November 30, 2014

November’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

November’s Top 10 Stories ESPN NFL Guru Adam Caplan Swaps Almost-Identical Tribeca Apartments New York Festival of Light Is Illuminating DUMBO Starting Tomorrow Night Fashion Stylist Scott Newkirk Goes Unplugged in His 14×14 Rough-Hewn Cabin INTERVIEW: Behind the Magic of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Creative Director Wesley Whatley New York City’s Residential Skyscraper Boom: […]

November 29, 2014

Julie Lansom’s Retro-Futuristic Sputnik Lamps Are Inspired by the First Russian Satellite Sent into Space

Julie Lansom is a versatile artist whose work happens between her camera and her Paris design studio. She focuses on the importance of colors and has a passion for authentic materials, as well as adding a hint of nostalgic charm for creating hand-made, functional crafts. We chose to feature her Sputnik Lamps because we love the intricate weaving process and mesmerizing shadow that amplifies her delicate work inspired by satellites.
Learn more about the retro-futuristic Sputnik Lamps
November 28, 2014

Long Island’s Green Dome is the Largest Geodesic Dome Home in the World

Measuring 70 feet in diameter and 45 feet high, Kevin Shea's spectacular dwelling is proudly the world’s largest geodesic dome home. Dubbed Long Island Green Dome, this LEED-certified building sets an example for both family life and sustainable living. The power comes courtesy of the wind and sun, and the home has trees growing inside and a lovely outdoor terraced garden made from recycled tires.
Learn more about this large geodesic home
November 28, 2014

On Sale Now: An Unofficial Black Friday Bargain Hunt!

Late November can be an anxious time for both buyers and sellers; unpleasant weather, family events and just plain seasonal shutdown mode can reduce the traffic at open houses to a trickle and get properties pulled off the market until after New Year’s Day or even springtime. Sellers may panic and prices get cut in the hopes of getting the deal done before year’s end; it’s a good time for intrepid buyers to stay in the game, though, because the competition factor is at a minimum. After reading about Leo DiCaprio who, like Macy’s, Wal-Mart and Kohl’s, jumped the gun on the traditional discount day by price-chopping his haute-holistic Delos Living penthouse, we rounded up some stellar dwellings that received significant markdowns just in time for the popular post-Thanksgiving Day shop-a-thon. So if you’re on the hunt–or you’ve got a two-bed-two-bath-with-killer-views-sized stocking to fill–check out our list of sale merch of the real estate persuasion that–we hope–won't require you to queue up at the crack of dawn.
10 more discounted deals that are better than lords a-leaping
November 27, 2014

What About NYC Are You Most Thankful For? We Ask 10 New Yorkers

That's the question that we've been asking 6sqft's friends and Twitter followers leading up to Thanksgiving. It's easy to get pulled into the NYC complaining vortex (The 6 train is delayed again?! You're raising my rent how much?!), but the reality is that we live in the greatest city in the entire world, and there's plenty here to be thankful for, whether it's something as small as seeing a cute dog on the street or as large as visiting famous museums.
Read the responses we got here
November 26, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Behind the Magic of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Creative Director Wesley Whatley

For one day each year, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade transforms the streets of New York City into the ultimate stage for marching bands, dancers, floats, and of course, giant balloons. As we can all imagine, putting on a parade of this magnitude is no small task. And that's where Wesley Whatley, the Parade's creative director, comes in. Wesley is responsible for overseeing, developing and bringing the creative side of the event to life. His role requires vision, organization and a deep understanding of the parade's history and its importance to both the city and America. Along with his team, he ensures it's a magical event for spectators and television viewers. In anticipation of tomorrow's parade, we spoke with Wesley about selecting marching bands and performers, the logistics of organizing such a large event, and, on a personal note, what parades mean to him.
read the interview with Wesley here
November 26, 2014

Channel Your Inner Olympian in the Marble House Lap Pool for $18.95M

This sumptuous maisonette mansion in the American Express Carriage House appears to have had quite a time of it on the market over the past few years. It was listed earlier this year, merely a year and a half after selling in 2013, and now it’s back with the exact same $18.95 million price tag. That’s nothing if not persistent. The overlooked parcel in question is a 9,300-square-foot triplex with a 44-foot lap pool and a sauna, among other things. The unit was designed by its former owner Stuart Parr, who christened it the Marble House, presumably for its abundance of, well, marble. Whether prospective buyers will find the pad worthy of $2,038-per-square-foot has yet to be determined, but until then let’s take a moment to gawk at the sheer enormity and extravagance of the space.
Take a tour inside
November 26, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Is Jersey City the Next Cultural Hub?; Landmarks Denies Glass Topper for Tammany Hall

Taking a look at the cultural rise of Jersey City. [NYT] Why are Brooklyn neighborhoods getting so hard to tell apart? [NYO] Landmarks Preservation Commission denies BKSK Architect’s glass topper proposal for Tammany Hall. [Curbed] Manhattan’s getting 14 million square feet of office space by 2019. [WSJ] Images: Jersey City via Singing With Light via photopin […]

November 26, 2014

HS2 Architecture’s Grandiose Upper West Side Townhouse Renovation

We're back again with another "well worth the wait" renovation story; this chapter takes us to an Upper West Side townhouse that was recently revamped by HS2 Architecture. The facade of this five-floor home is magnificent on its own, boasting ornate concrete detailing, elaborate windows and a grand front doorway. The overall approach to this renovation was to create more free-flowing spaces that reflect the more contemporary lifestyle of the family.
READ MORE
November 26, 2014

POLL: Are You Eating Turkey for Thanksgiving?

On Monday, we spotlighted Zaid Kurdieh, Greenmarket farmer of Norwich Meadows Farm and talked to him about how he’s preparing for the Thanksgiving turkey rush. There’s a lot more that goes into it than you might think, especially since the farm’s animals are raised halal and humanely. But we were surprised when Zaid mentioned that this […]

November 26, 2014

World Trade Center Transportation Hub Gets Its Final Steel Rafter

Just weeks after One World Trade Center and the Fulton Center Subway Station opened their doors for business, the last of the 114 steel rafters was installed on Santiago Calatrava's long-overdue, majorly over-budget flying bird-looking transportation hub. This is just one of many steel components in the project; it’s made up of 618 steel pieces which weigh more than 12,000 tons. The rafters were supposed to be completed by August, but though they were three months behind schedule, the hub is still expected to open in late 2015.
Read more here
November 26, 2014

NYC Dumpster Transforms into an Inflatable Urban Education Classroom

Well, this gives a whole new meaning to the term "dumpster diving." In Morningside Heights, at 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the New York-based architect John Locke, of the Department of Urban Betterment, has created "inflato dumpster," a blow-up urban education classroom inside of a typical city dumpster. The design team was inspired by the "contemporary fascination with transforming existing street structures into utilitarian spaces for habitation," which led to their combining the seemingly invisible lightness of the inflatable material with the hard, gritty, steel dumpster.
More details on the inflatable dumpster
November 25, 2014

NYC Volunteer Opportunities: Giving Thanks and Giving Back

The season of good cheer–and good food–has begun, but there are many who are left out in the cold. Share the abundance; volunteer your time, your food, or your funds (or all of the above) to help spread real warmth to all New Yorkers. We've rounded up Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities around the city to make it even simpler for you to give back.
Check out our list of ways to get involved
November 25, 2014

Outdo Your Neighbors in This Japanese-Style Queens Home Going for $1.2M (Plus Elbow Grease)

While the rest of New York is vying to live in one of the lofty penthouses of Manhattan's most luxurious buildings, your chance to outdo them all has arrived with this incredible Anglo-Japanese-style home located in Kew Gardens. DNA Info recently spotted a brand new listing for the storied structure on Craigslist. While we'd be lying if we were to say that this home is move-in ready (really, it would easily top our list of NYC's scariest homes) with a little love, a lot of elbow grease, and $1.2 million, you could easily polish this Queens pad into a palace fit for an empress. And hey, it's Craigslist, these prices have bargaining built into them.
More on the home here
November 25, 2014

Thomas Heatherwick Reveals the Inspiration Behind Pier 55 Floating Park

Last week, news broke that billionaire media mogul Barry Diller had been working with the Hudson River Park Trust for the past two years on an idea for an offshore park and performance space in the Hudson River. And though it seemed far-fetched at first, the fact that Diller had personally committed $130 million to the project and that detailed renderings had been created made it see much more plausible. And now Thomas Heatherwick, the British designer behind the Pier 55 floating park, is opening up about how the decrepit West Side piers inspired his vision for the undulating, landscaped "aquatic High Line."
Hear what Heatherwick has to say
November 25, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Debate Continues over Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6; Looking at Coney Island Boardwalk’s Surrounding Neighborhoods

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. defends Pier 6 development with need for potential revenue. [Crain’s] Actor Mark Ruffalo joins the fight against the NYU expansion plan. [NY Post] Coney Island’s boardwalk is experiencing a renaissance, but what about the surrounding neighborhoods? [WSJ] City Council approves the controversial Astoria Cove project. [NYO] Upper East Side residents who […]

November 25, 2014

Jellyfish Barge Floating Greenhouse Purifies Polluted Water While Growing Edibles

Influenced by the World Bank's prediction that the world population will grow to almost 10 billion in the next four decades, and the fact that arable land is scarcest in many of the areas with the highest rates of population growth, the director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology and the architects at Studio Mobile have created the Jellyfish Barge, a floating greenhouse. At only 229 square feet, the sustainably-made, octagonal Jellyfish Barge can purify salt, brackish, or polluted water using solar energy, thereby acting as a module for crop cultivation that doesn’t rely on soil, fresh water, and chemical energy consumption.
More on the floating green house here
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November 25, 2014

Nendo Has Invented an Umbrella with a Cover You’ll Never Lose

Why umbrellas come with covers is beyond us; very few people manage to keep them beyond the first second they pull them off, and where they inevitably end up is a mystery to all. But there's no denying that when you've got a sopping wet umbrella–and no way to dry it–few things would make you happier than having that tiny tube of fabric in tow again. Well, wet umbrella holders need no longer fret over pruney fingers, because the designers over at Nendo have invented an ingenious winter weather product: the "cover-brella," an umbrella with a built-in cover that neatly tucks into the handle when you're not using it.
Check it out here
November 25, 2014

Westchester County’s First Certified Passive House is a Modern Renovation with Harbor Views

Andreas M. Benzing, LEED-certified vice president of the New York Passive House, was the architect in charge of Westchester County's first-ever passive home. Located in a close-knit community in Mamaroneck Harbor, this ultra energy-efficient split-level is actually a re-do of a gutted 1960s home. A modern temple of natural wood and glass, the dwelling features bright modern interiors and takes passive energy from the sun.
Learn more about this stunning Passive Home
November 25, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Vintage Photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; De Robertis Caffé Closing after 110 Years

Check out these amazing vintage photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. [Wired] Why not make your holiday gifts this year? Here’s six arts and crafts classes that won’t break the bank. [Brokelyn] After 110 years as an East Village staple, De Robertis Caffé will close on December 5th. [Bedford + Bowery] Hate schlepping to […]

November 25, 2014

Andrew Franz’s Signature Style Makes a Mark with This Elegant Townhouse in the East Village

The East Village is one of NYC's most sought-after neighborhoods, and this beautiful townhouse located in its landmark district speaks to the area's down-to-earth yet sophisticated and modern appeal. The four-level home recently underwent a massive renovation led by the design team from Andrew Franz Architect. Andrew Franz is known for their seamless integration of outdoor and structural elements, and with many of their projects it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. With their signature style running rampant throughout the space, this stately home is no exception.
Check out the interiors here
November 25, 2014

Live Amongst Priceless Artwork and Furnishings for $65K a Month

Back in March, the owners of this remarkable townhouse listed it, along with such extravagant furnishings as a gold-plated sofa and an oil painting by Frank Sinatra, asking $27 million. We don’t know if prospective buyers were turned off by the lavish furnishings, or if the sellers turned to each other and said, “Wait… we’re selling a gold-plated couch?!” Either way there’s been a change of heart. Now, you can enjoy the five-story home and admire the artwork of Ol’ Blue Eyes for a mere $65 thousand per month, or you can purchase the home outright, unfurnished, for $22 million.
Take a look inside, here
November 24, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: It’s Turkey Time for NYC Greenmarket Farmer Zaid Kurdieh of Norwich Meadows Farm

What does a farm in Norwich, New York have to do with New York City? Well, Norwich Meadows Farm actually serves as a farmer to many New Yorkers. In fact, if you have ever shopped at Union Square or Tompkins Square Greenmarkets, you might have purchased their local, organic fruits, vegetables, eggs and poultry. Perhaps you have even spoken with Zaid Kurdieh, the farm's managing partner. Zaid is responsible for providing New Yorkers with access to local, organic foods at farmers' markets and beyond. He has shares in a number of CSAs and supplies a number of well-known restaurants—which means when you last ordered greens or beets with your meal, they might very well have been his. We recently spoke with Zaid at Union Square's Saturday Greenmarket about providing the city with local, organic foods, how the farm is preparing for Thanksgiving, and their collaboration with Cornell University.
Check out the interview here
November 24, 2014

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones Sell Their Charming Bedford Farmhouse for $7.5M

It looks like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are bidding adieu to their "tiny" six-bedroom, six-bath brick Colonial up in Bedford. According to the LA Times, the couple have just sold the home for $7.5 million—a bit under their $8.1M August asking price, but well above the $5.1 million they originally paid for it. Bedford residents, however, shouldn't say their goodbyes just yet; Michael and Catherine will still be staying in the area. In October, after ending their separation, the pair snagged a $11.25 million, 15,458-square-foot stunner boasting eight bedrooms, 13.5 baths and 13 acres (Talk about a fresh start!). While the recently-sold home is quite demure when compared to their new estate, the updated 1930s farmhouse has plenty of charm and comes complete with 5.7 bucolic acres of its own, surrounded by a horse farm on three sides.
More inside here

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