How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Being conservative of temperament--especially when it comes to architecture and national monuments--my first question about these plans to redesign the National Mall is, "Exactly why is this necessary?" This article in Smithsonian takes it as a given that it is; perhaps a member of Ricochet can tell me why.
Last September, the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit devoted to improving the park, launched a National Mall Design Competition. Architects from around the country submitted their portfolios, and by mid-December, a jury of experts invited ten design teams to re-imagine three “dead zones”: Union Square, in front of the Capitol; the grounds just south of the Washington Monument; and Constitution Gardens, just east of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The trust released the visions for the Mall this week.
With amphitheaters and dramatic fountains, skating rinks and lush gardens, the proposals, on display through April 15 at the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Castle, provide a hopeful glimpse into the National Mall’s future.
The jury will announce the winning design for each site on May 3. Since Union Square has fallen under the auspices of the Architect of the Capitol, the prevailing design for it will be sent to Congress to consider. The trust hopes to move forward on a redesign of either the Washington Monument grounds or Constitution Gardens by 2016.
Have a look through the slideshow. Which ones do you like?
I reject this as an outrage and a horror:
But this looks lovely to me:
- Comment (24)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
Mar '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Hear, hear! They should tap you to oversee the project, Claire.
Jul '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I want to see aerials of the final proposals.
Call Me cynical, but I betcha dollars to doughnuts that someone has something somewhere in the shape of a crescent moon and star.
Mar '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Why would they redesign it and increase the upkeep. As it stands the park service can't maintain what it has. How about just keep what is already there looking good then maybe we can talk about slowing adding to it.
Aug '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Being conservative of temperament--especially when it comes to architecture and national monuments--my first question about these plans to redesign the National Mall is, "Exactly why is this necessary?"
We are faced with serious issues like the Federal deficit, Social Security and Medicare collapsing, nuclear North Korea and Iran. All these issues and more are approaching the critical stage. These issues are difficult to address.
So ignore the difficult things and focus on something easy, like re-designing the National Mall, trans-fats and foie gras. As I mentioned in my (unread?) article last week, Liberals are impotent, they have no power to address difficult issues. So with the MSM chorus, they concoct faux issues like trans-fats and tackle the issues with a will.
In memory of the RMS Titanic, this behavior is called, "rearranging the deck chairs."
Does this answer your question, Claire?
Dec '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
What's with all the amphitheaters? Are self indulgent "performance artists" really under served by existing open spaces with people for them to pester?
May '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Last September, the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit devoted to improving the park, launched a National Mall Design Competition.
When asking why the Mall needs to be redesigned, it is obviously because we have a "Trust" "devoted" to its redesign. No other logic is necessary.
Apr '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Since we scrapped the poor Enterprise, I would put U.S.S. Missouri smack dab in the middle of the Mall. She's still sea worthy even; all it would cost us is fuel and some trucks to haul her onto the yard.
We could put a plaque up for her that says: "With these mighty guns did the slaughter of the Pacific end," or something suitably Samuel Morison-ish and fire those guns off every Memorial Day and give the Greatest Generation the sort of salute to their heroism they would actually enjoy.
Mar '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
This makes far too much sense.
Nov '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
As Ricochet's resident anarcho-capitalist, I feel the need to suggest a free market solution that you should think about:
Why not sell the Mall? This is (tragically) some of the most valuable real estate in the world.
If the temperamental conservative in you wants to retain the nationalistic aspects of the National Mall (something even I am susceptible to), you could write a clause into the sales contract about what parts need to be maintained as the National Mall in perpetuity.
Then we let the free market decide how best to develop the space. It's an extremely popular tourist spot and meeting venue.
And for those of you who think this is sacrilege, consider that Monticello is owned and operated by a private foundation, and it's amazingly well maintained and used.
Edited on April 14, 2012 at 3:49pmJun '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
do we have the money for this? They can't even seem to pick up the trash or mow the grass on the Mall. Why don't they work on that first?
Jan '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I'm with D.B.
Nov '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I was at the Mall last week and they were working on it with construction equipment, with large areas blocked off. Are they already doing something to it? I liked it just fine the way it always was.
Dec '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I hope they have all that cleared up by June when I finally get to see it.
May '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
The winning design has already been submitted and approved. Everything else is merely a formality for appearances...
Apr '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
And, all her powder is still stockpiled and since we don't have anything approaching her godawful guns, it would be just a bad investment not to fire them.
Besides, letting the public crawl in the narrow, claustrophobic hallways-- much, I would imagine, still reek of diesel fuel and the muck of every port she ever put into; make you appreciate whatever relatively cushy digs you have now.
And what kid doesn't like a battleship?
I mean, I did enjoy the Freer Galley and that kind of fru fru stuff at the Mall but I was 30 years old when I went.
Short of the National Air and Space Museum, the Mall would put the kids to sleep. Let em swing around on the big 16 inchers of the Mighty Mo.
Nov '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
Redesign it? Why bother? Just let it evolve by natural selection. The fittest design will emerge all on its own. That could be in an eon or so but it won't cost anything; right?
Edited on April 14, 2012 at 7:22pmJun '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I like the Mall the way it is. I have three thoughts:
May '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
As a current District resident, and a lifelong DC area resident, I can say that there is a lot of talk about the lack of funding to the Park Service for the National Mall. Most people blame it on the fact that we have no voting representatives to secure valuable earmarks for maintenance, but funding for the mall was $33 million in 2008. You can hire a lot of workers from the parking lot at Home Depot for that kind of cash.
Apr '11
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
I'm just wondering which monuments and buildings they plan on moving or removing in their redesign. The secularist progressives certainly wouldn't allow them to keep the basic premise of the cross. Separation of church and state is one of the foundations of their own particular "religious fervor".
May '10
Re: How Would You Redesign the National Mall?
None of the designs really blow my skirt up. But here's what I'd do:
1. No more water features or ponds. Maintain/fix the ones that are there. The rats on the Mall are terrible, and more water features will just attract them. Ride a bike through there at night, and they're like speed bumps.
2. I'd also nix any restaurants on the Mall as there are plenty of eateries within walking distance.
3. Stop chewing up green space. It's called America's "front yard" for a reason. One of the best things about going down there is all the grass. People fly kites, walk their dogs, play hacky sack, play frisbee, and have picnics. People that visit The Mall on vacation usually do a few museums in a compressed amount of time, and they get museum fatigue. There needs to be some visual and physical resting space between the buildings and the bombardment of information therein.
4. What they do need more of is bathrooms. Maybe staffed tourist centers/bathrooms that are secure. And they must have baby changing stations.
5. TR is right about Gehry's Eisenhower memorial proposal. It's an embarrassment.
Edited on April 14, 2012 at 8:35pm