Louis I. Kahn’s Monumental Four Freedoms Park to Open This Fall on Roosevelt Island

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/morphosis-to-design-first-cornellnyc-tech-building-on-roosevelt-island/">Roosevelt Island</a>'s Four Freedoms Park will finally be celebrating its grand opening this October! The momentous event will take place almost 40 years after the space was designed by architectural visionary <a href="http://designmuseum.org/design/louis-kahn">Louis I. Kahn</a> to commemorate president Franklin D. Roosevelt for whom the island is named. The elegant green space will be located on the southern tip of the landmass and will honor the 32nd U.S. President and the four essential freedoms he believed in: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

The Four Freedoms Park is located on the southern tip of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/morphosis-to-design-first-cornellnyc-tech-building-on-roosevelt-island/">Roosevelt Island</a> and honors the 32nd U.S. President and the four essential freedoms he believed in: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

It was in the late 1960's that NYC Mayor John Lindsay proposed a reinvention of the island that 'would face the sea he loved, the Atlantic he bridged, the Europe he helped to save, the United Nations he inspired'.

In 1973 Governor Nelson and Mayor Lindsay commissioned the design of the memorial to the legendary <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/battery-park-city-library-achieves-leed-gold-certification/">architect</a> Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974).

He finished the design in 1974, right before his unexpected death from a heart attack at Penn Station. The project was put on hold due to New York City's approaching bankrupcy, and was commenced 36 years later on March 29, 2010.

Inspired by FDR's belief that peaceful discussions is the solution to conflicts, Kahn created the 'Room' - a 72-foot square plaza placed at the very end of the park designed for peaceful contemplation.

Quotes taken from FDR's Four Freedoms speech are engraved on the granite walls of the Room as well as other sites throughout the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/industrial-facility-restored-into-ballast-point-park-with-recycled-materials-in-sydney/">park</a>.

Placed at 'the entrance' of the Room is a giant bronze head of FDR modeled by the great American portrait <a href="http://inhabitat.com/andrew-chase-photographs-the-spectacular-steampunk-sculptures-he-crafts-himself/">sculptor</a> which will be visible during the entire granite-paved promenade leading up to it.

The triangular shape was important to Kahn drawing the visitor's attention to the bronze head.

Being aware of FDR's love to the sea Kahn also lended inspiration from structures and lines used in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/us-navy-develops-underwater-solar-panels-to-power-sensor-systems/">naval</a> architecture visible in the park's prow like ending.

The visitors will be able to enjoy a beautiful monumental park lined by large shade trees separated by a vast garden, and a rewarding view and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/victor-serene-meditation-and-tea-hut-by-jeffery-poss/">meditative</a> space at the end.

Franklin D. Roosevelt delivering his famous 'Four Freedoms Speech' on January 6, 1941. In October this year NYC will celebrate the opening of it's first Louis Kahn structure commemorating FDR.