Urban Design Elements

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3 T he program for rebuilding is complex, with many elements that need to be arranged on the site and adjacent areas. This section examines the various elements, and some of the different historical precedents from around the world that can guide and inspire the planning process. As we consider these individual elements, we must imagine how they relate to one another and how all the elements of the plans fit together. Public investment in the street grid, transportation infrastructure and public open spaces provides a framework around which individual properties will be developed. The more sensitively these elements of the public realm are designed and fitted together, the more compelling a framework for the development of these sites, and the greater the likelihood that quality architecture will emerge. These historical precedents show a variety of solutions for urban design questions, though they are by no means an exhaustive list. The precedents include such elements as a memorial, transit facilities, the street grid, offices, retail, a hotel, parks and open space. 23 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

4 Memorial Precedents Memorials have been conceived of in many different ways throughout history and can take a wide variety of forms. A memorial can be an open space, a sculpture, an object, a room, a building, a museum, or even an entire precinct. All of these options and more should remain open for discussion as we think about the appropriate memorial for the site. The precedents presented in this study represent a spectrum of memorials from around the world. USS Arizona Pearl Harbor, Hawaii The shattered USS Arizona, one of 12 ships destroyed in the Japanese attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor, was preserved underwater and a viewing platform was built over its midsection. The semi-enclosed pavilion includes three areas: a formal entry, an observation deck and ceremony area, and a shrine with the names of the 1,177 people killed. The memorial recalls the violence of the event and the violation felt by the nation, using an actual object as a symbol of the magnitude of what happened, and marking the perimeter by the view of the harbor from the open pavilion design, without preserving the entire destroyed fleet. This memorial is located in the midst of what continues today to be an active naval station. USS Arizona pavilion Turret in the Pearl Harbor naval station 24 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

5 Memorial Precedents Oklahoma City National Memorial Oklahoma City, Oklahoma This memorial not only remembers the loss of life but also makes strong references to the event itself. The 3-acre memorial on the site of the Murrah Office Building connects to the pre-existing plaza in front of the federal courts. The memorial is highly symbolic, using 168 chairs to represent each person lost. The time on this symbolic gate represents the moment before the Murrah Building was destroyed. At night, the memorial is illuminated from below. 25 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

6 Memorial Precedents Berlin Jewish Museum Berlin, Germany Many of the memorials to the millions killed in the Holocaust bear witness to the horror of Nazi death camps, an effort to ensure that future generations never forget what took place. Consequently, many Holocaust memorials have taken the form of history museums. The Berlin Jewish Museum uses a combination of educational exhibitions and architectural symbolism to remind us of the violence committed against the Jews, which was largely conducted out of sight from major population centers. Exterior of the Berlin Jewish Museum. The museum is designed with many jagged edges. 26 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

7 Memorial Precedents JFK Memorial Arlington, Virginia Another symbol often used in memorials is an eternal flame, which represents the spirit and the vitality of life. Flame also embodies light, or the illumination given to us by great people. The final resting place of President Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery is marked with a flame that is never extinguished, and the 3.2-acre site is paved with Cape Cod stones and planted with clover to give the look and feel of a Massachusetts field. The eternal flame at the grave of JFK. Women in Military Service Memorial Arlington, Virginia Earth is another powerful symbol, in this case of uncovering buried or forgotten history. A section of soil behind the retaining wall of Arlington National Cemetery was excavated to create a new space. Quotations from women who served in the military are etched into the glass skylight, and are printed as shadows cast on the masonry walls. The 4-acre site is designed to be always accessible, with enclosed stairs that cut through the space providing 24-hour visibility even when the museum is closed. Exterior of the Women in Military Service Memorial. Quotations etched on the skylight are reflected inside the memorial. 27 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

8 Memorial Precedents National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Washington, DC Gardens are another symbol of life, hope, regeneration, and the future. This memorial honors more than 14,000 American law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty since the first known incident in The 3-acre site includes 60,000 plants and 128 trees, and each year 14,000 daffodils bloom representing each of the officers. Each planting at the memorial is symbolic of an officer. Battle of the Somme Memorial Thiepval, France Exterior of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial The void is another symbol, and a powerful one evoking the huge losses suffered during the First World War. The arch is used to evoke a gaping mouth that swallowed the lives of over 100,000 soldiers in and around the nearby town with 20,000 of them killed in a single day. At the center of the arch is a sarcophagus containing the remains of unknown soldiers. No system existed during the First World War to identify casualties, and tens of thousands of the dead were never identified. Built on a hill outside the town of Thiepval, the memorial design was intended to evoke the cathedral that was destroyed (and subsequently rebuilt) during particularly heavy fighting. The former cathedral at Thiepval. 28 The memorial evokes both the former cathedral as well as its destruction. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

9 Memorial Precedents Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan, Italy The Galleria, designed to commemorate the 1859 triumph of Italy over Austria in the Battle of Magenta, is a grand public space in the heart of Milan. A cruciform that converges at a soaring central dome, the glass-topped Galleria serves to create both an imposing memorial and a symbolic center of commerce for the growing city. Triumphal arches throughout the Galleria memorialize those who perished in the struggle to unite Italy, while the shops, cafes, offices and apartments contained within contribute to an active urban environment. The Galleria is a prime example of a living memorial that is both a special place and part of the daily life of the city. By connecting the Duomo cathedral and the Scala opera house, the Galleria links the sacred, the civic and the secular in a glorious public space. The Galleria in Milan is both an active public space as well as a memorial. 29 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

10 Memorial Precedents Civil Rights Memorial Montgomery, Alabama Water is another symbol often used in memorials, symbolizing the continuum of time and the essence of life. Flowing water connects the past with the future, and in the Civil Rights Memorial, water flows over a massive stone that tells the story of the civil rights movement, and lists the names of people killed in the struggle. A quotation of Martin Luther King, Jr., drawn from the Bible, describes the Promised Land to come, and offers hope for the future. The text on the stone records significant events in the civil rights struggle. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, DC This memorial remembers the individuals who perished in the Vietnam conflict. The abstract design avoids direct reference to the events so as not to invoke political controversy. The 5-acre memorial consists of a cut in the ground, designed to represent a violence against the earth, a wound, and also to suggest the healing powers of nature. The sculptural cut reveals the names of the dead, providing a place to find and remember one s loved ones. This design idea started with a simple, evocative sketch, guided and inspired by a detailed mission statement produced by the Vietnam Veteran s Memorial Foundation, which stipulated that: All the names of those missing or killed (57,000) must be part of the memorial The design must be apolitical The memorial must be harmonious with the 5-acre site The message must be conciliatory and begin a national healing process 30 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

11 Memorial Precedents Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, DC Maya Lin s sketch for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Competition. Aerial of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 31 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

12 Memorial Precedents What is a Memorial? In creating a moving and enduring memorial, there are many fundamental questions that must be answered before we can begin to think about its physical design. What is the message of the memorial? What does it commemorate? What will it say to future generations? The most meaningful memorials communicate these messages by combining spatial and symbolic elements. The spatial component uses a physical space to mark an event, often the actual space where an event took place. The symbolic component provides an emotional anchor, an icon or object that enables us to come together to feel connection with specific people or with an event. These two concepts definition of a physical space and a symbolic center form the essence of most successful memorials. The development of the memorial has commenced with the initial program and process discussions by the LMDC Families Advisory Council. The LMDC has recently created the position of Vice President and Director for Memorial, Cultural and Civic Programs to work closely with families and other stake holders to develop, implement and then oversee the process for creating a memorial, including associated fund raising. 32 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

13 PATH Terminal and Fulton Street Station Prior to September 11, on a daily basis, nearly 500,000 passengers traveled by PATH and New York City Subway to destinations south of Chambers Street. With over 100,000 subway and PATH passengers arriving and departing each day, the transit complex at the World Trade Center was among the busiest in all of New York City. The Fulton Street Station, with its underground maze of subway connections, is another of New York s busiest, with over 60,000 passengers traveling through the station every day. As New York prepares to rebuild a permanent mass transit facility in Lower Manhattan, there are several precedents to consider of successful integrated transit hubs. Former World Trade Center PATH Terminal The Hudson Terminal Building on Church Street between Cortlandt and Fulton Streets, built from , was a combined office block and rail terminal which included both city and regional subways. It was demolished when the World Trade Center was built. 33 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

14 PATH Terminal and Fulton Street Station Grand Central Terminal Manhattan A highly successful transit facility since its construction, Grand Central Terminal has been a catalyst for economic growth. When the terminal was built, Midtown Manhattan was, by New York standards, sparsely developed. Today, Grand Central is at the heart of the nation s largest concentration of offices, apartments, retailers, and cultural attractions. The terminal s noble design and convenient access to subway and commuter trains have made it not only an efficient transit hub, but also a popular lunchtime and evening destination. The iconic design makes it one of the most recognizable symbols and orientation points in New York City. Grand Central Terminal is one of Manhattan s busiest transit centers, bustling with activity. The exterior of Grand Central Terminal at night. 34 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

15 PATH Terminal and Fulton Street Station Terminal Tower Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland s 52-story Terminal Tower has served as a symbol of the city for 70 years. The tower was built above Union Terminal, the city s main railroad station at the time, and at one point was the tallest building outside of New York. From the outset, it provided convenient access to Cleveland s office core, as well as retail and cultural attractions. Like Grand Central, Terminal Tower spawned much growth in the area, and continues to be a vibrant and attractive facility, today serving commuter rail passengers and providing a connection to the airport. Exterior of Terminal Tower On the interior, commuters are met with a mix of restaurants, retail and cultural amenities. 35 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

16 PATH Terminal and Fulton Street Station Pennsylvania Station Manhattan The original Pennsylvania Railroad Station was a monument to the railroad. The rebuilt Penn Station is an efficient underground transit hub, filled to capacity at all hours of the day with commuters and visitors. Its construction encouraged major new construction projects in the 1960 s and 70 s, though its impact was not sustained over time. Interior of Penn Station today. Tokyo, Japan In Japan, the integration of transit facilities with office buildings, apartment complexes, and shopping centers is quite common. Tokyo s rail stations are virtual cities, featuring multi-story department stores, lavish food courts, and convenient transit connections. Typically, the stations can be accessed through stores or directly from the street level. These Japanese examples suggest that transit can be successfully integrated with other uses. Transit facilities in Japan are often discreetly integrated with other commercial and retail uses. 36 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey