Dezeen getting in on this
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Aesthetic preference in Architecture never cease to amaze me; particular when it comes to my own ‘preferences’. I find the new redesign exceedingly more attractive than the diamond top design.
I can only say the new design looks more ‘professional’ more ‘refined’ or even more ‘sophisticated’. I always felt the diamond top looked ‘amateurish’ or ‘tacky’ - so glad to see it GONE.
Foster is a classy, sophisticated Architect; so not sure what he was smoking the day he came up with that diamond tiara. 
That being said: I don’t believe the re-design was at all driven by design/aesthetics. That spire had complicated geometrics, angles, and fitting/fabrication challenges that made for a structure that simply was not ‘feasible’ in terms of cost & timeline to completion.
This new design is entirely rectilinear and therfore more ‘buildable’. In the final analysis they came up with a win-win; more beautiful, and more buildable.
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I totally agree. Many claim to prefer the diamonds, but had that design actually been built, they would have complained. I recall seeing the model at the WTC visitors center on Vesey St years ago, and the diamonds were to be very asymetric. Had that actually been built, people would have complained. They also would have complained about the lack of a full diamond at the top.
I think that the latest proposal is magnificent.
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But even now a lot people still complained about this new design, saying that it doesn’t fit well or it’s “ugly”.
Also, I think the point of the original design was for the sun to reflect it’s lights on the diamonds to the memorial pools.
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Frankly, I like all designs for 2 WTC, not just because it’s one of the most controversial buildings
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That’s not the primary reason why people like the diamonds. Further, we don’t know if that trick would have even worked.
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I liked the asymmetry of the diamonds. But you’re absolutely correct that the lack of a “full diamond” at the top bothered me and I would have complained about it. 
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Many people though would have complained about the asymetry. I love the Smurfit Stone tower in Chi., but 2WTC was not as clean at the top as this tower. I absolutely guarantee that people would have complained had 2 WTC been built.
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Considering the amount of value-engineering and cost cuts they’ve made on every other building on the site, who knows what the diamonds would have ended up looking like anyway…
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Good point. Regardless of cost but especially if on a budget, the crown would be heavily affected by whatever mechanicals would be stuffed up there. Considering 1WTC has 4 BMUs and One V has 3, they’d need at least 2 or 3 BMUS for this and I doubt they would actually keep them hidden when not in use…
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True, but many people would believe that the diamond design is elegant, sleek, and fits more with One WTC, heck the comments on “The B1M’s” Instagram about the 2 WTC favors more with the diamond design.
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Not every design change is indicative of a VE.
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The current context of tenant demand also makes the old design difficult. Both the latter and the boxes provide outdoor spaces for tenants, a feature that pleases companies looking for a building to rent.
I think all this needs is a new setting, say…47th street.
My assumption is the design change was entirely driven by financial considerations. The boxed out top and mid-sections maximized the amount outdoor terraces, and desirable ‘solarium’ interior gardens.
The other factor is the concept of ‘rectilinear’ components in construction. When every component is either a ‘straight line’ or a ‘right angle’ the overall ease and efficiency of construction is significantly faster and less expensive.
The final floor plans are also improved buy squeezing out a bit more square footage that can be leased for easy, efficient occupancy.
This was a total VE design change. The odd thing is value engineering usually compromises the beauty of the Architecture: in this case the beauty of the building was actually enhanced IMHO. Win-Win.
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……I loved that the diamonds didn’t make up a clean cut roof and I don’t mind the pinnacle of the top diamond was completed with just the three sided pyramid either.
I barely see anyone complain about how the diamonds looked up there.
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Animations from my 3D model:
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Fantastic work!
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