Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, founder of architectural firm BIG, has completed the near-impossible by fusing heritage with innovation for the final design of the Two World Trade Centre building.

Soon to be the new headquarters of Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and News Corp, Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has created a design that satisfies the media mogul.

Larry Silverstein, the 83-year-old New York developer who has long-held the rights to rebuild in this location, previously had Foster + Partners create a design. However, James Murdoch sought out Ingels when it became clear he preferred an innovative and open plan workplace for their future offices similar to Google, who is a client of BIG (in collaboration with Thomas Heatherwick).

Deemed 'Project Gotham', a tentative lease deal was signed early June to confirm the project. Vertical construction of the tower which was previously built to street level, would begin early next year with an expected grand opening in 2020.

View of Two World Trade Centre (2WTC) from the 9/11 Memorial. Image: BIG

This location is one of the most controversial and expensive locations in New York for construction and will always be difficult to build on due to its deep historical significance. Architects can respect the legacy of the site with a stately tower, or take a more risky path with a forward-thinking design. Ingels has successfully found a balance between the two, literally giving the building a double-sided effect.

This diagram shows the combination of old and new, one side of the building is steps while the other is a sheer face. Combined they represent the innovative and the iconic. Diagram by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group

View from 9/11 Memorial. Image DBOX

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