Daniel Libeskind's Swarovski star tops the Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree for a second year. In this interview with Dezeen, the architect says the design, like much of his work, is strongly influenced by his experience as an immigrant.
Libeskind designed the crystal-filled topper for the Christmas tree, which is erected each year in the Rockefeller Center plaza in Midtown Manhattan, in 2018.
The star, which has been used again this year, replaced one that had topped the iconic New York tree since 2004.
"The star is a universal symbol"
Citing his own experience as a Jewish immigrant raised in New York, Libeskind said he wanted to create a design that all of New York's multicultural population could relate to.
"The fact is that the star is a universal symbol ? it doesn't belong to Christians, or Muslims, or the Jews," he told Dezeen. "It's a universal symbol of hope, peace and solidarity among people. The one bright star has always inspired people across time, across religions and across all divides."
Libeskind spoke to Dezeen last month when the star was lifted atop the Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree
Libeskind's star is entirely symmetrical and features dozens of spikes filled with three million Swarovski crystals.
"It is a burst of powerful imagination in the skies of New York," Libeskind said. "People get it. It's not something abstract. It's very visceral and it's very emotional."
Libeskind emigrated from Poland...