FDR four freedoms park: louis kahn's design opens in new york

it’s been 40 years since new york started planning a memorial park for 32nd american president, franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) on the east end of roosevelt island. originally designed by louis kahn in 1974, the city’s almost bankrupt economy put the project on hold until the release of the documentary ‘my architect,’ when enough support was fostered to fund the completion of the project carried out by local firm mitchell giurgola architects.

bird’s eye view
image © AP photo/franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) four freedoms park LLC, paul warchol (also main image)

the triangular site of the ‘FDR four freedoms park‘ funnels visitors along a white granite plinth lined in linden trees to an open-air courtyard. at the entrance to the plaza is a thick rectangular pedestal with a 28-inch bronze bust of FDR’s head, sculpted by jo davidson. the sculpture faces the united nations headquarters, which is only 300 meters away. on the backside, the four freedoms speech is engraved as a symbol of the president’s legacy to the building blocks of contemporary democratic principles. the project is planned to expand in the future, transforming a 19th-century small pox hospital to an auxiliary visitor center. the park opens to the public on wednesday, october 24th 2012.

granite plinth
image via

approach to FDR bust
image via

end of the memorial
image © AP photo/franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) four freedoms park LLC, paul warchol

rendering
image © franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) four freedoms park, LLC

rendering
image © franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) four freedoms park, LLC

rendering
image © franklin D. roosevelt (FDR) four freedoms park, LLC

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