VERTICAL PARK

Reconstruction of the WTC NY, into a memorial vertical park space, NY, US.

The project is a spontaneous reaction to the collapse of the WTC, NY on 09.11. due to the well known terrorist attack. The proposal is to reproduce the two towers in shape, thus keeping their emblematic role in the NYC skyline, that reached the level of an iconic label, while radicaly changing the constructions and the content of the spaces inside. The Vertical Park is a symbolic projection of the Central Park, NYC, in verticality. The building is a metal structure exposing its skeleton as a pure engineering infrastructure with the general shape of the previously existing Minoru Yamasaki’ “twin- towers of the WTC”. The space inside is articulated in totally different layers: the levels inside are – 18 metres high each, as they are designated to be inhabited by trees, thus forming the world most unique vertical park. Two perimetral systems of pedestrian ramps, gradually spiralling at the slabs’ periphery, are running around the two buildings’ cores containing lifts and installations. The vertical park towers are linked by bridges at certain levels, allowing each walking or jogging visitor to select his own route through both towers of this park in accordance to his/her capacities and intentions. One may start running from the ground floors of one tower, and select the level, from which to pass through the bridge and return back to ground from the other tower …
Every walk and run, as well as the image of the two green forested prisms are to best commemorate the date, known today as a milestone in the modern history of humankind.

The project is done in collaboration with Andrey Chernikhov studio, Moscow, and was
exposed in NY at an exhibition of projects dedicated to the 09 11 commemoration.

Year: 2001
Type: Conceptual project
Publications: widely published