An architectural proposal by Tay Kheng Soon on Ground Zero, NY
THE
DESIGN
Imagine a hollow cone. A spiral ramp inside rises to the top. Sand and gravel cover the floors, streams of water flow over pebbles with shafts of light from hidden sources.
On the lowest section, on the wall is a memorial of the WTC tragedy, people and families, names... and beyond and above that, quotations from the world's wisdoms would be inscribed,
speaking of peace, friendship, hospitality to strangers, openness, inclusiveness, plurality and cultural exchange... Outside is another spiral ramp for jogging, strolling and biking,
but planted all over for birds and small animals to live off berries and nectar. There is accomodation for embassies and cultural institutes on canted stacks supported off the cone by struts.
The central clutch of lifts stop every twenty floors and is linked by tunnels to the outside lobbies. Seperate lifts serve each stack. Everyone can stroll outside; visit others, meet. There
are restuarants, apartments hostels, all built over the pit of the World Trade Centre which should be a memorial to those who perished.