World's Longest Building Could Forever Change Manhattan's Skyline

A new design proposal by Oiio Studio could forever change the skyline of Manhattan and become the longest building in the world.

The Big Bend, if realized, could be the world’s longest building

The concept for “The Big Bend” building started out as a question: “What if we substituted height with length? What if our buildings were long instead of tall?” In a city known for its ever-changing, iconic skyline, Ioannis Oiaonomou of Oiio Studio came up with the idea to design a 4,000-foot U-shaped building, making it the longest tower in the world.

New York City’s zoning laws are difficult to maneuver, especially when developers compete for airspace and seek the highest price per square foot possible within the confines of the law. High rise structures in Manhattan equate to luxury and top dollar, particularly in the newly coveted 57th street area. “We have become familiar with building height requirements. We usually learn about the latest tallest building and we are always impressed by its price per square foot,” says Oiaonomou in the firm’s release. Think: the taller the building, the more prestigious (or so it’s perceived).

With the emergence of One57, a 75-story residential skyscraper, the 57th street corridor has opened up more floor area ratio (FAR), which equates to more developable floor space inside a property. Rather than building vertically, Oiis Studio designed “The Big Bend” as a curved structure in response to the city’s height limitations, while still offering the same modernist look: slender, provocative, and luxurious. But some wonder if the building will change the look of the existing skyline too much, commenting that it resembles a paperclip, or even ruin the skyline altogether.

If completed and stretched out, “The Big Bend” would practically double the size of the tallest building in the world (currently Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 2,722 feet) and become the longest structure in the world today.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.