Form over function

Santiago Calavatra's 2004 unveiling of his architectural design for gound zero, according to the New York Time's Nicolai Ouroussof, displays the American preference for the aesthetically pleasing over functionality.

Ouroussof explains that the much delayed project has many flaws. Besides the constant changes in funding and the fact that public was left out of the decision making process, the most noteworthy flaws lies in its uselessness. The functionality of this structure was sacrificed for bragging rights for Mr. Calavatra.

"The striking incongruity between the extravagance of the architecture and the limited purpose it serves," says Ourossof.