Currently, some skyscrapers cast a shadow as long as half a mile at sunset. Apartment living is essential in urban areas but one drawback of tall buildings are these shadows. Construction Company NBBJ as part of being at the forefront of modern building tech decided to minimize coverage and provide more natural light in areas that are often left as gloomy grey regions within a city center.
Instead of building a tall skyscraper that obstructs most of the sky with enormous shadows, NBBJ decided to use the massive faces of the buildings as an advantage. Using a design optimized by a computer program, NBBJ precisely designed a pair of skyscrapers that make use of curved and angled façades precisely aligned in such a way that the sunlight is directed towards the opposing building’s shadow. This reduces shadow obstruction by up to 60%.
“The project focus is improving the quality of our urban environment … finding a way in which we can have the tall buildings we need without losing natural light on the areas below”. Says Christian Coop, the NBBJ design director. He continues, “The design ensures that the area between the towers is bright and pleasant, so is more likely to be used as a public space.”
The proposed building is designed to be constructed at a site on the Greenwich peninsula in southeast London, proximal to where the Millennium Dome formally resided. As new cities develop, large buildings pop up from the ground, obstruction sunlight and giving that distinguishable gloom to a large city. However, with innovative designs like this, engineering can once again save the day and provide a more natural and sustainable look to the skyscrapers of the future.
