Kamin: What Happened To Libeskind?

The problem with the new Libeskind/Childs design, says Blair Kamin, is that it’s pretty good. In fact, it’s probably just good enough that no one will seriously object to its being built, thus depriving New Yorkers of a truly great addition to their skyline. “As the banality of the twin towers made clear when they were completed in the early 1970s, there is a critical difference between technical achievement and aesthetic quality.” Chief among Kamin’s complaints about the new design is that master architect Daniel Libeskind’s grand vision seems to have been relegated to the sidelines, and David Childs’ glittery clichès have taken over.