A nationally known landscape architect who helped fortify the Washington Monument grounds following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is advocating the removal of unsightly barriers around other federal buildings where the threat of attacks is low.
Laurie Olin said Washington has “been disfigured” by the widespread use of unsightly barriers, including concrete walls and bollards, outside many federal and District buildings. The barriers are placed to prevent vehicles from driving into the infrastructure.
“What are we proving with these ugly things, these default solutions to terrorism?” Olin asked. “No other capital that I can think of is such a mess.”
Olin’s remarks came during a symposium on the District’s future by the National Capital Planning Commission at the National Press Club Wednesday.
Olin, who has lectured at the University of Pennsylvania and runs his firm, the Olin Partnership, out of Philadelphia, questioned why there is a need for the barriers outside some well-known buildings, including several of the Smithsonian museums located on the National Mall. He walked that area as well as several areas downtown Saturday photographing the offending sites.
Olin oversaw the $15 million project to redesign and fortify the Washington Monument grounds, which were reopened in 2005. The security barriers double as benches made of granite, matching the monument.
“The thing is, it doesn’t have to look likea fortress if you get it right,” Olin said of incorporating barriers.
