WTC Towers: The Symbolic Power Of Architecture

Architecture represents powerful symbolic meanings. This article discusses the architecture of the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon and comments on why architecture is often destroyed for political purposes.

1 minute read

September 17, 2001, 8:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"It made a difference that there were two, and that they were identical in shape and sheathing. A single box would have been static, but the two together made a dynamic composition of forms in space. And those silvery columns, narrowly spaced to add structural strength to the facades, reflected the light in a way that, on certain evenings from the Jersey side, was sheer magic...Despite its huge size, the Pentagon cuts a low profile -- from almost any vantage point but a close-up view, the building actually doesn't look that big...In addition to being remarkably efficient, the five-sided shape cuts down the impression of size, and the designers broke up each of the long facades in simple but effective ways...Regrettably, destroying architecture for political reasons is nothing new. The more important and powerful its symbolism, the higher a building is likely to rank on the target list of a bitter foe."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Thursday, September 13, 2001 in The Washington Post

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