By Kwaak Je-yup
Dutch architects caught in the 9/11-lookalike controversy need to do just one thing: give their illustrators the boot.
The controversial image of MVRDV’s residential complex for Yongsan Dreamhub is a false representation ― of a project that actually consists of two skyscrapers of different heights.
According to a statement released by the Rotterdam, Netherlands-based architecture and urban design firm, one tower is to stand six floors, or 40 meters, higher than the other.
“The southern tower reaches a height of 260 meters with 54 floors, the northern tower 300 meters with 60 floors,” reads the announcement.
Prospective residents or investors of the just-unveiled “The Cloud,” need not be worried about ill omens.
It is understandable that some people, especially Americans, may have been reminded of the horrific act of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001 by this misguided portrait.
From the unfortunate mix of angle and proportion chosen by the unidentified illustrator(s), the buildings do have an uncanny resemblance to the two skyscrapers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The pixel-like cloud-inspired mid-area could be just as well associated with the jarring picture of those twin towers in explosion ― but only if they are actually twin towers.
For reference, the World Trade Center consisted of seven separate buildings. The iconic double edifices that were attacked by al-Qaeda, called 1 WTC and 2 WTC, both had 110 floors, with negligible differences in height at 417 and 415 meters, respectively.
The spokesman for Yongsan Dreamhub said there are no design changes in the works. The Korean company in charge of the central Seoul zone in question spoke over the weekend with Winy Maas, one of three founders of MVRDV and the famed Dutch architect behind Anyang Art Park and several other sites around the world, the spokesman said.
“(The argument) is completely baseless, and we do not see a need to address it through an official channel,” he said, when asked about possible future statements, like a public apology offered by the Dutch architects. “Changing the design now could be seen as an admission of guilt; we are going ahead with the plan.”
Perhaps the parties involved can look at the silver lining of this cloud.
The urban renewal project, which had been mired in funding problems and political challenges, could benefit from this gratuitous publicity; once completed, tourists are bound to flock to the site to witness the fraternal twin towers themselves. This is a kind of viral marketing that advertising, PR agencies, and in this case tourism agencies dream of.
It could be their unexpected first sign of good luck.
The towers, with a total surface area of 128,000 square meters, are due for completion in 2015.