I do have to agree that putting them up the way they were is the best idea. I have thought some of the new designs were ok, but the whole flap over the freedom center is just outrageous.

Just put them up as they were with a little sign out front that says WTC? F*** Yeah!

On one level I love the idea of just rebuilding the towers as is, or maybe a little bit taller to ensure that they set the world record again. I see two problems with this, however. It might be difficult to fill the office space on the higher floors in the rebuilt towers. But more importantly, as someone who grew up in NYC and has been to the top many times, the old towers were simply ugly. They had a certain stark majesty due to their sheer bulk, but they weren't attractive architecture. Why not take the opportunity to build something better.

Not that I have any faith in the ability of famous architects to actually put out an attractive design...

KeithK hits the crux of the problem; while an icon, the towers were ugly and impractical. Simply rebuilding what was there is just sentimental stupidity. To truly honor the site, do what's best for both business and aesthetic reasons.

I don't think they were ugly at all. They may not have been elegant but the massive simplicity of them was sort of the point. I always found them rather striking. Handsome at least if not beautiful.

Post 9-11, they are stunning. They have a beauty no other desing will ever match...or at least not for some time.

doug

I've got to agree with Keith. While the buildings, just by being there and so hard to miss for so many years became something you *expect* to see, and now you feel their absence... doesn't mean we can't take the WTC as an opportunity.

Rebuilding them exactly as they were as a "see not a mark on me" gesture to the rest of the world may have some surface appeal, but it's really quite silly. 9/11 *did* change us, so why deny it?

New York is always changing. You go away for a while and come back (I've done it) and nothing is quite the way you left it. In fact one of New York's greatest strengths is its regenerative ability.

So by all means build something big, something impressive, something downright awe-inspiring on the site. But fixating on the past, trying to make things exactly as they were is not only foolish, it's not New York.

The only problem is finding an architect and a design that's worthy of the site and the name. I'm not sure that's possible.

I agree. It's too bad this design was never seriously considered:
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Whoops! The default setting screwed up my beautiful design. I guess I'll have to find & link the esign later.