows for stable pavement on which people can walk, while providing a space for uncompacted, or loose soil, for healthy tree growth. Many times urban trees live in stressful conditions because they are planted underneath pavements with compacted soil, potentially chocking off the nutrient and water supply to roots.

What a beautiful tribute to a horrific event. May all the families, coworkers, and friends worldwide be touched by the addition of the September 11th National Monument, on the 10th Anniversary – September 11, 2011

For more architecture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Every so often on Stagetecture, I like to take a break from the home related posts and highlight important architecture, artisans, and acts of man-kind that are inevitably shaping our history. Today, I am taking a closer look at the sculpture – the 30′ tall Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. statue that will be showcased at the MLK Jr., National Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28th – the anniversary of his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

Image courtesy of About.com

Located on the Tidal Basin and within close proximity to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial creates a visual line of leadership between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is the only non-president and African American to have a memorial built on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Image courtesy of The Telegraph

Chinese Master Sculptor, Lei Yixin, created ‘the three-piece monument depicting the civil rights leader standing, arms crossed, before a large and imposing mountain representing the leader’s hard-fought struggle.

The image of King is being realized by Chinese master sculptor LEI YIXIN who won a design competition to create the artwork. ‘ – Live Mechanics

The 30′ tall centerpiece of the Martin Luther King Memorial called the “Stone of Hope”, a 30-foot statue of Dr. King, with a wall that will be inscribed with excerpts of his sermons and public addresses.

The Martin Luther King Memorial will be designed combining water and beautiful landscaping to encourage quiet reflection while honoring America’s most famous civil rights leader. – About.com

‘At the request of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, sculptor Lei Yixin altered Martin Luther King Jr.’s facial expression to make it less severe. The before and after pictures suggest that he opened up the eyes, de-furrowed the brows, relaxed the cheek muscles and massaged the lips in the direction of a vague smile‘ – AJ Constitution

“The official dedication will occur on Sunday, August 28, 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic I Have A Dream speech, beginning with a pre-dedication concert at 10 a.m. The dedication ceremony will commence at 11 a.m. and a post-dedication concert will follow beginning at 2 p.m.

To learn more about dedication plans, including events that will take place earlier in Dedication Week, please visit www.dedicatethedream.org. The site will be updated frequently as Dedication planning progresses and offer the latest available information. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation is currently collecting personal stories about how Dr. King affected the lives of Americans and people around the world. All are invited to submit memories of working alongside Dr. King, participating in the March on Washington, and more by visiting www.dedicatethedream.org/mystory.” – Capital Chatter

What a great achievement for all that have fought for equality, congratulations Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr!

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