Designer modifies 9/11 memorial

Arad took account of relatives' objections to his original design

Architect Michael Arad has updated his winning design for the main memorial in New York to the victims of 11 September after criticism from victims' families.

Reflecting Absence, which features two sunken shallow pools on the site of the fallen World Trade Center, was criticised for being "sterile".

It will now highlight rescue workers who died and will house artefacts such as a crushed fire engine.

A families group said they and the public had finally been given a voice.

"These revisions show that the September 11 families and the general public have finally been given a voice in this process," said Coalition of 9/11 Families executive board member Patricia Reilly, whose sister died in the attack.

In the original design, the names of the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington are carved on a low wall around the pools in haphazard fashion to illustrate the randomness of the losses.

Work on the memorial is due to begin before the end of the year

Now the names of fire-fighters and others who died in the rescue bid will include details of their ranks and the insignia of their organisations.

"This is a simple, elegant, quite dignified way to remember," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.

His department lost 343 members when the Twin Towers were brought down by suicide attackers who rammed them with airliners on 11 September 2001.

Other revisions include:

• a forest of trees, benches and grass on what was first intended to be an open space

• a cultural centre at the north-east corner of the site

• an underground interpretive centre with twisted steel beams and other artefacts

"Every way you find to do this satisfies some but causes pain and anguish to another," Arad said on Wednesday, presenting his revised design in New York.