John Belle

Architect who restored New York's finest buildings

Born:

1932

Place of Birth:

Pontcanna, Cardiff

Famous For:

Architect who restored New York's finest buildings

"New York has become one wonderful big community ... unconsciously I may have found a place that is like home without realising it." John Belle

Biography:

This Welshman has been responsible for the restoration of many of New York's most famous landmarks.

Born in 1932 in Pontcanna, Cardiff, John decided to make the pilgrimage to New York in 1959 to launch his career in architecture. He recalls sailing to America on the SS Bremen and taking his first picture of Ellis Island:

"Little did I realise that 25 years on I would be working to restore the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis. The first owner of the island, Sam Ellis, hailed from Flintshire so in a way I felt I was almost completing the circle as a fellow Welshman."

Other notable projects in New York include Grand Central Terminal, the Rockefeller Centre, Enid A Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Gardens, the Chrysler Building, and the New York Historical Society, along with Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in California, Indiana University and the US Senate Building in Washington DC.

Belle's early U.S. experience was gained working with two great émigré architects - Jose Luis Sert and Victor Gruen - before he became a founding partner of Beyer Blinder Belle in 1968. Three of his projects have won the Presidential Design Award, the USA's highest design award for public architecture.

But Belle's greatest challenge followed the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 which destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center. He was given the task of filling the void, influencing the future shape of lower Manhattan.

Despite his reputation and achievements, Belle was literally sent back to the drawing board after a public meeting of New Yorkers rejected his six initial plans for the redevelopment of Ground Zero.

The project was then opened up to international competition, with German architect Daniel Libeskind being appointed to replace the Twin Towers.

The choice remains controversial, and with many of Libeskind's more ambitious elements being dropped some critics say the result will be little different from Belle's proposals.

It remains to be seen whether the redevelopment will reflect the Welshman's desire to consider the human element of lower Manhattan:

"The project should be about the people, who are once again very proud of their roots and heritage."

Moment of Glory:

Restoring the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island, named after a fellow Welshman who once owned it.

your comments

Frank Gray, Edinburgh
I had the pleasure of meeting John and his colleague Maxinne Leighton at their office in New York in 2008 and they both signed my copy of their book 'Grand Central Terminal: Gateway to a Million Lives'. Despite their busy schedule they were delighted that someone from Scotland should want to look them up to talk about their GCT project.

Robert Owen from Aberdare
It's nice to see a Welshman making a success in USA. On my visits the majority of Americans I have met have no knowledge of Wales; it's all England to them.Such a shame.

Joan Hall, Fleet Hampshire
Being a first cousin of John Belle I am more than delighted that he has been chosen to be involved with this project and give some of his expertise back to his roots.

Sion
Great to see a fellow Welsh man making it the USA.

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