Cover Each floor is supplied with a readily accessible terrace space
Each floor is supplied with a readily accessible terrace space
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This biophilic skyscraper designed by Bjarke Ingels Group has officially opened its doors in New York City
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with Adamson Associates and structural engineer WSP Cantor Seinuk, The Spiral has officially opened its doors to the residents of New York City and several major companies, including Pfizer, Debevoise & Plimpton, Turner Construction, HSBC, and others.
Located on West 34th Street between Hudson Boulevard and 10th Avenue, The Spiral measures 2.8 million square feet and spans upwards to a height of 1,031.5 feet. Recently named the world’s Best Tall Building in its category by The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, The Spiral visually extends the landscape of the nearby High Line Park up and around The Spiral’s exterior, allowing access to green outdoor terraces from each of the building’s 66 stories.
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Above Closeup of each floor’s terrace, making up one of The Spiral’s unique features: the green ribbon
Above The Spiral’s unique features can be seen from across the street
Closeup of each floor’s terrace, making up one of The Spiral’s unique features: the green ribbon
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From street level, the tower draws the eye upwards to the ribbon of greenery that wraps around the tower. Reminiscent of a conservatory, the tower’s glass panel façade offers passersby a look into the building’s bright and spacious lobby, adorned with artwork by Dutch studio Drift and lush foliage.
Slowly reducing in volume as it rises to follow the site’s zoning envelope, the steppings are inspired by the aesthetics of classic Manhattan skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, using modern materials and detailing to speak to the design features of contemporary high-rise architecture.
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Most of the plant species on the ground cover are native to the American prairie, making them resistant to high winds and droughts
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“The Spiral combines the classic Ziggurat silhouette of the premodern skyscraper with the slender proportions and efficient layouts of the modern high-rise,” comments Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. “Designed for the people who occupy it, The Spiral ensures that every floor of the tower opens up to the outdoors, creating hanging gardens and cascading atria that connect the open floor plates from the ground floor to the summit into a single uninterrupted workspace.”
To honour the area’s industrial history, The Spiral’s lobby incorporates seven different metals in its build, floor panels measured to the exact dimensions of the precast concrete planks spanning the High Line.
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Front lobby
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In the efforts to build a connection to the outdoors and support The Spiral’s interior foliage, a generous ceiling height and specially selected exterior glass coating enable a deeper incursion of natural light.
The building’s water management system collects overflow rainwater to treat and redistribute throughout the tiered landscaping, allowing it to save millions of gallons of water annually.
“The Spiral pioneers a new landscape typology by bringing gardens to a high rise. Designed to strengthen collaboration and well-being, each terrace hosts plantings specific to the varying daylight, winds and temperatures on every floor. These gardens will welcome neighbouring birds, bees and butterflies to expand New York’s biodiversity to the city skyline,” remarks Giulia Frittoli, a partner at BIG.
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Above Street view of The Spiral
Street view of The Spiral
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Currently pursuing a LEED Silver certification, The Spiral promotes a contemporary workplace where nature becomes an integrated part of the office environment, with adaptable spatial features to meet occupant needs, cementing The Spiral’s presence as a green addition to the Manhattan skyline.
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Credits
Photography: Laurian Ghinițoiu
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About
A city girl at heart, Amber is happy to analyse intricate plot points, design concepts, and the best tea spots in Malaysia for those brave enough to ask. When she’s not writing, knitting, or playing the latest JRPG in her free time, she is most likely thinking of her next creative endeavour to immerse herself into.
Work
A senior writer primarily under Tatler Homes, Amber uses the analytic skills given to her by her Literature degree, her professional online marketing background having worked in various marketing agencies, and her own interest in functional home designs to create distinct and engaging pieces about the latest home tours, designers, and architectural news happening around the world.
You can find out more about her professional career on LinkedIn
