Harmony with the Design and Beauty of Nature and
Inspiration from the Greatest Architecture of Civilization
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1. A Vision for the
World Trade Center Memorial
Harmony with the Design and Beauty of Nature and
Inspiration from the Greatest Architecture of Civilization
Date: September 1, 2002
To: Imagine New York, a project of the Municipal Art Society
From: Dr. Alexey P. Stakhov (Doctor of Engineering Sciences in Computer Science and author on the
Golden Section, Ukraine)
Gary B. Meisner (CFO, CIO, CPA and MBA and author on the Golden Section, United States)
Dimity Torbett (Journalist, Australia)
Subject: A Proposal for the Design Elements and Museum of the World Trade Center
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL
Concept: Use the golden section as a unifying theme in the WTC site design and include a
Museum of Harmony in the site plans.
Reasons:
q It would let people truly understand beauty in nature and inspire an appreciation of our
oneness with a greater design. (See Exhibits below.)
q It meets many of ImagineNY's 49 Visions for the site, including creating a place of peace
and harmony that fosters spirituality and multiculturalism, and, as the Vision states, is
innovative, awe-inspiring and something exemplary that grabs the soul.
q Being based solely on the mathematics of design found in nature, the golden section is as
spiritual as is each individual in their own personal beliefs about God and life, and thus
transcends all boundaries of denomination or religious belief, as well as of culture and
time.
q It draws on the inspiration of civilization's greatest and most enduring architecture.
q It creates a unique opportunity for international education, research and discovery.
Our proposal for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center is to create overall harmony in the design of the
WTC site through use of the timeless and universal principle of design known as the Golden Section or, as it
was called by Leonardo Da Vinci, the Divine Proportion.
The Golden Section can be applied in many ways and has been used by the designers of the world's greatest
architecture since the beginning of civilization, appearing in the Great Pyramid of Egypt, the Parthenon of
Athens, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and, more subtly so, in the United Nations Building (Exhibit A). It has
been used for centuries by artists, including extensive use in the paintings of Da Vinci and Seurat. (Exhibit B).
The Golden Section, unlike any other principle of proportion, creates a unique and innate sense of balance and
2. harmony with nature. Why? Because nature itself is designed on the same proportion. Examples of its
appearances include:
q The human body, which provides some of the most wonderful illustrations of the Golden Section in
nature (Exhibit C).
q The physical proportions of design of many plants and animals (Exhibit D).
q The spiral designs of everything from sea shells to pine cones to galaxies (Exhibit E).
q The characteristics of certain aspects of the solar system, including the rings of Saturn (Exhibit F).
q The geometry of shapes and solids based on the number five, including the stars on the U.S. flag and the
design of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (Exhibit G).
q The natural frequencies of music. It is used in the design of violins and was even used in the
compositions of some classical composers.
q The proportions of human DNA (Exhibit H).
The Golden Section has been studied and applied in many separate fields, but nowhere in the world are all its
diverse applications presented in a single place. Nowhere is there a place that allows people to understand and
appreciate the beauty and harmony of all that is around us. This is a "golden" opportunity to make the 21st
century a golden era of civilization that recognizes the inherent beauty and harmony of life and the universe in
which we live.
There are 49 Visions presented for the WTC site. There is no other principle of design that has the same power
to meet so many of the Visions, and also to unify them, as illustrated below:
q A peaceful oasis: What could create a better sense of peace than to be in a place that visibly
demonstrates in its architecture, art, music and exhibits that we are one with nature and a greater design?
q A spiritual/healing component:: When people understand how much we are one with the design of
nature, they will also better understand how much we are one with each other. Because the Golden
Section is based on the mathematics of design found in nature, it is as spiritual as is each individual in
their own personal beliefs about God and life, and thus transcends all boundaries of denomination or
religious belief.
q Multiculturalism and tolerance: The Golden Section transcends all cultural and religious barriers,
having been used across all cultures and all times in human history. It becomes a physical manifestation
of the beauty, harmony and peace that should be present in our social and spiritual relationships.
A living memorial: This approach to design provides an opportunity to integrate and harmonize all
elements of the memorial, from those found in nature to the manmade.
q A memorial museum: The goal of including an onsite museum would have two purposes. The first is
to serve as a living witness to the tragedy and heroism of September 11. The second is to educate
people, through the Golden Section, that we are one with nature and part of a greater design and
purpose. Unfortunately, this second element is missing in some memorials. It is, however, the element
that generates a deeper understanding of the choices we can make in life, destroying to pursue our own
purposes or unifying to seek a higher purpose.
q Emphasis on design: The Golden Section cuts across time and culture to show the unifying principles
of design in nature and is the inspiration for some of the world's greatest art and architecture. Few
approaches have the same potential to meet New York's Vision of having a 21st century design that is
innovative, awe-inspiring, and, as the Vision states, something exemplary that grabs the soul.
The Golden Section is simple in concept but incredibly diverse in its application (Exhibit I). It would thus
create harmony, balance and unity in the design of the center, but still allow for great creativity and wide
diversity in its appeal. We believe it would create a site with stunning beauty and, at the same time, make an
undeniable statement about the foundation of peace and harmony upon which life is based. It would also serve
to foster a worldwide recognition of the ongoing opportunities for exploration of the Golden Section, as
illustrated by the recent discovery of quasi-crystals, a new form of matter based on its geometry. This project
could unite architects, artists, engineers, scientists and mathematicians from around the globe, all in a pursuit
that would rival those of the Ancients in aesthetics and nobility of intent and spirit.
3. The inclusion of a Museum of Harmony and Golden Section on the WTC site would make the memorial
complete. Such a museum would serve to educate visitors about the appearance of the Golden Section in
nature, as well as its use throughout the memorial, museum, and grounds. This would foster a deeper
appreciation for the symbolic meaning of a WTC site based entirely upon the Golden Section. If it is too
ambitious a goal to design the entire WTC site on the Golden Section, it could still be applied to the Memorial
Museum alone, and a Museum of Harmony could stand on its own to provide the same message. Dr. Stakhov
has already developed a plan for such a museum that could be used for this purpose, if so desired.
We would be pleased to present any additional information needed to help others to understand the timeless and
universal appeal of the Golden Section and to see how it can provide an integrated theme and harmonious
design for the World Trade Center site.
Respectfully submitted by:
Mr. Gary B. Meisner
9430 Timber Ridge Circle
Brentwood, TN 37027
USA
Telephone: 615-309-8163
E-mail: gmeisner@comcast.net
Author of web site at:
http://www.goldennumber.net
Dr. Alexey P. Stakhov
POB 2878
Cosmonauts Avenue, 42/130
Vinnitsa-27
Ukraine-21027
E-mail: anna@nest.vinnica.ua
Author of web site at:
http://www.goldenmuseum.com
Ms. Dimity Torbett
Sydney, Australia
E-mail: dtorbett@mail.fairfax.com.au
4. Exhibits
The Golden Section - An Overview
The Golden Section is simply a ratio or proportion which results in number called phi (), or
1.6180339..., similar in concept to the number pi ().
It can be constructed by taking a line and dividing it so that the ratio of the large piece (B) to the whole
line (A) is the same as the ratio as the small piece (C) to the large piece (B):
So A is 161.8% of B and B is 161.8% of C.
Divide the line again and again in the same way:
Combine the segments to create a measuring stick or "Golden Ruler" that is found throughout
nature.
or use the same relationship to form the Golden Rectangle:
5. Exhibit A - In Architecture
Exhibit B - In Art
Da Vinci
Used the golden section extensively.
Seurat
"Attacked every canvas by the golden section".
7. Exhibit D - In Animals
Exhibit E - In Nature's Spirals
Exhibit F - In the Solar System
Exhibit G - In Geometric Shapes
8. Exhibit H - In Human DNA
Exhibit I - Other Design Applications
Tiles Spiral Staircases 3D Shapes
Arches
All illustrations except spiral staircase, Copyright 2002, www.goldennumber.net
Spiral staircase illustration, Copyright 2002, http://www.goldenmuseum.com
9. Harmony With The 49 Visions
Below are additional illustrations of the ways in which this proposal for the design of the World Trade Center
Site meets and unifies many of the 49 Visions for the site:
q Slow planning process - The rebuilding process for the WTC site must ensure thoughtful, sensitive
planning and top-notch designs.
q Create a peaceful oasis - The memorial should create the feeling of serenity, respect, reflection and
spirituality. It should invite visitors to linger in peaceful quietness to remember, reflect and heal
but also to celebrate life and renew hope in a comfortable, people-friendly environment.
q Spiritual/healing component - The redeveloped site should include a non-denominational sanctuary for
healing, renewal and spiritual reflection where all can recognize and affirm their universal spirit. A
sacred place embracing elements of nature would evoke reflection and contemplation.
q Living memorial - An interactive living memorial park should be integrated into the WTC site plan,
joining elements of nature (water, sky and light), landscaping (trees, gardens, an eternal flame, benches
for reflection, statues and art), and the community.
q Multiculturalism and tolerance - Recognizing the powerfulness of the WTC site and New York Citys
commitment to diversity, the site should be used to build understanding between people of different
ethnicities, cultures and religions worldwide. It could include an international research and
education center dedicated to promoting tolerance, unity and world peace.
q Mixed Uses - The WTC site should be an accessible central gathering place with a broad mix of uses -
memorial, spiritual, commercial, residential, retail, recreational, cultural and educational - that reflect
the diversity of New York and the World Trade Centers status as an international symbol.
q Emphasize Design - The WTC site should ... include various design elements such as spires, glass or
reflective materials. Above all else, they must be innovative and awe-inspiring designs, incorporating
21st century technology to ensure environmental and structural soundness. The buildings may integrate
memorials into their physical structure and must be something exemplary that grabs the soul.
q Restore the Skyline - Whatever is built at the site must be a prominent, soaring symbol of life and must
be visionary and forward-looking architecturally, artistically and technologically.
q Downtown Vitality - The WTC site should celebrate life and be a welcoming magnet for human activity
and interaction.
q Cultural Facilities - A cultural center should be created as a hub for all forms of artistic creation and
expression.
q Tourism - Lower Manhattan should be a dynamic tourist destination.
Other Concepts
There are at least three possibilities for the application of the Golden Section to the WTC site:
1. The entire WTC site.
2. A Museum of Harmony on the WTC site as a complement to the Memorial Museum.
3. A cultural center.
The design of the whole site is too vast for us to approach on our own, but we could provide general education
on the application of the golden section or input to the architectural firms that are designing the whole site.
Added thoughts on option 2, the Museum, include:
Use a classical design, perhaps in the style of the Parthenon, as modern architecture often does not rival the
10. ancients for aesthetics because of economic constraints.
Have the museum enclose a large garden of remembrance, tranquil, aromatic and shielded from the clamor of
the city outside, and conforming to the divine proportion.
The centerpiece could be a simple classical fountain while the garden would be divided into five or eight
sections, some lending privacy with high plantings and some devoted to plants that readily illustrate the Golden
Section.
The garden would be surrounded by a classical colonnade, providing more seating. Here in the peace and quiet
would presumably be the place for the names of the victims of September 11 to be recorded in some form to be
decided by their family and friends. There should be an opportunity for them to plant roses or shrubs and
flowers of their choice, subject to the overall botanical design specifications.
The museum would be the centerpiece of a park that could feature all sorts
of golden mean sculptures such as, for example, massive lolling glass
icosahedrons or other polyhedra, such as the great designs by Wentzel
Jamnitzer on fanciful stands, or huge carved wood pinecones.
There could be for plaques that could be set, perhaps, in the colonnade
walk or on its walls, engraved with suitable poetry and thoughts from
various cultures. Examples include:
What does my name mean to you?
But when you grieve, say it
In the silence, sorrowfully . . .
Speak that shall be my memorial
A heart where I live in the world.
- Alexander Pushkin
But he heard high up in the air
A piper piping away
And never was piping so sad
And never was piping so gay.
- W.B. Yeats
Life leads the thoughtful man on a path of many windings.
Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again.
Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words,
There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence.
But when two people are at one in their inmost hearts,
They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.
And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts,
Their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids.
- Confucius
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
- Mahatma Gandhi
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
- Jesus Christ