The Big Bend, A U-Shaped Skyscraper, Could Become The Longest In The World

But it's just a dream for now.
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Architecture firm Oiio Studio has released a proposal for a curved skyscraper called The Big Bend that it hopes will become the “longest building in the world.”

Renderings for the 4,000-foot structure show it towering above New York City’s so-called Billionaire’s Row in midtown Manhattan. The building rises from one base, curves over in a U shape, and touches the ground again at its second base.

Oiio says the design is meant to creatively solve challenges that builders face due to zoning laws in New York City.

“But what if we substituted height with length? What if our buildings were long instead of tall?” the building proposal on Oiio’s website asks. “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.”

An architectural rendering of The Big Bend shows how the building would look against a New York City sunset.
An architectural rendering of The Big Bend shows how the building would look against a New York City sunset.
Oiio

Not everyone is excited by the prospect of a record-setting building, however. Architectural Digest shared images of the proposed structure with the headline “This Skyscraper Could Ruin New York’s Skyline.”

Curbed New York says it’s improbable the project would ever become a reality.

“It seems highly unlikely that a project like this would ever get off the ground, so to speak—community members and preservation groups (including the Municipal Art Society) have already condemned the rise of supertalls along Central Park South, so adding another one to the mix couldn’t possibly go over well,” the website explained.

The building would measure 200 feet higher than One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the city, Business Insider noted.

See a selection of Oiio’s images of the building below.

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