This Skyscraper Could Ruin New York's Skyline

The tallest building in the world? Been there, done that. But what about constructing the longest building? That's a feat one architectural firm hopes to achieve via the "Big Bend," a new kind of skyscraper that shatters the mold of buildings past by opting to bend a structure into a U shape.

The mammoth structure, a curved, 4,000-foot-long skyscraper, is the result of a concept design created by Oiio Studio for 57th Street in New York City. Oiio's proposal, designed by Ioannis Oiaonomou, who was reportedly inspired by the creation of an elevator that moves horizontally as well as vertically, depicts a skinny, glass structure that ends not in midair but with both ends firmly on the ground. The architects believe that the innovative U design provides a work-around for limitations presented by the city's zoning laws when it comes to maximizing property height.

"We have become familiar with building height measurements," the proposal for the Big Bend reads. "We usually learn about the latest tallest building and we are always impressed by its price per square foot. It seems that a property’s height operates as a license for it to be expensive.... But what if we substituted height with length? What if our buildings were long instead of tall? If we manage to bend our structure instead of bending the zoning rules of New York, we would be able to create one of the most prestigious buildings in Manhattan."

If built, the skyscraper would overtake the Burj Khalifa , the distinctive building in Dubai that currently holds the title of tallest (and longest) building in the world, at 2,722 feet.

Though for now, the Big Bend is just a U-shaped fantasy, CNN reports that Oiaonomou has sent his plans to several companies and is currently in the process of seeking investors to bring this bend to life.