For New Yorkers, buildings are not just useful,
they are passed on from generation to generation and are therefore part of
their cultural heritage; as such, they have symbolic significance.
Thanks to New York Historic Preservation
(financed by public and private investors), older buildings, landscapes and
objects with cultural significance (such as the 32-foot long boat discovered in
2010 during the rehabilitation of Ground Zero) (Wikipedia),
are preserved in a way "that allows them to communicate meaningfully
about past practices, events and people".
Architectural icons such as the Brooklyn
Bridge, the Empire State Building or the Guggenheim play a cultural role. The
first stands for optimism and the ability to control technology; the Empire
State Building (which was the tallest building in the world until 1972) made
the Big Apple's inhabitants very proud of their city and it is now visited for
romantic meetings… (Wikipedia) As for
the fashionably named "Gugg", this New York landmark, hosting some of
the most famous art collections, is a star itself because of its Modernist
style. Welcoming all types of people (happy or grumpy ones!), it seems that
nobody can wait to discover the museum. It is a symbol of progress and
innovation; this is also expressed by the guides who actually talk about
progress with people of all ages at each turn of the spiral that makes up the
inside of the building. This is quite an interesting experience that shows how
New Yorkers feel about their cultural heritage and their willingness to share
their civic pride with the millions of visitors each year! (NYC museum-a-thon)
From an historical point of view, the Statue of
Liberty remains the most famous piece of NYC cultural heritage. Indeed, this monument
was the first thing immigrants saw when arriving in America, full of hope. It
is still seen as a symbol of freedom from oppression and tyranny by immigrants,
New Yorkers and Americans generally. The Statue is about what they
fought for, many years ago. Nowadays, it has also become a popular icon
featured in movies, books, posters, etc. (unesco.org)(NYC
architecture.com)
Great new buildings are quickly adopted by New
Yorkers. Restored ones too; the NYC Center is now a great place for cultural
events and for people from all communities to meet up. NYC culture is all about
sharing after all. (archpaper.com)
