The Oculus

“A dove in flight,” this transportation complex designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is a moving experience in and of itself.

The designer was faced with a set of unique challenges, most noteworthy of all — bringing both sentimental and contextual significance to such an emotionally charged site.

Functionally, the Oculus is a transportation hub, but the structure resembles anything but a traditional train station.

Wandering under the all-white vertebrae dome of steel and glass can make one acutely aware of the sheer scale of the surrounding structures.
One of the less obvious features, however, is the curved central skylight that is removed every September 11 to reveal a sliver of One World Trade building and flood the ivory chamber with warm sunlight.