CROSSSPIRITThe Cathedral ? is a focal point in the Antverpen?s
fabric. The Town?s silhouette, defined by the sole vertical line of the
Cathedral?s tower, is already formed. There are substantial historical reasons
for that. Incompleteness of the
Cathedral is a peculiarity and uniqueness
that needs to be preserved.
Rather than building another massing, the goal of this proposal is to build the void, having preserved the existing
skyline, as well as express the idea of two towers without building
them.
This void ?
ephemeral projection of the Tower, generated by a viewer?s imagination, is
located exactly on the footprint of the unrealized object. Its highest point is
marked by the Cross of the absent Tower ? the only material witness of its
existence.
The structural basis is elegant needle of the capstan, crowned by the Cross. The horizontal
wind forces are suppressed by four stabilizing ropes.
Only the Cross floats against the night sky and the
stars, all the supporting structure is hidden in the dark.
The simplicity of this structure, ease of assemblage
and maintenance is expression of contemporary notion of sustainability.