Ever since two aircraft ploughed into the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001, the idea that buildings are vulnerable to attacks has nestled deep into the psyche of architects across the globe. Despite that knowledge, architects have not taken to only designing sombre, low-rise buildings. Prominent Dutch architects show their favourite post-9/11 designs. 

The multifunction Montevideo tower in Rotterdam was designed by the Mecanoo architects' bureau and was at the time the tallest residential tower in the Netherlands. The 9/11 attacks took place before construction on the Montevideo tower started.

The attacks started a round of discussions between architects, project developers and civil servants says Mecanoo director Francine Houben:

“Should we change the construction? Should we design the building with a 9/11-style attack in mind? Eventually the project was built as had been originally planned. We also realised that the Twin Towers symbolised something to the terrorists; they weren't chosen simply because they were the tallest buildings around. I remember that we always used to make a model of our designs with an aeroplane on top of them but we left the plane off the model of the Montevideo tower, because it almost felt as though it symbolised the chance of a plane hitting the building."

Roberto Meyer of Meyer and van Schooten Architects says there have been fewer skyscrapers and iconic buildings over the last few years:

“Over the last few years there have been fewer skyscrapers and fewer iconic buildings - those remarkable buildings that become the image of a city or a calling card for a major company,” says Roberto Meyer. He adds, “That has a lot more to do with the economic times than with security issues. If you look at the statistics, it's very clear that taller buildings go up during good economic times.” 

His firm, Meyer and van Schooten Architects, built the ING Bank’s new Amsterdam headquarters, known as The Shoe; it's an iconic building but it's not a skyscraper. 

Sober designs
According to Mr Meyer, after a period of good economic times and skyscrapers, there is more demand for more functional, less flashy buildings: “people, especially people in business, are far more conventional and grounded due to the economic crisis. There really isn't much demand for iconic buildings."

Despite that, skyscrapers are still being built in the wake of 9/11, “building as high as possible is still a human, though mostly a male, desire,” says Ms Houben.

Jan Willem van Kuilenburg of Monolab says some things have changed, “we now pay more attention to security than we used to. Engineers used to be trained in using the lightest possible materials but clients are now demanding that everything be made of heavier material." Monolab recently presented a proposal for what could become the tallest building in the Netherlands. Thankfully, new techniques mean that concrete can be used in skyscrapers.

Security conscious
Increased security measures are now subtly worked into every phase of design and construction. Mr Van Kuilenburg:

“Increased security starts with the choice of the location: if a skyscraper collapses onto a residential neighbourhood, it will do far more damage than if it collapses onto the banks of a canal. And then one has to consider the internal arrangement of a building, such as a parking garage under the building; a terrorist could park a bomb-laden automobile in the garage. A shopping centre on the ground floor could also be targeted."

All the architects agree that it is impossible to design a building that is completely safe from an attack using an aircraft. One could only build underground bunkers.

Mr van Kuilenburg adds, “The most important thing is that it's become embedded into our thought processes and it will never leave. In that sense, the attack is of enormous influence, both conscious and unconscious, and 9/11 has influenced every aspect of what we as designers do. I think the influence of 9/11 is immeasurably huge."

The After 9/11 slideshow shows the interviewed architects' favourite buildings:
Taiwan’s Taipei 101, known as the Bamboo stalk; Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building; Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum; Amsterdam’s ING Shoe building; Rotterdam’s Montevideo Tower.

(jric/rk)