Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visits Ground Zero
The Foreign Minister (number five from left) was given a guided tour by Snøhetta partner Craig Dykers (number six from left) and Director Alice M. Greenwald (number eight from left). He was accompanied by Consul General Sissel Breie (number two from left). Photo: Norway.org
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited Ground Zero Wednesday last week to hear about Norwegian architecture company Snøhetta’s plans for the upcoming National September 11 Memorial and Museum in NYC, reports The Foreign Ministry on their website
“There are several thousand compelling stories connected to this place. This is something I am very reminded of today,” said the Foreign Minister to Dagbladet when he visited Gound Zero. He was given a guided tour by Craig Dykers and Alice M. Greenwald. Dykers is a partner in the Norwegain architect company Snøhetta, the company that won the prestigious competition in 2004 to design the entry portal of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero of which Greenwald is the appointed Director. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Consul General Sissel Breie.
The Foreign Minister was impressed by Snøhetta’s plans for the site. “They have managed the balance of creating something that is both a memorial and new architecture. There is something about the company’s way of working that combines architecture and culture that is very special” he said. The construction of the memorial and museum began eight months ago and scheduled for completion next year, and is due to be opened to the public in 2012.
The Foreign Minister has been in New York since the UN General Assembly began last Monday. During his stay he has also had time to meet with the Norwegian producer duo Stargate and enjoy New York City with his family, who accompanied him to Ground Zero.
Source: Norway.org
