No Shadow Tower concept
I developed No Shadow Tower while I was Design Director at NBBJ. The concept proposed a pair of towers designed to reduce shadow and redirect daylight, responding to the impact of tall buildings on London’s public realm. The revolutionary design would reduce tall building shadows but up to 70% improving streets, plaza and cities
The project reflects my wider interest in how architecture shapes city experience. It sits alongside other London concepts I authored at NBBJ, and it connects directly to my watercolours under Freehandlines, where I continue to study London through light, shadow, and atmosphere.
Covered extensively by international press and television the project ignited real interest in cities and how they can be better. It spoke directly to the public generating amazing interest in architecture. I list a few articles for further reading below
Christian Coop (MSAI) is an Associate Partner at HTA Design and a leading architectural artist
Both towers sit on the Meridian and use time a light to make a better place
computational software help mould the tower forms
Architecture and environment together
Both towers sit on the Meridian and use time a light to make a better place
Press coverage and links
Just some of the press articles on this internationally covered concept
Project Name | Publication | Headline | Country | MediaType | URL | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Shadow Tower | CNN | Architects plan skyscraper that ‘casts no shadow’ | US | Broadcast/Article | https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/31/europe/architecture-no-shadow-skyscraper-london/index.html | 30/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | BBC Business | The tower that erases its own shadow | UK | Broadcast Video | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-32237643 | 31/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | The Independent | London‚ no-shadow skyscraper proposal | UK | Newspaper | https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/architects-plan-to-stop-skyscrapers-from-blocking-out-sunlight-10108751.html | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | The Telegraph | The skyscraper that does not cast a shadow | UK | Newspaper | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/11473387/The-skyscraper-that-does-not-cast-a-shadow.html | 14/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Architectural Digest | Skyscrapers That Erase Each Other's Shadows | US | Magazine | https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/no-shadow-tower-nbbj | 31/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Fast Company | Could We Design A Skyscraper That Casts No Shadow? | US | Online Magazine | https://www.fastcompany.com/3043695/could-we-design-a-skyscraper-that-casts-no-shadow | 16/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | The Verge | Designing towers that redirect sunlight | US | Tech News | https://www.theverge.com/ | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Architectural Record | No Shadow Towers for the River Thames | US | Trade Magazine | https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/3351-no-shadow-towers-for-the-river-thames | 03/10/2016 |
No Shadow Tower | CBC Radio | Architects design skyscraper that doesn't cast a shadow | Canada | Broadcast Radio | https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.2998444/architects-design-skyscraper-that-doesn-t-cast-a-shadow-1.2998648 | 16/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | RIBA Journal | Christian Coop: Design Leader | UK | Trade Journal | https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/christian-coop/ | 01/01/2024 |
No Shadow Tower | VICE | How Do You Make a Skyscraper with No Shadow? | US | Online Magazine | https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-do-you-make-a-skyscraper-with-no-shadow/ | 08/08/2024 |
No Shadow Tower | 99% Invisible | No Shadow Tower: Reflective Skyscraper Bounces Sunlight | US | Podcast/Article | https://99percentinvisible.org/article/no-shadow-tower-reflective-skyscraper-bounces-sunlight-shaded-space/ | 29/07/2018 |
No Shadow Tower | 6sqft | London's 'No-Shadow' Skyscraper Could Solve Problems | US | Online Magazine | https://www.6sqft.com/londons-no-shadow-skyscraper-could-solve-the-problem-of-towers-blocking-the-sun/ | 01/08/2023 |
No Shadow Tower | Building Design + Construction | London’s ’shadowless’ towers | US | Trade Magazine | https://www.bdcnetwork.com/home/article/55148188/londons-shadowless-towers | 04/02/2016 |
No Shadow Tower | New Atlas | Here comes the sun: NBBJ unveils concept towers | Australia | Online Magazine | https://newatlas.com/the-no-shadow-tower-nbbj/36555/ | 18/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Property Week | NBBJ unveils shadow-reducing towers | UK | Trade News | https://www.propertyweek.com/ | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | City Monitor | How to build skyscrapers without the shadows | UK | Urban Policy | https://citymonitor.ai/ | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Slate | The shadowless skyscraper concept | US | News/Culture | https://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2015/03/27/no_shadow_tower_by_nbbj_uses_algorithms_to_cancel_out_the_shadows_cast_by.html | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Architizer | No Shadow Towers: Redirecting the Sun | Global | Architecture Platform | https://architizer.com/ | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Metro | The London tower that won't block your sun | UK | Newspaper | https://metro.co.uk/ | 01/01/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | Construction Management | Architect proposes 'No Shadow Tower' | UK | Trade Magazine | https://constructionmanagement.co.uk/archi4tects-prop5ose-no-sha7dow-tower/ | 16/03/2015 |
No Shadow Tower | NBBJ | Designing Tall Buildings to Reduce Shadows | UK | Practice Site | https://www.nbbj.com/ideas/shadow-tower | 09/05/2023 |