August 15, 2014

Technicon Design’s IXION Windowless Jet Offers Panoramic Views of What’s Outside

Admit it--you've perfected your selfie pose. And now that you've got the duck face and skinny arm down pat, why not explore the art of the skyline selfie? We're not talking an upward-gazing shot of the Empire State Building or semi-panoramic view of Manhattan; we mean full-on aerial photos taken from 40,000 feet up in the air. That's exactly what the IXION windowless jet from Technicon Design is doing. The firm's groundbreaking new design has removed windows from the cabin and, using near-future technology, displays the surrounding environment on interior cabin surfaces via external cameras. Not only does this provide incredible views, but greens the aircraft by reducing weight (thereby requiring less fuel and maintenance), simplifying construction, and opening doors for a variety of design possibilities. To boot, expansive solar panels would power the on-board, low-voltage systems, creating a one-of-a-kind visual for the jet's exterior body.
More on the sky-high design here
August 15, 2014

Jed Johnson-Designed Prewar Stunner Sells for $10.3 Million to Hedge Funder David Steinhardt

Dune Realty CEO Daniel Neidich has just sold his gorgeous six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath Yorkville apartment for $10.25 million to David Steinhardt, the son of "Wall Street's greatest trader", Michael Steinhardt, according to city records filed yesterday. This Austere apartment is certainly a sight to behold with its spectacular finishes and expansive views. Designed by such notable names as Jed Johnson, along with Alan Wanzenberg and Thad Hayes, its no wonder this home is the perfect blend of formal entertaining and luxurious living.
Trust us. You want to take a look inside this home...
August 15, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Chloe Stinetorf on Her Delectable Cookie Dough Delivery Upstart, Chloe Doughy

Chloe Stinetorf is the New York City cookie fairy. Each month, her company Chloe Doughy delivers two tubs of cookie dough to apartments and offices across Manhattan and in parts of Brooklyn. And while she doesn’t fly with sparkly wings to make deliveries, her staff can be found riding around on Citi Bikes. In return for her delectable service, all she asks is that New Yorkers focus on the important part of baking: being with friends and family. Of course, Chloe also wants bakers to enjoy all the fun that comes from scooping dough, eagerly waiting as the cookies bake, and that first fresh-out-of-the-oven bite. Thanks to Chloe Doughy’s membership delivery service, New Yorkers—who want to bake at midnight, need cookies for their children's school, or have to prepare dessert for that last minute-dinner party—can now bake without the hassle. Over iced teas in Chelsea, 6sqft spoke with Chloe and learned how Chloe Doughy is changing the way the city bakes cookies.
Read our interview with Chloe
August 15, 2014

$3M Turn-of-the-Century Clinton Hill Brownstone is Not Updated or Modern – and Absolutely Stunning

The minute we laid eyes on the interior of this 4,400-square-foot home at 331 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill we knew we happened upon something special. While it’s true the million dollar listings we typically feature boast some of the most gorgeously renovated spaces in the city, there’s no denying the timeless beauty of this turn-of-the-century residence built in 1899. Located in the heart of the Clinton Hill Historic District, the dramatic scale and original details at every turn evoke the grandeur of Brooklyn’s most prestigious homes. The gracious parlor entrance with an original pier mirror and striking dark wood staircase sets the tone for the rest of the interior. Sure the treads on the stairs are worn and tattered, but look at that gorgeous wood; a little refinishing and your entryway will be transformed into a magnificent first impression.
Check out the incredible home here
August 15, 2014

NYC Events 8/15: Run Free Down Park Avenue; Sip Cocktails with Architects or Party with Artists in Red Hook

Another summer weekend is upon us and we can't wait to get out the office and into the city. This weekend Manhattan's Summer Streets is back, and New Yorkers are invited to stroll (or bike) up and down Park Avenue, which will not only be closed to moving traffic, but jam packed with countless activities, music and food the whole way through. And if you decide to take this car-free jaunt, be sure to check out Ewerdt Hilgemann's sparkling sculptures along the pedestrian median. Once you've got your fair share if sunshine, head on over to the AIA NY's happy hour and mingle with architects and their fans. If art is more your thing, get to know Newark's public art community and their ideas over drinks at the NeWWalls mixer. And finally, for graffiti art and heady assemblages pay visits to the exhibitions at Tabla Rasa Gallery and Pioneer Works in Red Hook—the latter followed with a wild after party, of course.
More details on all the best events here
August 14, 2014

The Architecture of Cesar Pelli: How a Sense of Place Left a Lasting Mark on the NYC Skyline

Growing up just west of the Andes Mountains in the small town of Tucumán in northwest Argentina, Cesar Pelli wasn't exposed to the vibrant cityscapes that he today helps to shape. He got his start designing low-cost, affordable housing for the Argentine government, which helped him develop an appreciation for each project's unique sense of place. Breaking from the traditional mold of many world-famous architects, he designed buildings as a response to their neighborhoods, not as a preconceived signature aesthetic. Now, with a long list of acclaimed international projects to his name, Pelli is lauded for creating structures that honor a city's history and enrich the local landscape. And here in New York City, home to some of his most celebrated works, the Pelli mark has making an indelible impression on the architecture and real estate fields.
We dive deeper into Cesar Pelli's past, present, and future
August 14, 2014

Morningside Heights: From Revolutionary Battle to Columbia University Campus

Today, it's hard to imagine Morningside Heights without the flurry of students hurrying to class at Columbia University. It may be even harder to imagine it without some of its signature architecture: the gothic Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest cathedral in the world, Riverside Church, with its former bowling alley, or Grant's Tomb along the Hudson River. But Morningside Heights got an exciting start in the history of New York City (and America, as it turns out)!
The incredible story of Morningside Heights, from past to present, this way
August 14, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Record Breaking Sale at the San Remo; NYC Gets Its First Enclosed Mall in Over 40 Years

A combo 6,000 square-foot luxury pad at the San Remo just sold for a record-breaking $26.4 million. [NYO] A 33-story tower designed by Woods Bagot is coming to Downtown Brooklyn. The new building will include a hotel and 381 apartments. [Curbed] More buyers are heading to Harlem in search of seeking cheaper luxury apartments. [Crain’s] The Mall at […]

August 14, 2014

Jonathan Adler’s Shelter Island Vacation Home is Part Modernist Fantasy Part Rustic Beach Retreat

This beautiful Shelter Island vacation home is the place where two of New York City’s most creative minds take a break from it all. We're  of course talking about interior designer Jonathan Adler and fashion guru Simon Doonan, who with the help of Gray Organschi Architectural Studio created their dream seafront property by mixing rustic and contemporary designs to create a truly stylish aesthetic. Located in a secluded area on Crab Creek, this lush retreat is modernist expression with an explosion of color inside.
Learn more about this celebrity vacation home here
August 14, 2014

When Looking at Manhattan’s Condo Sales the Downtown Market Reigns Supreme

Though everything seems to slow to a glacial pace during the summertime months, a sluggish market wasn't the case for condo sales the week of July 14th. Buyers steadily scooped up prime properties with the city so far recording 249 condo and co-op sales. Manhattan's biggest buys came via the usual suspects—Flatiron's One Madison, and uptown faves Carnegie Hill and the Arpthorp—with deals ranging from $10.1 million up to $14.5 million. According to CityRealty's Market Insight report, although the city's top exchanges registered above 23rd Street, when eyeing contracts closed over the last 90 days, it looks like Downtown Manhattan reigned supreme when it came to the highest number of units sold (337), and the top prices garnered per square foot ($2,077 and $2,047 in the West Village and Soho, respectively). Overall, the area recorded an impressive $1 billion in total sales over the last three months.
All the details in graph form here
August 14, 2014

Daily Link Fix: ‘Dream, Girl’ Wants To Change The Image of A Boss; Upcycled Bicycle Seats Transformed Into Mini Green Spaces

Channel Your Inner Beach Bum: If you’re thinking, “Where am I supposed to learn how to surf in the NYC area that doesn’t require me to go to Long Island?” That’s where Rockaway Beach and Locals Surf School come in. Cool Hunting features the year-round school founded by two former competitive surfers Support Girls’ Dreams […]

August 14, 2014

Jonah Hill Puts Soho Loft on the Market for $3.8 Million, Looking to Make a $1 Million Profit

Looks like celebrities like flipping, too. Just two years after Jonah Hill bought his Soho loft at 27 Howard Street for $2.65 million, he's put it back on the market for over a million dollars more. Now listed at $3,795,00, this full-floor, 2,000-square-foot pad was originally a two-bedroom when Hill moved in, but it's currently configured as a massive one-bedroom space. And with an estimated net worth of $30 million, why not spread out and live the good life?
Check out the rest of this A-lister's digs here
August 14, 2014

Extra! Extra! Read All About.…This Exquisite Newswalk Condo in Prospect Heights

Built in 1927, 535 Dean Street once housed the printing facility for the New York Daily News. For over 70 years the nightly presses delivered the latest local happenings to millions of New Yorkers in time for their morning coffee. These days, thanks to a 2002 condo conversion, residents can read their morning paper in grand style (though we aren’t sure if the New York Times is permitted on the premises).
Extra! Extra! Read More About It!
August 14, 2014

$2.3 Million Prospect-Lefferts Garden Townhouse Could be a Historic Movie Set

When you've traveled the world making documentaries about topics ranging from the "greening" of Big Oil to life in North Korea, you're probably a little hard to impress. So this circa 1898 Romanesque Revival townhouse really must have made an impression on filmmaker Peter Yost. He and his wife snatched up the circa 1898 house at 66 Midwood Street in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens for $2.3 million according to city records, coming in over the $1,975,000 listing price. The five-bedroom house has been renovated to both preserve its historic elements and provide updated, modern amenities.
Ogle all of the home's period details
August 14, 2014

Could You Live on a 9 x 18 NYC Public Parking Space?

Earlier this year, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) unveiled new ideas for public housing--in a parking lot on its Atlanta campus. SCADpads, as they're called, reimagined the common public park space as a solution to the growing need for sustainable, efficient housing worldwide. Now, a team of architect-fellows at the Institute for Public Architecture are building on the same idea, proposing ways to turn unused public parking spaces in New York City into housing, co-working spaces, bike-share stations, playgrounds, and farmers markets. The group is called 9 x 18, the size of a typical parking spot, and they have reevaluated the current zoning laws surrounding parking and affordable housing, using the Carver Houses in East Harlem neighborhood as a case study.
More about the new ideas
August 14, 2014

A Garden in the East Village? This $1.9 Million Condo Has Two

A lucky new owner just nabbed a charming little oasis in the heart of the East Village for $1.9 million, according to city records. And while you might be thinking an “East Village oasis” is a blatant oxymoron, this quiet little condo begs to differ. The property is almost like a secret garden in the city; hidden in a bustling neighborhood as opposed to being among the grounds of a vast manor. In fact, take a look inside this cozy unit, and you might forget all about the throngs of college students frequenting the bars right around the corner. Now that’s pretty impressive.
Find out more of this condo's secrets, here
August 13, 2014

Curb Appeal: The Psychology of Moving Buyers from Cab to Curb to Contract

Great neighborhood? Check. Great apartment? Check. Curb appeal? Killer first impressions can be long lasting — and whether it’s a newly advertised flavor of Ben & Jerry’s, an ad for Tory Burch’s latest shoe collection —or finding new digs, “love at first sight” spot-on marketing moments play a sizeable role in how we make our decisions. Industry experts note that a large percentage of a house hunter's decision to explore a property further than the curb is based the project’s “wow” factor. Truth is, it sets the “perception” stage of what’s to come beyond a grand entrance or swanky lobby that was designed to provide a sense of arrival and belonging. Obviously, at the end of the day, a building’s outside will only persuade potential buyers to see more, and first impressions can vary from one individual to the next, but the “I was meant to live here” moment is fairly universal.
How a building's design tugs at your desire to 'be someone'
August 13, 2014

Live in the Plywood Version of Philip Johnson’s Glass House for $1.6M

Philip Johnson is best known for his use of glass, and his iconic Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, is without question his most famous work. But did you know that Johnson also dabbled in plywood construction? In fact, the architect designed several wood homes in the forestlands of Connecticut, including the Wiley Speculative House. The home was the first (and ultimately, only) of Johnson's "speculative houses" planned for a large scale residential development headed by the Wiley Development Corporation in 1954. Though built without a hitch, and despite Wiley's willingness to replicate the home for anyone, anywhere in Connecticut's Fairfield County, Wiley's hope for a Johnson-designed development flopped as nobody wanted to pay $45,000 to live in one of the houses. As a result, the Wiley Speculative House saw a somewhat sad fate and remained under the ownership of Wiley's trust until it was sold off a year later. Since then, the home has changed hands at least nine times, and now nearly 60 years later it's for grabs again, this time for $1.575 million.
More on the lesser-known Johnson house here
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August 13, 2014

Real Estate Wire: What Lies Behind the Pepsi Sign; NYC Construction Spending Jumps 50%

Tour the new Long Island City residential building that sits behind the Pepsi sign. [Curbed] Extell is bringing a 52-story, 710,907-square-foot residential building to 41st Street and 5th Avenue. The company spent $16.46M on the development and to acquire the air rights from nearby St. Raphael’s Church. [CO] Spending on NYC residential construction has jumped […]

August 13, 2014

Colorful Shelter Island Pavilion is a Sustainable Take on Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion

Keeping the plan of Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion in mind, New York-based architects Stamberg Aferiat created an eye-catching, colorful home. Built using industrially produced materials and current sustainable principles, the home features seemingly disjointed planes that create the overall geometry of the structure. Located in the island with the same name, the Shelter Island Pavilion is an experiment in color, shape, and sustainability.
Learn more about this striking sustainable home here
August 13, 2014

Fort Greene Co-op Puts You Squarely in the Middle of Brownstone Paradise

There’s a reason Forgotten New York toyed with the label “Brownstone Paradise” for Fort Greene’s South Portland Avenue and Time Out New York named it one of the “50 Best Blocks in NYC”: living here is like owning a little slice of heaven. When you think of a classic brownstone, 21 South Portland Avenue is exactly what comes to mind – along with all of its similar-looking neighbors on both sides of the street. On closer inspection, the varying ornamentation becomes apparent, and each building exudes its own distinct personality, contributing to the street’s reputation as one of Brooklyn’s most coveted and gorgeous.
Check out what's inside this beautiful brownstone
August 13, 2014

Spanx Founder Sara Blakely Makes $18 Million Profit on 15 Central Park West Apartment Sale

That's right, $18 million. According to city records, Spanx founder and self-made billionaire Sara Blakely sold her apartment at 15 Central Park West for $30 million, almost triple the $12.11 million she paid for it in 2008. The sale comes on the heels of CityRealty releasing its CityRealty 100 list of most expensive homes in the city, on which 15 Central Park West is listed first. The prestigious, Robert A.M. Stern-designed building has an average price per square foot of $6,288 (the Time Warner Center, which came in second has an average of $4,689) and it also holds the priciest condo sale through the second quarter of 2014 at $48 million.
More about Blakely's highly profitable sale
August 13, 2014

454 Rugby Road Joins the Million-Dollar-Sale Club in Victorian Flatbush

We tend to feature a lot of historic townhouses, and while we love these brownstone beauties, it's always a treat when we come across the less-common Victorian home. Not surprisingly, this charming, free-standing house is located in Ditmas Park West, part of what is known as Victorian Flatbush. Built in 1905, the home at 454 Rugby Road recently sold for $1,975,000 million according to city records, almost $100,000 above the asking price and not far behind another recent Rugby Road sale that was one of the most expensive in the neighborhood to date.
See why this painted lady is a deserving member of Victorian Flatbush's Million-Dollar Club
August 13, 2014

Michael Douglas Gets a New Neighbor with the Sale of This $8.6 Million Kenilworth Co-Op

Andrea Stern, daughter of real estate developer Leonard Stern, has just sold her ‘70s chic apartment in the Kenilworth for $8.575 million, according to city records. The new residents will not only be able to enjoy living in a home that looks like a pared down set for Behind the Candelabra; they’ll actually be able to call the made-for-TV movie’s star Michael Douglas, and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones, neighbors. But, as impressive as that sounds, we’re pretty sure the eight-room, corner apartment on the Gold Coast of Central Park West speaks for itself.
Take a look inside this throwback chic pad...

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