America's Favorite Architecture

Do you think that the WTC would even be on this list if is wasn't for 9/11?

When I lived in NYC, I wasn't really wild about the buildings. All they seemed to have was height, if lots of it. It wasn't until they were gone that I missed their contribution to the skyline. That was their architectural strength--as part of a bigger whole.

The twin towers most certainly would NOT be on a list of America's favorite 150 erections (that term might be more appropriate than "buildings" since the definition of architecture appears to have expanded to include the works of engineers)... except for the sentimental attachment that people have to victimhood (of persons and now, it seems, structures too). Perhaps there could be separate lists posted for both existing and "lost" architecture.

I saw them built and saw them destroyed.I`ve witnessed the media surrounding them for the past several decades.I never had first hand knowledge of what went on inside other than my personal visits there.
From my position, they were a marvel of that area and era.
As a young child, we would take class trips there from almost 2 hours away.They were fond memories for me and i am sad others could not have seen them as i did.

I saw them built and saw them destroyed.I`ve witnessed the media surrounding them for the past several decades.I never had first hand knowledge of what went on inside other than my personal visits there.
From my position, they were a marvel of that area and era.
As a young child, we would take class trips there from almost 2 hours away.They were fond memories for me and i am sad others could not have seen them as i did.

I am 25yrs old and grew up 30min from downtown Manhattan. EVERY SINGLE picture I drew in grammar school had the twin towers in them I MISS THEM and America misses them....please rebuild...always remeber all that was lost on the hoorible day

i rember them as a kid.
miss them as an adult.

I used to take visiting groups of exchange students up to the observation deck. Great view, look to the distance AND looking down... )whew!)

After 9/11 I heard from several of the former students, happy that they had actually "been there."
It meant more to all of us - not just "a building". but a very special place.

I agree, the Twin Towers would not be on this list if they weren't destroyed on 9/11. A giant monolith in the sky and not attractive at all. Even NY'ers were not thrilled with the twin towers when erected, eclipsing the Empire State Building. Take it off the list, it is not there anymore!

Obviously Mike isn't a New Yorker! It was one of the buildings that made New York, New York. Take it off the list! what a dumb thing to say! And if you read the blog, it was a question, so what were you agreeing to?

the only reason i stopped on this blog,
because i knew there would be a spot for the twin towers.

I disagree you MIKE the world trade center was the best thing that has happend in NEW YORK in a long time . I am a life timer in NEW YORK and I have been in a lot of different buildings here. People in NEW YORK enjoy new things like the buildings .And YES I do belive the trade center should be on this list

The World Trade Center was so dominant on the NY skyline that I would use it to orient myself if I got off the subway in a neighborhood that I was not familiar with, but it was truly hideous aesthetically. I used to joke that it deserved to be blown up, that the death penalty should be reserved only for such monstrosities.

Some people may consider monolithic to be a negative trait, but when of a certain scale and proportion are (and can be) absolutely breathtaking to behold. I remember visiting the towers as a small boy in the late 70s, and almost falling over backwards staring straight up from the base. Those dizzying vertical lines travelling impossibly high drawing your eye right to the very heights of the buildings! Yes, I love the Empire State building and the Chrysler building (also as iconic for NYC for me as the WTC), but far prior to any of the awful 9/11 events, the Twin Towers were my most significant memory of my first visits to the grand metropolis that is New York City...

I'll join the crowd opining the towers should not be on this list, but simply because they no longer stand. Including buildings no longer existing would require opening this up to all buildings in US history remaining or not. I'm sure we had many marvelous structures long forgotten.

If still standing I would place them on the list, but lower. Their design alone was nothing special but they worked very well within the context of their surroundings - they defined the southern NYC skyline.

The Twin Towers might be the only project on the list that is totally gone. But there are others that are substantially gone. Penn Station comes to mind. I don't remember the specific wording of the questionaire, but I don't think it directly precluded buildings that were no longer were standing.

this building is about ego, not people.

As a member of the original design team I have to comment that many of the other commentators are missing the contributions that WTC made on tall building design, the rapid vertical transportation systems of massive numbers of people, the design concept of the enclosing shell and others that enabled the followers of the concept of tall structures.
Granted, the great designs are ego driven, but without the innovators, the progress of great designs would come to standstill!

Sentiment indeed is contributing to the high rank. However, it also sends a message that the Twins were a true part of NYC. The Freedom Tower and its set of smaller buildings can never acheive that.

The Twin Towers were New York City. When I think of Manhattan, I think of The World Trade Center. We must rebuild those beautiful buildings so they can dominate the New York skyline again like it once did. We can not let the terrorists alter our skyline.

I agree with Jimmy posted on feb 16 that when I think of lower Manhattan, I think of those Twin Towers. Those Twin Towers should have been rebuild a long time ago and would have been done by now, but no the stupid former Governor wouldn't allow it, I think that just plain stupid. I hope this new governor will allow rebuilding the same Towers again because they were icon and a symbol of United State of America.

These were ugly looking buildings, I think, notable to non engineers only for their vertiginous height and views. Of course, humans at once like and are discomfited by twins of anything. So the Towers were finally distinctive. I have fond memories of seeing the Kasparov and Anand championship up top - a great venue.

Someone told me they put a car dealership (in NJ?) on a platform so they could move it various at various speeds and distances with unsuspecting customers inside. The goal was to study how much sway people at the top of the Towers would be able to tolerate without experiencing distress, which I think qualifies as bitterly ironic in light of events.

These were ugly looking buildings, I think, notable to non engineers only for their vertiginous height and views. Of course, humans at once like and are discomfited by twins of anything. So the Towers were finally distinctive. I have fond memories of seeing the Kasparov and Anand championship up top - a great venue.

Someone told me they put a car dealership (in NJ?) on a platform so they could move it various at various speeds and distances with unsuspecting customers inside. The goal was to study how much sway people at the top of the Towers would be able to tolerate without experiencing distress, which I think qualifies as bitterly ironic in light of events.

These were ugly looking buildings, I think, notable to non engineers only for their vertiginous height and views. Of course, humans at once like and are discomfited by twins of anything. So the Towers were finally distinctive. I have fond memories of seeing the Kasparov and Anand championship up top - a great venue.

Someone told me they put a car dealership (in NJ?) on a platform so they could move it various at various speeds and distances with unsuspecting customers inside. The goal was to study how much sway people at the top of the Towers would be able to tolerate without experiencing distress, which I think qualifies as bitterly ironic in light of events.

These were ugly looking buildings, I think, notable to non engineers only for their vertiginous height and views. Of course, humans at once like and are discomfited by twins of anything. So the Towers were finally distinctive. I have fond memories of seeing the Kasparov and Anand championship up top - a great venue.

Someone told me they put a car dealership (in NJ?) on a platform so they could move it various at various speeds and distances with unsuspecting customers inside. The goal was to study how much sway people at the top of the Towers would be able to tolerate without experiencing distress, which I think qualifies as bitterly ironic in light of events.

These were ugly looking buildings, I think, notable to non engineers only for their vertiginous height and views. Of course, humans at once like and are discomfited by twins of anything. So the Towers were finally distinctive. I have fond memories of seeing the Kasparov and Anand championship up top - a great venue.

Someone told me they put a car dealership (in NJ?) on a platform so they could move it various at various speeds and distances with unsuspecting customers inside. The goal was to study how much sway people at the top of the Towers would be able to tolerate without experiencing distress, which I think qualifies as bitterly ironic in light of events.

Unfortunately the server was returning error messages so I had no idea I just posted the same comment forty times in a row....

I hope someone can delete the extras.

The fact that the Twin Towers even made the top 20 is proof that they should be rebuilt instead of the Freedom Tower.

these 2 buildings were stains on the nyc skyline. no design at all, just oversized and ugly, without finesse.

not many new yorkers were very fond of them...just tourists. but the restaurant, windows on the world was sublime.

the glorification of the Twin Towers reminds me of the exagerated reverence given to rudy giuliani after 9/11, another one whose reputation was tarnished by bullying but immortalized after the horror by those who never knew him.

Check out the Tulsa skyline, we have the same building in a scaled down (52 floor) version. It is known as the Williams Center or the BOK Tower. As the tallest building in Oklahoma it really stands out.

Well I liked the look of the towers, the NY skyline isn't the same without them, no one can deny that. I know of some people who thought they were nothing special, but then there are others, like myself who were very found of their design. Whether you liked or disliked the twin towers, they should always be remebered. Never forget. Glad to see they made the list!

Don't forget what a welcome to NYC the Towers were when sailing up the river. I remember taking a cruise out of NYC in the mid-1980s. The ocean was really rough because there was a hurricane further south on the Eastern seaboard. When the passengers first saw the Towers as we sailed back up into the bay, people started to cheer in a desperately relieved way. The Towers were so welcoming, impressive, and stable, and it never felt so good to be coming home. I am very happy to see that people are still saying that the Towers should be rebuilt---I agree.

I worked in 2 WTC in the early eighty's. Not the best building ever built...not the tallest when it was destroyed, certainly not the safest...but the towers will always remain in our consciousness and be remembered for its monolithic style and size, and unfortunately, a symbol of our naivety about the insane world around us.

We should rebuild on the site (not the footprints) and show the rest of the world how bold and free we really are.

I think in order to leave a comment you should at least know a little about the buildings or any buildings for tht matter. I have been to the twin towers, and oh man spectacular! These buildings were one a a kind, an architect marvel. Unlike most skyscrapers, the twin towers were supported on the edges of the building, rather then in the center. I'm not saying there's no support in the center, it's just supported more on the outside walls. This means they were stronger then other buildings. The weight was equally supported around the building rather then in the center. For example, just stand up and put your feet together and hold your arms straight out. Then seperate your legs about shoulder width, and hold out your arms. If someone were to push you with your feet together and apart which would be better? Most other buildings are built with a bigger base, and skinnier top. The bigger base to help support the weight. Not the twin towers. I just had to defend these modern marvels.

I always disliked these buildings. They were like so many other buildings being put up at the time, utilitarian without style. They overwelmed the entire south end of Manhattan. Long before 9/11, many people used to refer to them as the "tombstones to progress".

During the early 70's, I went to a builder's conference where the architect discussed building the WTC. He discussed all sorts of things including how they developed the special pink aluminum alloy in the sheathing. I asked what would happen if a plane hit the building? He said it would absorb it. Of course, the biggest plane then was the 707. He never mentioned that they discontinued fireproofing the girders above the 70th floors.This is the real scandle of these buildings.

And another thing. Other then lacking in fire retardent trusses, they were two of the strongest buildings ever made. You don't have too take my word, just watch the history or discovery channel. They have shows on these buildings all the time, and just listen to the experts. They explain in detail how strong and safe the buildings were(other then the fire retardent).

YOU PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ARCHITACTURE!!! LOOK IS ONLY A SLIM PART OF IT!! YOU PEOPLE ARE IDOTS.

Believe it or not, these gorgeous buildings were on the lists of destinations of tourists and simply overlooked by many that lived around them. I have old books of sky scrapers that have the WTC listed within well before the first attacks. The WTC added a graceful and dominating presence to the New York skyline that made it unique. Now, it looks like any other. New York needs another WTC.

Craig:
I have always been taught that people that have to SHOUT are people of ignorance. I fondly recall seeing the two towers on my only trip to NYC 30 years ago. My only regret is that we spent too much time at the Statue of Liberty and missed the last tour of the day during our visit. From a technological point of view they defined the US dominance at the time just as the Saturn V rocket that delivered the first men to the moon. You should put your energy into positively supporting your country. There is enough negativity in this world.

Craig,

I'd be interested in your thoughts about the Twin Towers but why the need to say?:

"YOU PEOPLE ARE IDOTS."

All this name calling does is push people away and you degrade yourself.

I suspect your anger comes from some other source than people's comments about the Twin Towers.

I was 24 when I visited NYC for the first time. I actually stayed in Paramus, NJ for a trainging seminar, but on my one free weekend had to go to the city to see it. One of my "gotta see" sites was, of course, the WTC. And believe me I was not disappointed. I approached from the east walking up the huge open court on a Saturday afternoon. The court yard was largely empty people. I remember seeing the much smaller 30 something story hotel next to the south tower and thinking, man that building is really huge too. Then looking up at the GODS.

Perhaps they shouldn't be on the list because they're dead now. But they should be on the list.

Oh yeah... and leave Craig alone.

Other Craig: I do understand architecture. I understand that the engineering of the towers was revolutionary. I understand that the design of the building caused it to stay erect so long after the impacts that thousands of people could escape. I also understand that the design caused it to implode rather than topple like a tree (which would have multiplied the destruction in Manhattan) I also understand that which makes architecture into an art form is aesthetics, which the WTC was void of.

The importance of this building engineering-wise would place it maybe between 100 and 150, but it's ugliness (and it was ugly) overrules how garishly iconic it was on the skyline. Same goes for the Sears Tower. Of course, youngsters would draw the towers, because it was just 2 rectangles. No big challenge to draw that.

I'm with those who think that we're not celebrating a building, but rather a space in the sky where the building once was. I'm also with those who think that nostalgia for buildings past (WTC, the 2nd Yankee Stadium, the original Penn Station) should not qualify these non-existing buildings. It's telling that all the ex-structures were in self-mythologizing NYC. There was no mention of Wright's Larkin Building or Midway Gardens, nor for Sullivan's or Burnham's sites that were destroyed in Daley Sr's architectural pogram. Just sepia-colored New York losses made the list.

Yes, there's the tragedy of it all. The most horrible day of our lives. but I don't see any votes for the Alfred Murrah building in Oklahoma City.

Beware sentimentality when making judgements. Don't confuse quality with nostalgia.

The only reason these buildings are so high on the list-or on this list at all- is due to their destruction.

The rest of the world understood the power of these structures. Many great pictures exist if you look around. While you are looking- take a look at explanations about the whole day of 9-11-01. Fell to the ground at free fall speed. How? 10 seconds!! Why was there no resistance from structures used to 140 mph wind? Use your internet power to do your own research. You will be shocked at how much you have NEVER been told. Good Luck! By the way-Rebuild these Towers. NOW. See Loose Change. Peace. Larry the Liar

My major beef with the Towers was what they did to the rest of the NYC skyline.

What was once a nicely balanced, gently undulating skyline, north-to-south, became horribly unbalanced by an overwhelming weight at the "delicate" tip of Manhattan. Much like a foot with a grossly swollen big toe.

They also comitted the sin of eclipsing their neighbors. From most vantage points, it became nearly impossible to focus upon and appreciate the majestic Woolworth building, among others.

They also bespoke Western arrogance; which, of course, is why they were targeted.

I'm embarassed to say it, but I'm quite happy to see them gone.

I once stood on the observation deck. They said you could see four states from up there. It wasn't that clear that day. I remember the antenna on the tower being VERY large.

I spent a week working on the 68th floor of one tower, while I was an auditor for the New York City Comptroller's office. We were in an inside office with no windows. The thing I remember most: lights that came on automatically when you entered the room and shut off when you left.

I never had a chance to eat in Windows on the World.

I have photos somewhere, taken during my amateur photographer days, of the towers and their plaza from the ground. I haven't looked for them in my old papers; I don't think I could bear to look at them.

Although I live in Arizona now, it's still difficult for me to look at the New York City skyline without these buildings.

The pro-Twin Towers comments above are pretty representative of what we hear at The Twin Towers Alliance all the time. Polls and anecdotal evidence suggest that most Americans and people around the world share this viewpoint. This poll is the most recent testimony to that. Some of the other comments, from those who seem to share a one-dimensional view of the Towers, are also representative -- of people who didn't like the them, dismiss people as idiots if they don't agree, and mistakenly think they speak for most New Yorkers -- but that is just not true.

They miss so much about what made the Twin Towers beautiful to the rest of us, as well as the spiritual component that infused Mr. Yamasaki's work. And there is another segment of the population that didn't particularly like the way they looked, but believes that the only appropriate and respectful response to their destruction is to rebuild.

Those who disagree do not have to be disagreeable. We are fighting against some very powerful opponents, but we believe that it is not too late to REBUILD THE TOWERS and prevent what we think would be a terrible mistake.