One of the most captivating and interesting pieces of architecture I've seen lately is the World Trade Center Transit Hub in lower Manhattan. I have been eyeing this building/structure for years and last year I finally had a chance to go in. I would consider this architecture to be projective, but I can't decide whether its hot or cold.
To me, the fins above are very expressive and exaggerative in a way I would consider to be "hot". However, the project as a whole has a "cool" attitude, although sculptural and expressive, it has a different aura than a Libeskind project. The white material gives to the elegance of the structure. This building is also rather deceiving, like an iceburg what you see at the surface doesn't compare to the size below the street. When you enter from the street you are on an upper level looking down onto the main concourse. If you enter from the subway system, you walk through an ultra-modern
high-tech subway station, and then ultimately enter in to a soaring space. If you stand in the right position, the oculus through the roof will show you the entirety of the new 1 World Trade Center.
It is interesting to think that this building could fall into the category of both "hot" and "cold". Also something to think about is context... being in NY, you could argue that this building is a subtle glimpse of the architectural landscape of the city. Exemplary for sure, but not groundbreaking in relation to the many other innovative structures on the rise in Manhattan. Whereas if this building was located in Clemson, it would be something completely foreign to the landscape.
ReplyDelete