Sep 12

Everyone must have remember what happened yesterday, exactly eight years ago…the horrible 911 attack that brought the 415m and 417m World Trade Center towers to rubbles.

The project of rebuilding the World Trade Center in New York City after the disastrous 911 attacks is called as ‘ Project Rebirth’. This project is very much related to the former twin towers of World Trade Center, and it reflects on the memorial dedication to the 911 disaster.

The site plan of the project:

site_plan_north

Currently, constructions are in progress on the large site. A memorial park is built, dedicated for the victims of 911 attack. Four buildings are under construction;

One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower)

  • Height: 541m to top of spire. (417m to top of roof)
  • 109 floors including rooftop.
  • design: simple symmetry, more traditional design to complement with New York skyline.
  • 2.6 million square feet office space, including observation deck, world-class restaurants, etc.
  • designed to draw upon the themes of motion and light; a shimmering glass surface drapes the tower’s base and imparts a dynamic fluidity of form whose appearance will reflect its surroundings.
  • As the tower itself rises from this cubic base, its square edges are chamfered back, transforming the square into eight tall isosceles triangles in elevation, or an elongated square antiprism.
  • At its middle, the tower forms a perfect octagon in plan and then culminates in a glass parapet (elevation 1,362 feet (415 m) and 1,368 feet (417 m)) whose plan is a square, rotated 45 degrees from the base.
  • A mast containing an antenna for television broadcasters—designed by a collaboration between Skidmore, Owings and Merill, artist Kenneth Snelson (who invented the tensegrity structure), lighting designers and engineers—and secured by a system of cables, rises from a circular support ring, similar to the Statue of Liberty’s torch, to a height of 1,776 feet (541 m). The spire will be an intense beam of light that will be lit at night and will likely be visible over a thousand feet (305 m) into the air above the tower.
  • Estimated to be completed by year 2013.
  • Architects: David Childs (SOM), Thomas Boada.

Two World Trade Center (200 Greenwich Street)

  • Height: 411m to top of spire. (387m to top of roof)
  • 79 floors.
  • 2.53 million square feet of office space, including retail shops.
  • Design: The sloping roof consisting of four diamonds inclined toward the memorial will provide a visual marker around the skyline of just where the original towers were.
  • The tower is designed to resemble a diamond, with cross bracing intersects and indentations breaking up the sides.
  • The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the following about 200 Greenwich Street’s wedged rooftop: “Designed by Lord Norman Foster, the tower incorporates WTC master planner Daniel Libeskind’s ‘wedge of light’ concept, and will cast no shadow on the memorial park on September 11.”
  • Estimated to be completed by year 2012.
  • Architect: Sir Norman Foster.

Three World Trade Center (175 Greenwich Street)

  • Height: 383m to top of spire. (352m to top of roof)
  • 71 floors.
  • 2 million square feet of office space, including retail space.
  • Design: The building slightly resembles the John Hancock Center in Chicago. The four spires in the design would give the building a pinnacle height of 1,255 feet (383 m).
  • The design of the tower addresses on its central position on the site and accentuates the building’s verticality relative to the Memorial site.
  • It is envisaged that the tower will consist of a central concrete core (steel encased in reinforced concrete) and an external structural steel frame which will be clad in stainless steel.
  • Estimated to be completed by year 2014.
  • Architect: Sir Richard Rogers.

Four World Trade Center (150 Greenwich Street)

  • Height: 297m to top of roof.
  • 64 floors.
  • 1.8 million square feet of office space, including retail space.
  • Design: The office tower is intended to assume a quiet but dignified presence at the site while also serving to enliven the immediate urban environment as part of the redevelopment efforts of downtown New York.
  • Estimated to be completed by year 2011.
  • Architect: Fumihiko Maki.

The Seven World Trade Center is built in year 2006.

7 World Trade Center

  • Height: 226m to top of roof.
  • 52 floors.
  • 1.7 million square feet of office space.
  • Located just north of the WTC site, the rebuilt office tower combines a powerful infrastructure with ultra-efficient floors to offer tenants substantial operational efficiencies. With 45-foot column-free spans, high ceilings, and stunning views in all directions, the 40,000-square-foot floor plate provides unparalleled freedom to customize each space.
  • From backup power systems, to abundant riser spacing, to above-standard electrical capacity and next-generation HVAC systems, the tower’s infrastructure anticipates and exceeds future demands in every way. And the sheer beauty of its shimmering external façade gracefully enhances any corporate image.
  • New York’s first officially certified Green Building.
  • Architect: David Childs (SOM).

 Future of the area:

From this:

To this by 2013 0r 2014:

Notes:

1. The information and pictures from this post are not of my own and obtained from the internet.

2. This post is obtained directly from my own site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/the-under-construction-skyscrapers-on-new-yorks-ground-zero/

Sep 4

Here is the list from DiSerio ranking through observations and statistics:

1. Hong Kong, China – marvelous skyline on the Hong Kong island, clustered with buildings especially skyscrapers (Two International Finance Centre, Central Plaza, Bank of China Tower, The Center, Cheung Kong Center,etc), mountainous backdrop with sea in front, perfect lighting at night, dense with buildings.

20080617084600hong_kong_night_skyline_retouched1

2. Chicago, USA – best skyline in America, dense with buildings usually of traditional style of architecture, a lot of modern buildings rising up, skyscrapers (Sears Tower, John Hancock Center, Aon Center,etc), strategic location on the shore, shows the beginning of modern skyline.

chicagonightscape

3. New York, USA – supposingly the earliest skyline city in the world, fully dense with building with Central Park in the middle, skyscrapers (Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Bank of America Plaza, New York Times Building, etc), marks the beginning of skyscrapers and even skyline.famous landmark: Statue of Liberty.

newyorkcityskyline

4. Shanghai, China – a modern looking and futuristic city, boom in economic and prosperity, large development and construction of skyscrapers, famous skyscrapers (Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower, Shimao International Plaza, etc), famous landmark: Oriental Pearl Tower, strategic location in the Pudong district along the river.

shanghai-skyline

5. Singapore – a small island but with rapid development, quite dense with buildings, clustered along the river too, can be known as the model garden city, buildings not so tall due to air traffic restriction, famous skyscrapers (UOB Plaza, OUB Plaza, Republic Plaza – three tallest buildings with the height of 280m).

singapore_skyline_night_1

6. Tokyo, Japan – the largest city in the world, among the biggest power in Asia, leading city in technology, fully dense with buildings, famous skyscrapers (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, etc), famous landmark (Tokyo Tower), lighting of buildings at night with neon is fantastic.

tokyo at night

7. Toronto, Canada – located at strategic location along the shore, skyscrapers (First Canadian Place, Scotia Plaza, etc), famous landmark (CN Tower), quite dense with buildings, combination of traditional and modern buildings.

392427040_8023c4371b

8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – not too dense city, organization of buildings is awesome, famous skyscrapers (Petronas Twin Towers, Telekom Tower, Maybank Tower, Empire Tower, etc), famous landmark (Kuala Lumpur Tower), quite rapid development, steady growth.

photo-5902-26-01-08-14-58-24

9. Shenzhen, China – allignment of buildings along a straight road is perfect, lighting at night is beautiful, quite dense with buildings, famous skyscrapers (Shun Hing Square, SEG Plaza, Golden Business Center, Shenzhen Development Bank Tower, etc), rapid development.

shenzhen20skyline

10. Seattle, USA – located on a strategic location along the shore too, skyscrapers (Columbia Center, Washington Mutual Tower, Two Union Square, etc), famous landmark (Space Needle), a modern looking city too.

seattleskyline
Notice the different styles of architecture in each cities shown above? That’s what make each city unique and outstanding on its own.
Notes:
1. The information and pictures from here are not of my own and are obtained from other sources.
2. This post is obtained directly from my own site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/top-10-best-skylines-of-the-world/
Sep 2

Anybody knows the famous Swiss architecture firm called as Herzog and de Meuron? The two principal architects are Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.

In 2001, they were awarded with Pritzker Prize, the highest of honors in architecture.

They are very excellent especially in designing stadiums, notably the Beijing National Stadium, the stadium which organized the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games successfully….the stadium is now a landmark, a symbol of Chinese modernism, and a masterpiece of architecture…

With the seating of 80 000, this remarkable stadium is nicknamed as Bird Nest due to its distinctive design.

 

Besides than the stadium which was built in 2008, here is another stadium built in 2005 not to be forgotten. This stadium is called as Allianz Arena which is located at Munich, Germany.

With the seatings of 66 000, it is the first stadium in the world that has a full changing colours outside.

Spectacular, isn’t it?

Notes:

1. The information and pictures from this post are not of my own and are obtained from internet sources.

2. This post is directly obtained from my personal site: http://vincentloy.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/fantastic-stadiums-from-herzog-de-meuron/

3. For more information regarding the two stadiums and the architects, feel free to check my own site (under architecture category) or any other sources.