9/11 memorial pavilion by snohetta opens at ground zero

at the world trade center site in new york, the city’s ‘national september 11 memorial museum pavilion‘ opens to the public as the only built structure on the plaza. in 2004 international architecture office snøhetta was commissioned to undertake the project, which forms a cultural facility dedicated to the comfort and orientation of ground zero’s many visitors.

the cultural facility is dedicated to the comfort and orientation of ground zero’s many visitors
image © jeff goldberg/esto (also main image)

the building responds to the horizontal nature of the site with a dynamic, yet subtle form that serves as a bridge between the museum and the memorial itself. the pavilion’s engaging geometry and inclined reflective façades encourage interaction with the structure, while striped elevations assign the design a strong visual resonance, establishing a close relationship with the strata of the surrounding urban fabric.

an atrium contains two structural columns rescued from the original towers
image © jeff goldberg/esto

inside, an atrium contains two structural columns rescued from the original towers, which remain standing as a poignant reminder of the events on september 11, 2001. guests enter at ground level before descending to a subterranean area that houses the project’s primary program.

the supports remain standing as a poignant and lasting reminder
image © jeff goldberg/esto

‘our desire is to allow visitors to find a place that is a naturally occurring threshold between the everyday life of the city and the uniquely spiritual quality of the memorial. it is important that people physically engage with the building and feel that it helps lead them on to other areas of the site and other thoughts about their experiences there‘, explained craig dykers, founding partner of snøhetta.

guests enter at ground level before descending to a subterranean level that houses the project’s primary program
image © jeff goldberg/esto

the pavilion features a host of sustainable features throughout, including optimized minimal energy performance, the re-use of wastewater and the utilization of locally sourced materials. consequently the scheme is on course to receive a LEED gold rating.

the pavilion’s engaging geometry and inclined reflective façades encourage public interaction
image © jeff goldberg/esto

the ‘national september 11 memorial museum pavilion’ was inaugurated by president obama on may 15, 2014 before opening to the public a week later on may 21.

striped elevations assign the building a strong visual resonance
image © jeff goldberg/esto

the building responds to the horizontal nature of the site with a dynamic, yet subtle form
image © jeff goldberg/esto

project info:

location: new york, NY, USA
type: culture center & visitor orientation center
client: national 9/11 memorial
status: completed
associate architect: adamson associates

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