Daniel Libeskind, Visionary Architect

Libeskind's rendering of Freedom Tower

I heard this outstanding interview of Architect Daniel Libeskind on The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR, and it inspired me to write and share some thoughts. I highly recommend this 20-minute interview if you are interested in 9/11, NYC, architecture, Daniel Libeskind, or--like me--all of the above!

Libeskind was already a famous architect when he was selected to be the master planner for the world's 9/11 memorial at the site of ground zero in Manhattan. Now that his winning vision is taking form, he will soon become a household name.

There are three parts to the project.

1. The 9/11 Memorial will be dedicated on September 11, 2011 in a special ceremony for victims’ families. The Memorial opens to the public on September 12, 2011 with the reservation of a visitor pass.
2. The 9/11 Museum, slated to open in 2012, will house artifacts such as bits of steel from the Trade Center towers, first-responder equipment, and items left at spontaneously-created memorials.  
3. Freedom Tower, which is already the tallest structure in NYC and will be open for mixed-use in 2013. 

Here are some additional links that describe the overall project concept and timeline:

• Renderings, models, and photographs of the 1,776 foot high 1 World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), the museum, and memorial.
• World Trade Center Reconstruction timeline (to be substantially complete in 2013)

In the NPR interview, Daniel Libeskind said that he became an architect because he realized it was the one profession that brought together all his passions, such as music, physics, visual arts, and psychology. I can relate to that! I am not aware of any other profession that so perfectly unites art and science.

Here are three additional links that describe Libeskind's philosophy and accomplishments:

• Powerful TED Talk entitled Daniel Libeskind's 17 words of architectural inspiration
• Daniel Libeskind's Online Studio 
• Images showing several of Daniel Libeskind's designs

Listening to Daniel Libeskind talk about his design motives makes me so proud to be an American, and a student of architecture. I am certainly following this project and cannot wait to make multiple trips to NYC to personally observe the beautiful plan take form and come alive in the physical world.

Recent aerial photo of  WTC Memorial site (AP / Mark Lennihan)