Imagining Ground Zero : official and unofficial proposals for the World Trade Center Site /

The reconstruction of the World Trade Center site is clearly one of the most important architectural opportunities of the century. It is also one of the most complex, and this book reflects that. Authors Stephens, Luna, and Broadhurst do an admirable job of bringing together many of the proposals--from the official finalists and the Max Protetch Invitational Exhibition, as well as press-generated and independent submissions. The book also includes the competition for the memorial (won by Michael Arad) and Santiago Calatrava's transportation hub. Entries on the proposals include helpful graphics and text; and there is a useful bibliography. However, while introductory portions of the text valiantly attempt to unravel and explain the intricacies of the decision-making process, the complexity of the situation--the number of agencies, institutions, corporations, and prominent individuals involved--still thwarts any clear, straightforward recounting; that will take time and distance. Nonetheless, this is a good compendium of the projects and people involved. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate and graduate students; professionals. M. Frank University of Massachusetts Lowell

With proposals published and debated in the New York Times and elsewhere, the World Trade Center site has generated an unprecedented amount of architectural activity and speculation, beautifully captured in this book from Architectural Record special correspondent Stephens. This 9" 12" compendium presents the five "official" proposals considered by the city and other groups involved in the decision, including a version of the winning design from David Childs, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with collaborating architect Daniel Liebeskind. The illustrations give lots of detail in vibrant color and black-and-white; the text is clear and full of information-and enthusiasm, even for the 120 or so projects that will never be realized. Some of them, like the stunning grid-like project from Richard Meier, Peter Eisenman, Charles Gwathmey and Stephen Holl that brilliantly riffs on the original WTC's facade, will be familiar. Others, like Hans Hollein's exact replicas of the original towers-except attached at the top by something that looks like a burned-out overturned car-will be less so. AR editor-in-chief Robert A. Ivy provides a foreword to what is sure to be the architecture book of the season. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved