The site of the 9/11 has seen important changes in the last decade, like David Childs’s redesign of the One World Trade Center, Santiago Calatrava’s PATH station. The transformation continues with Calatrava’s new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which will be rebuilt across Liberty Street from Handel Architects’ September 11 Memorial. The original St. Nicholas Church was crushed on September 11, 2001 as the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.
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“Calatrava’s design was inspired by two places of worship in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora“, described a press release following the ground breaking. “The dome-shaped design evolved loosely from a mosaic of ‘Madonna and Child Enthroned’. More than a dozen, other firms submitted designs for the new church, but ultimately the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America selected Calatrava’s vision for the building“.
“A former small tavern, the Church was always an interesting counterpoint to the skyscrapers that grew up around it. Like its forebear, the new Church is to be a tiny jewel in Lower Manhattan“, said Calatrava in an open letter to the Greek Orthodox community after
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winning the commission.
