The Contested Space of Memory: New York’s 9/11 Memorial

Abstract

In the weeks and months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, New Yorkers and others began what would turn into a heated and protracted debate about the appropriate way to rebuild the space occupied by the World Trade Center and to memorialize those killed. Families of the victims, politicians, property developers, and neighborhood residents, among others, all held their own strong - and often conflicting - opinions about the rebuilding and the memorial space. This paper examines the ways in which the final memorial design, Reflecting Absence by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, negotiates the difficult task of balancing the need for intimate, personal recollection with the intensely public nature of the memorial. How effectively do the formal elements of the memorial respond to the goals outlined in the competition brief, including recogniz[ing] each individual who was a victim of the attacks, provid[ing] a space for contemplation, creat[ing] a unique and powerful setting, and convey[ing] historic authenticity? How does the completed memorial engage its visitors during their exploration of the site? In what ways are visitors encouraged to interact with the memorial, thus claiming, however briefly, a connection to the events that unfolded in that space? I suggest that Reflecting Absence has mixed success in addressing these elements and other critical aspects of memorial design, while recognizing that the intensely personal nature of the memorial experience resonates differently for each visitor. I also suggest that the impact of the memorial will change over time as construction of other buildings on the site is completed and as the memorial becomes a familiar part of the fabric of lower Manhattan.