The Big Bend

The Big Bend is a supertall proposed skyscraper for Billionaires' Row in Midtown Manhattan. The skyscraper, which was designed by the New York architecture firm Oiio Studio in 2017, would be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 2,000 feet (610 m) if it were built. Reception to the proposal has been mixed.

This article is about the proposed skyscraper. For the park that formerly contained a roller coaster called The Big Bend, see Six Flags Over Texas. For other uses, see Big Bend (disambiguation).
The Big Bend
Artist's conception of the Big Bend over Central Park
General information
StatusProposed
ClassificationResidential
LocationBillionaires' Row, New York City, United States
Height> 2,000 feet (610 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Ioannis Oikonomou
Architecture firmOiio Studio
Known forproposal for world's longest building

Architecture

The Big Bend was designed by Ioannis Oikonomou of the architecture firm Oiio Studio. The proposal is most known for its distinctive U-shape, which would make it the longest building in the world, though not the tallest, were it built.[1] It would have a length of 4,000 feet (1,200 m) from one base to the top of the building to the other base.[1] The proposal is a very tall and slender building, with a peak height above the ground that would be more than 1,969 feet (600 m).[2][3] This would make it a megatall building, as well as the tallest building in New York City, surpassing One World Trade Center by 200 feet (61 m).[2]

The structure is similar to the nearby "super-slender" 432 Park Avenue, with a grid of large windows, but would have even smaller floorplates.[4]

Traversal of the Big Bend would be possible with an elevator that can travel in curves, as well as horizontally, in a continuous loop. Oiio Studio has stated that the technology for such an elevator is close to being a reality.[5]

The Big Bend's U-shape was conceived as an attempt to circumvent zoning regulations restricting skyscraper height in Manhattan, and also as a response to the proliferation of luxury supertall skyscrapers in the area.[1][4] Ioannis Oikonomou has said that the building "can become a modest architectural solution to the height limitations of Manhattan."[1]

Site

The Big Bend would likely stand on a stretch of 57th Street called Billionaires' Row, south of Central Park in Midtown Manhattan.[1] The Calvary Baptist Church would be between the skyscraper's two bases.[2] The building's two bases are occupied by a 22-story condo and two 5-story apartment buildings. It would be on the same block as two other supertall skyscrapers: One57 to the west and 111 West 57th Street to the east.[6]

Reception

As of March 2017, online reception to the Big Bend proposal has been mixed.[7]

Amy Plitt of Curbed New York has argued that the Big Bend is unlikely to ever be built. Plitt cited opposition to supertall skyscrapers by the local community, as well as a lack of funding, as potential issues for the project.[8] The nearby Calvary Baptist Church and the Department of City Planning have not given official comments on the proposal, as of March 2017. Layla Law-Gisiko, the chair of the Sunshine Task Force of Community Board 5 took note of the Oiio Studio's imaginative nature, but called the design "silly" and "out of touch".[6]

As of 2017, the Big Bend was in the proposal stage.[5] Having sent the design to several developers, Oikonomou was seeking investment for the project.[3]

As of 2023, the Big Bend has been remodeled into 432 Park.

See also

References
  1. Jack Moore (March 28, 2017), "The Big Bend: U-Shaped New York Skyscraper Seeks 'Longest In The World' Title", Newsweek, retrieved June 20, 2017
  2. James Spader, World Longest Building Proposed For The New York City Skyline, retrieved June 20, 2017
  3. Leanna Garfield (March 24, 2017), "A giant U-shaped skyscraper designed for New York City could be the longest building in the world", Business Insider, retrieved June 20, 2017
  4. Dan Howarth (March 16, 2017), Oiio imagines The Big Bend skyscraper for New York as "the longest building in the world", Dezeen, retrieved June 20, 2017
  5. Chantal Da Silva (March 25, 2017), "The Big Bend: Giant U-shaped skyscraper planned for New York", The Independent, retrieved June 20, 2017
  6. Ivan Pereira (March 20, 2017), "Proposed midtown, Manhattan skyscraper features massive arch", amNewYork, retrieved June 20, 2017
  7. Christian Gollayan (March 24, 2017), "Everyone is freaking out about this NYC skyscraper design", New York Post, retrieved June 20, 2017
  8. Amy Plitt (March 17, 2017), The Big Bend, 'the world's longest skyscraper,' proposed for Billionaires' Row, Curbed New York, retrieved June 20, 2017

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