How the World Trade Center Was Rebuilt

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Video Description:
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center had become synonymous with the skyline of the city. Iconic towers that have become symbols far beyond the city limits. Replacing such symbols seems like an impossible task, and it became a challenge that will end up taking over 20 years, in which countless different interests will have to be weighed against each other.

Images via Getty

[DeadBaron]

There was a proposal to build them back to look the same externally, but to be safer inside and one story taller. If only we had taken that route. It would have been the ultimate middle finger to our enemies, to show they didn't just waste their time, but we came back taller.

[neutralmatt]

I love how you recognize the damage to the other buildings of WTC Plaza. Tens to hundreds of people inside of them died, and I feel like it is important to remember that the twin towers didn’t just fall onto the ground, but they hit many buildings around them and many people died from ways different than being in the twin towers or the planes

[luxuryhub]

My respects to the editors of this video. They managed to form 21 years in a few frames.

[_Ed]

Are we just going to ignore the fact he 3D rendered ALL of manhattan for a 5-second shot which transitioned to the trade-towers? This man deserves WAY more recognition.

EDIT: even if he didn’t render Manhattan he still deserves more recognition, incredible YouTube channel.

[alp]

I had the honor to be a contractor on the Freedom Tower which I will never forget. The amount of techs/workers who came every morning for years was unreal. The massive engineering it took to design every inch of that building was incredible to see. I was there for few weeks, every morning, working on the antenna and the view will stay with me forever. I have never seen even one construction worker ever going number one outside on the property. Not even one guy/girl spit on the floor. I was so honored to be a part of it.

[parasaurlolphusxd]

Small detail about Libeskind's design: the towers, in addition to being viewed in hight order from Liberty Island, also include the titled roofs which - if i recall correctly - are meant to symbolise the buildings almost respecting and bowing to the site of the original Towers. A really wonderful idea in my opinion.

[GonDFRD]

this is probably the best architecture lecture i’ve ever seen on youtube, from history to proposals, urban planning and corporate greed. it has it all and extremely well explained. instant sub

[canadianoperator]

I was in New York a month ago and had no idea I booked a hotel so close to the site. I walked there with my wife, and it was an incredibly sombre yet uplifting moment when we saw the names of the people who lost their lives there, as well as the beautiful tower built nearby. It was heartbreaking to touch the names of those who were lost that day but also incredibly inspirational to see how New York managed to both recover and remember, with a breathtaking site to honour those lost, remember the day's events, and look forward to something brighter all at the same time. It was an experience I will never forget.

[jalabi]

Daniel Libeskind must be one of the most ego-free architects in the history of architects. This video gave me a whole new respect for the man and for his vision. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[bienclaroblanco]

In addition, Daniel Libeskind`s entry for the WTC design competition, his buildings are strategically placed that in a certain time of day, the glass buildings reflect a ray of light from the sun, that ray of light is where the approximate flight path of the planes before hitting the original towers. Daniel Libeskind is renowned for his architectural design by incorporating the play of light in his works.

Kudos to the production behind this documentary, neo. This is more than just a documentary, this is an exceptional kind of storytelling. 💯💯💯

[SuperSpike]

I always get mixed feelings around this time of year. I was born mere hours before the attacks, and growing up we always watched the memorial documentaries every year in school. As well as on my birthday. I was always told these stories by people older than me that I met. They would talk about the exact time and place where they watched the tragedy unfold, and they would tell me "I'm sorry about your birthday".

[kyh]

The other buildings in the WTC complex seem so small when compared, yet when you look at them individually they were still quite big. The size of the twin towers was absolutely huge.

[mr.joaquin]

so glad they went for strong, more simple designs. The site of the towers didn't need much pimping and decoration. The solemn empty space filled only by the infinity pool and surrounded by the names of the victims really make you feel the weight of the event after all these years.

[Khamzes]

Last time I visited NYC the site was still an inaccessible hole in the ground that everyone in my circle kept mumbling would never actually get built. It makes me really happy to see all the complications at play finally come together to make something beautiful.

[difficultytweak]

I still think that Libeskind’s design was so much more well thought out, and generally seemed more heartfelt towards the families due to the huge inclusion of a memorial and a museum, and rebuilding the original streets. It was also just a far more unique design that doesn’t just blend in with every other skyscraper in Manhattan like freedom tower. Now don’t get me wrong freedom tower is a very cool building, but the original proposal would’ve been so much better.

[Whoisit]

Being a lifelong New Yorker, the oculus building is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture while commemorating the history of the World Trade Center. Such a beautiful building.

[narial]

While I'm not a biggest fan of the final OWTC design compared to the other ideas, the memorial is absolutely perfect. Nowhere else in NY can you be so surrounded by the sound of moving water. It really creates this bubble of focus on the tragedy that happened there, while also somehow making it hopeful and powerful.

[TheRealGentleBlaze]

After watching this video, my respect for Daniel Liibeskind has skyrocketed.The small details in his design are amazing, and hes probably one of the most ego-free architects Ive ever heard of.Also, thank you for making this video and giant respect to the editors.

[susanwahl]

I think many people don’t realize that the towers were basically tubes with the stairways and elevators going down the middle. I saw a documentary about the building of the towers and from the windows to the elevator shaft was all open space so that it could be configured however the occupants wanted. That’s why when the planes hit them, them, there was nothing to hold them up.

[mariavirginiaroomayor]

Reflective absence has to be one of the most beautiful architecture projects ever. It gives visibility and complete protagonism to the victims which were the real losing from this tragic event, and to grief, peace, and respect. Im so glad that project was the winner.