More than Architecture

It is September 11, 2011, exactly 10 years after the attack on the World Trade Center. That Tuesday morning, one decade ago, marks the moment that two towers became more than just architecture. Yes, they were a part of the city's skyline for almost thirty years, designed by one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century, present in iconic movies, famous photos and part of the everyday lives of upwards of 50,000 people who worked there. But now they are more than just buildings. Their absence marks the lives of nearly 3,000 people that were lost that day. Their absence marks the first attack on US mainland soil. Every architect wants the structures they design to make an impact on the history of the space around it. They want their works to be functional, beautiful, recognizable, maybe even famous. But I wonder if Minoru Yamasaki had any idea the kind of recognition his twin towers design would get? What those buildings would mean to millions of people? All of our lives changed that day, forever. All when two buildings, two colossal pieces of architecture, fell to the ground.

So today, ten years later, marks a time for reflection and remembrance. But also a time for rebuilding. The 9/11 memorial is being dedicated today, to remember every life lost that day and to forever mark the footprint of where the towers once stood. The architecture surrounding that hallowed ground is in the process of being rebuilt. Watch the video below to hear the vision of the architects for these new structures. They clearly understand that architecture is sometimes more than just a building.