When you build a monolithic tower that reaches hundreds of feet up into the sky, it's going to cast a shadow. That can be a big problem for those on the ground, if they'd like to occasionally see the sun. But the designers of a new building being planned in lower Manhattan have figured out a way around the problem: An oddly-shaped building that will not only shed light on occupants, but spread it around for neighbors as well.




Designed by Studio Gang, the “Solar Carve Tower” will sit between the Hudson river and New York's elevated-train-track-now-park, the High Line. The building utilizes a technique the Gang (unsuprisingly) calls "solar carving" where the structure's form is explicity designed to play nice with the particular angles of sunlight that grace the area. The form is based on a close examination of seasonal sun diagrams around the site, which allowed the designers gauge where they should cut away wedges of structure to allow sun to pass unfettered onto the park.

The end result is not only a tower with a bevy of well-lit offices and retail space, but also a heaping helping of redirected sunlight for the High Line—specifically its sundeck area. And the curved angles that let that happen should also afford—or at least not completely block—a view of the river. Of course it helps that the building ain't bad to look at neither. It's due to be finished in 2015. Until then, you'll have to get your sun the traditional way—by standing under it. [Studio Gang via Wired]