This is a new building which opened recently, known as the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. It used to be called just the PATH station where trains run from Manhattan to New Jersey. They are not finished with construction but the station is open. They call this building "The Oculus" which seems to be a misnomer, because an "oculus" is a circular opening in the centre of a dome or in a wall. Santiago Calatrava, designer of the station, said the Oculus resembles a bird being released from a child's hand. The hub is composed of a train station with a large and open mezzanine under the National September 11 Memorial plaza. I have been looking forward to seeing the inside of this for a couple of years now.
The new Fulton St subway station 2 blocks away from the PATH station you visited has a real oculus in the roof. Here's a sample of what that one looks like https://flic.kr/p/q7EYDy.
ReplyDelete-John Speroni
So glad you took several photos since it really is quite an amazing building. Too bad the name is not correct for the shape of the building...I checked out John Speroni's site and that Oculus is stunning! I'm always learning and seeing new things :-) bsk
ReplyDeleteJohn: Thanks for this information! I went to the wrong building for the Oculus! I mean I wanted to see the inside of the PATH station, but thought that's where the oculus was, because they call the building the oculus! Duh! While doing searching for information about the PATH station, I discovered that the real oculus is, in fact at Fulton St. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think the PATH station was named the Oculus because the roof was supposed to hinge open in good weather. The original design was overambitious, NYPD and FDNY made changes to harden the building vs bombs and fire, and the project ended up costing around $4 billion. The roof opening was scrapped for a row of skylights.
ReplyDeleteThe building was claimed to be a graceful bird. I think it looks more like a stegosaurus skeleton.
-John Speroni
Oculus or not, your fabulous photos illustrate an amazing architectural structure. But, wow - what an expensive train station!
ReplyDeleteThis building, structure, is breathtaking. It doesn't fit the definition of "building" that I've long held in my mind. This behemoth has a heart; a gentle, mammoth creature that is a visual delight. Thanks so much for exposing yet another treasure I would never have known about that's now part of our great metropolis to the west. Can't wait to be greeted by it in person.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your nice comments. I really appreciate the comment that Anonymous made. It really feels rewarding to post some photographs of something that interests me, and have that be a way for someone else to discover something wonderful.
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