The ‘Big Bend’ of New York City

Oiio, an architecture studio based in New York and Athens – imagines the conceptual skyscraper that loops over to boast length rather than height in New York City (USA).

The project called ‘The Big Bend’, with its total length of 1.22 km end to end, it has been dubbed the world’s longest building. The conceptual skyscraper would be formed from a very thin structure that curves at the top and returns to the ground. The scheme takes advantage of the city’s zoning laws without worrying about height limits.

“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 ? “ said the studio Oiio.

Oiio’s design features a grid of large windows, similar to those on Vinoly’s skyscraper but with even smaller floorplates.

Its legs would straddle a historic building to fit into narrow plots either side, then rise to tower over both shop and de Portzamparc’s buildings.