Courtscraper – Bjarke Ingels Group
A dash of tradition and a pinch of the contemporary, Bjarke Ingels Group’s the ‘Courtscraper’, is exactly that. Known for such fantastical and hybrid architecture, BIG is about to see its first creation for the city of Big Apple to completion. The Architectural firm, BIG, based in Denmark, Copenhagen, prides itself for generating ideas that have more than an “arbitrary aesthetic” or “stylistic prejudice” sense. They believe in identifying the main potential of an area and a project.
The Courtscraper’s quite creative design balances the surrounding New York City, bearing resemblance to the area in terms of height and materials. At the same instance it defining its own identity which takes root in the architecture of the Old European times- the Perimeter Block System, to be precise. It is a ‘Courtyard-Skyscraper’ as evident from the name people have chosen to ascribe to it.
Formerly titled, “Via 57 West”, referring to its location alongside the Western Highway of the New York City, the building is all set to debut on the Hudson riverfront later this year, a significant part of the water-front development. The Darkhorse, an agency known for coverage of such projects, has produced a Drone-documented video clearly revealing the structural height and the angled curtain façade of the Courtscraper. The building comprises Housing and retail units, with its final height being 450 feet (137 meters).
By: Antara Jha
Antara Jha is a passionate architect and writer, blending design expertise with a keen editorial eye. As a former Assistant Editor at Arch2O, she explored global architecture through storytelling and analysis. Now at Studio Sattva, she continues to bridge design and narrative, highlighting meaningful spaces and cultural context.