The butterfly emerges from its egg as a caterpillar, and then undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis during its lifetime – it is due to this process that these fragile creatures will speak to the living as exemplars of the power of survival, renewal, and rebirth.

The Conservancy. The main component of this memorial is the butterfly conservancy, a shimmering glass enclosure made up of 3,022 structural members. Just as memorializing September 11 requires us to remember every individual who perished that day, each of these 3,022 structural member is necessary for the collective, interdependent support of the memorial. The conservancy is an expansive shape similar to an almond, a teardrop, an egg, a balloon, at the verge of floating away.
sketch of conservancy on podium
world trade center site september 11 competition project.

all material copyright 2004 aaron mcdonald architect unless noted all rights reserved

Aaron McDonald Architect, 1 Union Square West 903, New York, New York 10003