[NYguy]

https://www.designboom.com/architect...ty-10-25-2023/

a ribbon of gardens ascends bjarke ingels group's latest new york skyscraper 'the spiral'

The architects at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) shape The Spiral with a number of human-centric and sustainable design elements. These include a generous ceiling height and specially selected exterior glass coating to maximize natural light intake, a water management system that collects and redistributes rainwater throughout the tiered landscaping, and materials and finishes that are sourced from sustainable and ethical suppliers. The tower’s slender proportions and use of modern materials and detailing give it a distinctive appearance among the Manhattan skyline. The building’s stepping language resonates with the design aesthetics of classic Manhattan skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, while its spiraling green ribbon adds a playful and contemporary element.

The Spiral’s interiors are just as thoughtfully designed as its exterior. The building’s spacious lobby welcomes visitors with a hanging installation by Dutch studio DRIFT and lush foliage. The office floors are designed to be flexible and adaptable, with select floors offering double height amenity spaces and the option to connect adjacent floors by way of a grand staircase. This encourages interaction among colleagues and provides a variety of spaces for work, collaboration, and relaxation.

The Spiral building’s 13,000-square-foot landscape is the first of its size at or above three hundred feet elevation in New York City. Its native prairie plants on the ground cover are resistant to high winds and droughts. Higher up, shrubs and bushes bloom in winter, and trees flower as early as February. On trellises, English and Boston ivy keep their leaves all year. Plant types vary on each side of the building, depending on sun exposure and wind tolerance.

‘As the trees and grasses, flowers and vines have taken root over the last two summers, The Spiral is slowly becoming an ascending ribbon of green wrapping around the entire silhouette of the tower — like a 1,000-foot-tall vine at the scale of the city’s skyline,‘ Bjarke Ingels continues.