Remembering 9/11

9/11 is a day that all Americans will remember forever.  Tears well up inside of me almost anytime that I see any of the documentaries and/or remembrance ceremonies that come on TV.  These are both tears of sadness for all the victims of the attack as well as tears of joy for how proud and lucky I am to be an American.  The stories of people who lost loved ones and the stories of survival and heroics of all who went in to save lives are heart wrenching.  America was rocked to its core that day but also showed what a great country we are in the following days, and years.

Anyone who watched any of the 9/11 programming on TV today saw the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site that was built in the exact location of the old towers.  This memorial was design by a landscape architect and an architect.  This is a very cool and exciting thing for me to see how my profession can positively affect so many peoples lives through a project about remembrance and honoring those that died.

The project is very interesting.  The design is based around two voids in the earth at the footprint of the towers to give the towers, and those lost, a permanent presence on the site.  Beautifully lit waterfalls occupy both of the voids with the victims names engraved on the edges.  The surrounding grove of 416 oak trees provide a place for remembrance and provide a park to escape the hustle of city life.  The site also includes a memorial museum and glade to accomodate annual ceremonies.  I really like the design because it gives a physical form to the memory of the towers and all those who were lost.

Pretty cool time lapse video of the project being built:
http://video-embed.cleveland.com/services/player/bcpid619326673001?bctid=1151722551001

Some links about the project ---
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/21444
http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/09/new_yorks_new_911_memorial_is.html
http://www.pwpla.com/national-911-memorial/landscape-design