Could We Design A Skyscraper That Casts No Shadow?

NBBJ's concept for a shadowless tower could brighten the streets of tall, dense cities everywhere.

The taller the skyscraper, the longer the shadow. Walking along a street surrounded by big skyscrapers can feel like entering a world that's permanently overcast—one reason most cities have zoning laws that restrict how high developers can build. But what if we could design a skyscraper that didn't cast any shadow? That's the idea behind a new concept by the architects at NBBJ, who used algorithms to create a tower that doesn't block out the sun at ground level. Though specifically designed for London, where the next few years will bring a major influx of skyscrapers, the design could work in any dense urban area, where skyscrapers obscure the sun.

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