Skip to main content

Outrage emerges as Dutch firm is accused of using World Trade Center as inspiration for “The Cloud”

The-Cloud-MVRDV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last week, we brought you images of ” The Cloud” a luxury highrise planned for development in the Yongsan Dreamhub of Seoul, South Korea. It appears now that Rotterdam-based, Dutch architectural firm, MVRDV has found itself in hot water as their latest project  has drawn massive outrage. Sections within the media have led a storm of public outcry and criticized “The Cloud” for resembling New York City’s Twin Towers that tragically came down on September 11th, 2001.

In response to the resemblance of the Twin Towers, MVRDV has issued a public apology stating, “The Cloud was designed based on parameters such as sunlight, outside spaces, living quality for inhabitants and the city…It was not our intention to create an image resembling the attacks nor did we see the resemblance during the design process. We sincerely apologize to anyone whose feelings we have hurt, the design was not meant to provoke this”. According to MVRDV, the firm has received a number of “threatening calls and emails of angry people calling us Al Qaeda lovers or worse”.

Regardless of whether the design was intentional or not, it seems that plenty of people are upset with MVRDV; we would like to know what you think. Do you feel the “The Cloud” too closely resembles New York‘s Twin Towers? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Amazon’s Echo Pop smart speaker is 43% off, and it’s not even Prime Day
The Echo Pop sitting on a countertop.

Usually we see the best Amazon Echo deals around Prime Day or other Amazon sales events. However, today, you can buy an Amazon Echo Pop for a super low price of $23. It normally costs $40 which is already pretty reasonable so being able to snag one for just $23 is pretty great. A useful addition to any room in your home, let’s take a look at what to expect.

Why you should buy the Amazon Echo Pop
One of the best smart speakers around when it comes to value and functionality, the Amazon Echo Pop is a great little addition to your home. Available in different colors to suit the aesthetic of your home, the compact smart speaker offers full sound that’s particularly well suited for bedrooms and small spaces. It’s small enough to blend in while still being pretty loud.

Read more
Blink sale: Up to 42% off home security cameras and video doorbells
blink mini indoor camera white set in a living room blurred in the background

To make sure that your family is safe at all times, you should think about investing in video doorbells and security camera deals. If you're thinking about buying them right now, you're in luck because Amazon just launched a sale for discounts of up to 42% on various Blink devices. As one of the most trusted names in the home security space with their compatibility with Amazon's Alexa, we don't think stocks will last long for these offers, so it's highly recommended that you choose what to purchase and proceed with the transaction as soon as possible in order to pocket the savings.

What to buy in Amazon's Blink sale

Read more
How to fix a Yale Assure Lock 2 that won’t connect to Wi-Fi
The Yale Assure Lock 2 Smart Lock Deadbolt keypad being used by someone.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is one of the best smart locks, as it's available in a variety of formats and makes it easy to keep tabs on your front door when away from home. Much of this functionality is driven by support for Wi-Fi connections on select models, as you can quickly connect the unit to your home network and access all its features via its companion mobile app.

However, some users may notice their Yale Assure Lock 2 appears offline or that it's no longer connected to Wi-Fi. It can be a frustrating issue to deal with, as a lock that's offline won't let you access its best features – meaning you'll want to get it back online as soon as possible.

Read more