Michael Arad
Michael Arad
Michael Arad is an Israeli-American architect who is best known for being the designer of the World Trade Center Memorial. He won the competition to design the memorial in 2004...
NationalityIsraeli
ProfessionArchitect
CountryIsrael
accept changes design faith form initially learned whether
When I started this project, I was a young architect. I was very apprehensive about any changes to the design. Whether I wanted to or not, I learned that you can accept some changes to its form without compromising its intent. But it's a leap of faith that I didn't want to make initially - to put it mildly.
space people design
How do you design it so that people can form a space of their own, and feel quiet and contemplative?
roles designer
I had a dual role: designer and advocate.
artist appreciate design
I really appreciate artists of the 20th century, and I can see a lot of their influence on my work, but to suggest that my design only fits within an 'ism' kind of bothers me.
If I wasn't going to live in Israel, I had to live in New York.
I'm a little more measured. That sense of urgency I thought accompanied things - it can take a little longer. You have to take the long view.
It was really a magical moment, to see this idea that's in your head.
You have to always push back, whatever the pressures put on you.
almost bronze
No rendering can really simulate the way the light bounces off the bronze panel. From some angles, it's almost a mirror, and from others it's a matte surface.
last proposed step stupid
I have no choice but to fight them every step of the way. I can't tell you how many other stupid ideas have been proposed over the last two years.
differences elements landscape
There are bound to be differences in any artistic collaboration with landscape elements, or theater, of lighting elements.
problem cry solve
I built a series of supporters that had my back. I never abused that trust. You can't cry wolf. You have to solve most problems yourself.
cities people navy
I hope for the experience of people standing together, turning their backs to the city and facing this, and hearing the leaves rustle. Well, maybe it won't be as bucolic as at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but I know you will feel removed from the city.
process should please
I pushed the process forward by saying, 'We should do this, this, and this right now. Please find the budget for me to find a structural engineer, a mechanical engineer, a civil engineer, so we can do the preliminary work.