US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a 250ft-tall arch in Washington DC that could dwarf the iconic Lincoln Memorial. The proposed Independence Arch, as it's known, would be a striking addition to the nation's capital but has already raised concerns among architects and preservationists.
The arch, funded by leftover donations from a $400m White House ballroom project, is set to be constructed on a small plot of land near the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River. Its height would far surpass that of Paris's 164ft-tall Arc de Triomphe, but would be less than half the size of St Louis's Gateway Arch.
Art critic Catesby Leigh, who initially proposed a smaller arch to commemorate the US's declaration of independence, expressed his dismay at Trump's plan. "I don't think an arch that large belongs there," he said. "If you're going to build an arch that big, you should build it in another part of town – and one possible site that comes to mind is Barney Circle."
The proposed arch would sit between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, potentially disrupting the somber atmosphere of Memorial Circle and obstructing pedestrians' views. John Haigh, chairperson of Benedictine College's architecture program, described the corridor as "very somber".
Despite initial concerns, Trump has reportedly considered more modest designs for the arch, but ultimately decided on the 250ft-tall model to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence in July.
The idea of a grand arch in Washington DC is not new, but Trump's vision for an enormous structure that dwarfs existing landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial raises eyebrows. The Commission of Fine Arts, which would oversee the project, includes Atlanta philanthropist and developer Rodney Mims Cook Jr as its president.
Critics argue that the absence of a triumphal arch in major cities like Washington DC is unusual, and that this proposal could reshape the nation's capital's skyline forever.
The arch, funded by leftover donations from a $400m White House ballroom project, is set to be constructed on a small plot of land near the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River. Its height would far surpass that of Paris's 164ft-tall Arc de Triomphe, but would be less than half the size of St Louis's Gateway Arch.
Art critic Catesby Leigh, who initially proposed a smaller arch to commemorate the US's declaration of independence, expressed his dismay at Trump's plan. "I don't think an arch that large belongs there," he said. "If you're going to build an arch that big, you should build it in another part of town – and one possible site that comes to mind is Barney Circle."
The proposed arch would sit between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, potentially disrupting the somber atmosphere of Memorial Circle and obstructing pedestrians' views. John Haigh, chairperson of Benedictine College's architecture program, described the corridor as "very somber".
Despite initial concerns, Trump has reportedly considered more modest designs for the arch, but ultimately decided on the 250ft-tall model to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence in July.
The idea of a grand arch in Washington DC is not new, but Trump's vision for an enormous structure that dwarfs existing landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial raises eyebrows. The Commission of Fine Arts, which would oversee the project, includes Atlanta philanthropist and developer Rodney Mims Cook Jr as its president.
Critics argue that the absence of a triumphal arch in major cities like Washington DC is unusual, and that this proposal could reshape the nation's capital's skyline forever.
... like what kinda architecture is this? who lets a 250ft-tall arch just stand there? near the lincoln memorial it's supposed to be somber, but then this monstrosity shows up 
and ruins the vibe 
. some ppl say its for the 250th anniversary, but why do they need an arch that big? can't they just make a smaller one or something? 
meanwhile, i kinda like barney circle idea lol, sounds cute 
What if some of our art projects were supposed to be low-key?
. The thing is, they gotta think about all the other things around it, like the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. I mean, have you seen those spots? They're super somber 
. If Trump's gonna do this, he should at least consider what's around it, right? Maybe find a different spot for it... Barney Circle sounds kinda funny tho 
.
. I can see why architects and preservationists are freaking out - it's like he's gonna ruin the whole vibe of the National Mall.
. And now we're gonna have this... thing... looming over the Lincoln Memorial, taking away from its grandeur.
.
and can't they see how it's gonna disrupt the whole vibe of memorial circle? i mean, i get it, it's supposed to be some kind of celebration but like come on, can't we just keep things simple for once? 250ft is already pretty massive, what's the point of going overboard? 
seriously though, 250ft tall arch in DC? seems like overkill to me, can't we just stick with something a little less, well, ostentatious for once? 
the Commission of Fine Arts is gonna need some serious hand-holding on this one 
and what's up with Barney Circle being proposed as an alternative site? sounds like someone needs to take a step back from the design process 
it would ruin the vibe of memorial circle and obstruct ppl's views 
plus it's not like they're lowkey trying to one-up paris with that arc de triomphe thing lol 
catesby leigh has a legit point tho, maybe trump should've built it in barney circle 
