Plans have been unveiled to construct the world’s first U-shaped skyscraper in New York, testing the very limits of architecture.
The project, entitled ‘The Big Bend’ is being carried out by world-renowned design team Oiio Studio and stands as a literal bending of the city’s strict zoning rules. On their website the design firm state: “There are many different ways that can make a building stand out, but in order to do so the building has to literary stand out.
“We have become familiar with building height measurements. We usually learn about the latest tallest building and we are always impressed by its price per square foot. It seems that a property’s height operates as a license for it to be expensive.
“New York city’s zoning laws have created a peculiar set of tricks trough which developers try to maximize their property’s height in order to infuse it with the prestige of a high rise structure. But what if we substituted height with length? What if our buildings were long instead of tall?
“If we manage to bend our structure instead of bending the zoning rules of New York we would be able to create one of the most prestigious buildings in Manhattan. The longest building in the world.
“The Big Bend can become a modest architectural solution to the height limitations of Manhattan. We can now provide our structures with the measurements that will make them stand out without worrying about the limits of the sky.”
The sky (isn’t) the limit!
Once complete, ‘The Big Bend’ will be the longest building in the world, surpassing even Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in total length. Not only will the unique shape of the structure require a Wonka-esque elevator system that can travel in loops and curves, it will also undoubtedly earn it a place as an architectural icon among giants.
