Project: The Spiral Architecture:BIG Geo: New York, US
Yesterday’s discussion about the cleanliness of windows in skyscrapers inspired me to search for interesting projects in the category of high-rise glass architecture. One intriguing parallelepiped caught my attention in New York.
The main visual challenge of any skyscraper is the scale perception at different distances from the object. The toolkit for designing such architecture is quite limited. Plus, the monolithic volume of a skyscraper is rarely fragmented, drawing attention to the overall silhouette and small details. The average level of detail is often ignored, giving areas with skyscrapers a sense of "typicality."
Stepped compositions are a distinctive feature of BIG studio, starting from their early projects in Denmark, the homeland of Bjarke. THE SPIRAL is aptly named as the facade of the skyscraper is enveloped in a stepped spiral, addressing both functional and visual challenges:
Terraces with greenery are located in the niches of the spiral—an entirely unique feature for skyscrapers. (In our studio, we consider architecture with terraces to be a trend of 23.)
The steps of the spiral resolve the issue of detailing the volume at a medium distance. Notice how organically they appear from different perspectives.
PS: For some reason, Bjarke has many haters. If you are among them, please provide feedback in the comments. In my view, BIG consistently delivers interesting and monumental projects with unconventional solutions, contributing positively to the architecture market.