And finally… loophole
The proposed “Big Bend” in Manhattan, which will span 4,000 feet in a single, continuous upside-down U shape, is set to become the world’s longest building.
The building’s unusual design was created to circumvent strict planning regulations. In skyscraper construction, height often translates to higher costs, so the curved shape provides a unique loophole.
Real estate developers are taking advantage of a planning law that allows them to purchase air rights from neighbouring buildings. With its curved design, the “Big Bend” can occupy more airspace without incurring additional costs for height.
The innovative shape also enables developers to construct taller buildings on smaller plots, cutting down their overall costs.
If this project goes through successfully, the “Big Bend” would be a staggering 1,000 feet longer than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is currently the tallest building in the world. It would also be about 200 feet taller than One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower in New York.
The building design boasts a futuristic-looking grid of windows on both sides and lifts that move horizontally and in continuous loops, reported The US Sun.
The building has been designed by the firm Oiio, and the designer Ioannis Oikonomou.
“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,” said Oikonomou.