[kcvl]

Paul Murdoch defends the design.

"A crescent is part of architectural vocabulary. It's a generic form used in design," said Paul Murdoch, one of the winning architects. "We don't see any one group having ownership of it."

"Crescent of Embrace" features an arc of maple trees that will turn red each fall.

Murdoch believes it's unfortunate that the design is being interpreted that way.

"You can call it all kinds of things. We can call it an arc. We can call it a circle. We can call it the edge of the bowl. The label doesn't matter to us in terms of intent.

"We have no objection to calling it something else."

Murdoch did say they have no intentions of changing the design.

The reason the circle of trees is not completed, he said, is because it was severed by the path of Flight 93. From that opening, visitors will be able to gaze down on what has been called the "Sacred Ground," where some of the remains of the passengers and crew still rest.


******


Paul Murdoch's firm is committed to its involvement in creating sustainable design. Sustainable design, as defined by Wikipedia, is "the art of designing physical objects to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability."


Paul Murdoch...

A primary task of this generation is to create new patterns of development that sustain human habitation on this planet. Towards this end, the principles adopted for our practice are intended to ensure that each project contributes to an overall goal of environmental responsibility while striving for design excellence. As architects, we are uniquely qualified to help formulate and translate policy into tangible form; mitigating pressures of urbanity with the need to heal the natural environment. Each design solution is seen as a contribution to the human condition; as it exists today and evolves into future generations.

Our goal is to define and study problems both in terms of clients’ direct needs and relative to long term effects on natural and man made surroundings. More than problem solving however, we aspire to emotionally affect and uplift our lives through poetry and beauty.

It is through these transcendent qualities that we optimistically strive for ways to enrich life and fulfill our original purpose for engaging in the practice of architecture.

[conservativebabe]

The reason the circle of trees is not completed, he said, is because it was severed by the path of Flight 93.

HUH? I don't even know what that means. These supposed "professional" architects ought to be smart enough to know that anything even remotely resembling a symbol of Islam would be a bad idea. There is no way to convince me that it is completely benign. Who do they think they are kidding, honestly?

[L.N. Smithee]

"A crescent is part of architectural vocabulary. It's a generic form used in design," said Paul Murdoch, one of the winning architects. "We don't see any one group having ownership of it."

I am not an architect, but when I first read this, I did a Google search of online architectural glossaries. NOT ONE OF THEM LISTED THE WORD "CRESCENT." NOT ONE.

If it is used in an architectural sense, it certainly is not used widely and certainly could not credibly be called "generic."

I smell a rat.

[Windcatcher]

"Paul Murdoch...

A primary task of this generation is to create new patterns of development that sustain human habitation on this planet. Towards this end, the principles adopted for our practice are intended to ensure that each project contributes to an overall goal of environmental responsibility while striving for design excellence. As architects, we are uniquely qualified to help formulate and translate policy into tangible form; mitigating pressures of urbanity with the need to heal the natural environment. Each design solution is seen as a contribution to the human condition; as it exists today and evolves into future generations."

(Bold emphasis mine)

If this doesn't come off as the typical arrogant liberal attitude then I don't know what does. First he is strongly suggesting that there is something wrong with our present way fo life. It sure sounds a lot like the "current American lifestyle is unsustainable" from one of the design jurors. Then he basically spits in the face of anyone who disagrees. "Translating policy into tangible form?" WTF? We're talking about a monument, not a plan for implementing, say, the War on Terror -- or was his statement a Freudian slip? "Pressures of urbanity"??? It's a field in the middle of nowhere! Maybe it's me, but that statement seems designed for the express purpose of confusion and deflection--of the fact that they are clearly pandering to the same Islamofascists who brought the plane down in the first place.

[Prime Choice]

Paul Murdoch defends the design.

That doesn't exactly resonate with moral authority. Hell, every absurdity has its champion...especially the idiot who created it.

[Jeff F]

The reason the circle of trees is not completed, he said, is because it was severed by the path of Flight 93.

More proof of this guy being full of it. A plane flying from Shanksville, PA to DC is traveling southeast. Why then is the severed portion of the circle of tree oriented northeast and (golly gee, what a coincidence) why is the severed path oriented precisely in the direction of Mecca?

[in the Arena]

"A crescent is part of architectural vocabulary. It's a generic form used in design," said Paul Murdoch,

What nonsense..."Arch" is the basis for "Arch"itecture, of course it would be used more for a vertical description...

This is just nuts...if it comes to fruition then the first victory in the current war on terror will become a memorial to the terrorists...

Don't give them an inch...