June 26, 2015

Moooi Makes Stunning Photorealistic Carpets Using iPhone Photos

Dutch design is famous for its daring, playful, and smart solutions, and these photorealistic carpets by Moooi completely exemplify that esthetic. The furniture and lighting brand recently launched Moooi Carpets, a sister company with an advanced print-on-demand technology that allows people to design their own rug -- or choose one from its Signature Collection by the likes of Ross Lovegrove or Christian Lacroix. Featuring extreme high definition and available in immense dimensions that could cover floors, walls, and ceilings, these stunning carpets might be setting a new trend for interior decoration.
Learn more about these customizable carpets
June 26, 2015

QUIZ: Can You Name These Starchitects by Their Distinguishing Features?

Is it his rounded spectacles that give him away? Or is it that perfectly touseled hair? And her? That mane totally says Zaha Hadid. When it comes to architecture you may know your post-modern from your mid-century, but how familiar are you with the famed names that have shaped architecture's most important movements? This fun quiz called The Distinguishing Features Game is quite the brain teaser and comes courtesy of "Archi-Graphic," an upcoming book of more than 60 arch-centric infographics from author, architect and assistant professor at the Faye Jones School of Architecture, University of Arkansas, Frank Jacobus.
Find out more here
June 26, 2015

Study Says Wood Buildings Are Cheaper to Build; New York Wheel Groundbreaking Delayed Again

The world’s oldest person  lives in Brooklyn, and she attributes her longevity to sleep. [NYDN] New study shows that timber buildings can be up to 10-15 percent cheaper to construct than traditional designs. [ArchDaily] Photo exhibition at the Four Seasons pits Philip Johnson’s Glass House against Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. [Untapped] Groundbreaking for the New York Wheel, a.k.a. the […]

June 26, 2015

Chris Meloni of ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Fame Tries Again to Unload Park Imperial Condo

Everyone's favorite "Law & Order" hunk is looking to ditch NYC for good. Christopher Meloni left the incredibly popular television show in 2011 after a 12-year run, relocating with his family to a home in the Hollywood Hills. The following year, he put his 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom Park Imperial condo on the market for $12 million, but after failing to get the asking price, he settled on renting it out for the past several years. Now it's back, asking a significantly reduced $8.95 million (he bought the Midtown West pad for $5.45 million back in 2005), reports the Wall Street Journal.
See what Meloni has to say about his condo
June 25, 2015

2,000 NYCHA Apartments Are Vacant Despite 270,000-Name Waiting List

Photo via Wiki Commons For many New Yorkers, public housing is the only affordable way to live in the city, but despite an ever-growing waiting list, thousands of these homes are sitting empty, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal about an audit of NYCHA by Comptroller Scott Stringer. At a release of the findings yesterday at the Raymond V. Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn, Stringer said: "Even though 270,000 New Yorkers are on the waiting list for housing, desperate to put a roof above their heads, we found that NYCHA is sitting on over 2,000 apartments they identify as vacant." The audit shows that 1,366 apartments are empty awaiting repairs, and 967 are between tenants.
More audit findings ahead
June 25, 2015

$2M Gefter-Press House Was Designed as an Homage to Philip Johnson’s Glass House

This must be the week of glass houses: Yesterday we took a look at Philip Johnson's Wiley House–built as a successor to his world-famous Glass House–which is on the market for $14 million; today we're checking out the $1,950,000 Gefter-Press House, inspired by Johnson's Glass House as well as Mies van der Rohe's Farnswoth House in Plano, IL. The U-shaped, single-story, all-glass-and-steel home was designed in 2007 by Columbia University professor and architect Michael Bell, "as an essay in transparency," according to the listing. He had previously displayed a model of the home at a 1999 MoMA exhibit titled "The Un-Private House." Philip Gefter, the former culture pictures editor at the New York Times, and his partner, filmmaker Richard Press, had seen the model, and called Bell when they were ready to build their own version of the modernist masterpiece on their 12-acre property in Ghent, NY.
Check out the entire home here
June 25, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/25-7/1

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers which start tonight! The dominating celebration of this week and weekend is of course NYC Pride, a city-wide, days-long series of festivities celebrating LGBT, diversity and an overall message of LOVE. If you can't take the crowds during the iconic March, make sure not to miss the screening of "Paris is Burning," which will include a reunion with original cast members. On the art side, enjoy a survey of stencil art at Dorian Grey, while the Gladstone Gallery will be transforming its walls into literal art works. The Lower East Side Printshop shows off its most recent artists in residence, and Chashama's Harlem space will be hosting a show about Spinozan ethics (go to at least find out what that means). Artist Andrew Jeffrey Wright blends art, comedy and a dance party (together at last!) and innovative fashion collective threeASFOUR creates a fashion-meets-art installation for you and your dog on the beach in Fire Island.
All the best events here
June 25, 2015

VIDEO: Here’s What It Was Like to Live in 1960s Greenwich Village, a ‘Countrified Cosmopolitan’

Yes, the 1960s were a rocky period; a turning point for a nation at war and an era that birthed a counterculture movement that would transform the world as everyone knew it. But amongst all the chaos, life went on in NYC. And in Greenwich Village things were especially great. We recently uncovered this fun little film that takes viewers through the trends and lifestyles that permeated throughout the beloved neighborhood. Although the times were far different—apartments were filled with struggling creatives like Dylan Thomas, Norman Mailer and Bob Dylan versus wealthy celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sarah Jessica Parker—the life that's depicted isn't all that different from what the neighborhood's uber-rich residents enjoy today. Daily habits, or "chores" as the video calls them, ranged from "minding the laundry, browsing through antique shops for possible bargains, or discovering a rare volume in a quaint bookstore." Folks would then of course follow up all that work up with a "relaxing moment" at one of the many sidewalk cafes where they'd find an artist ready to draw them.
Watch the video here
June 25, 2015

Bloomberg’s Ex Lists Her Noho Pad for $12M; China’s Richest Man Buys in the Adirondacks

Susan Brown, Mayor Bloomberg’s ex-wife, is asking $11.7M for her NoHo penthouse. [NYDN] China’s wealthiest man just purchased 28,100 acres of land in the Adirondacks for $23M. [NYDN] Poor whites tend to live in wealthier neighborhoods than do middle class blacks and Latinos, a new study reveals. [Washington Post] The New York City Economic Development Corp […]

June 25, 2015

Workshop/APD’s ‘Crafted Modern’ Hudson Views Home Grows out of an Old Ranch

anchCan you believe this grand contemporary home was once a ranch? The architects in charge of the surprising renovation, NY-based Workshop/APD, updated a traditional '60s ranch building, retaining much of its original shape. Situated in Briarcliff Manor, the aptly named Hudson Views home boasts sweeping river views and its original gabled roof, and it still sits atop the ranch's original foundation dating back to its agricultural days.
Learn more about the home
June 25, 2015

Landmarks Preservation Commission Maps 150 Years of LGBTQ History in Greenwich Village

We're right in the middle of NYC Pride Week, and this Sunday will be filled with festivities surrounding the 45th annual Pride Parade, the largest parade of its kind in the world. And in a perfectly timed decision, the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced on Tuesday that it had designated the Stonewall Inn as the city's first LGBT landmark. The LPC now has even more to share, releasing a fun new interactive map called Taking Pride, which documents 150 years of LGBTQ history in Greenwich Village, the hub for gay activism in the city, and even the world.
READ MORE
June 25, 2015

100 Years Ago the BMT Subway Changed Brooklyn; New App Gives Access to Clean Public Bathrooms

Here’s an interview with Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design, notable for their colorful and whimsical designs, as well as an inside look at their work studio. [Design Milk] A new app called SpotPog lets Brooklynites identify street parking spots, reserve them, and offer a spot to someone else. [Next City] Another app, this one called Looie, gives users access […]

June 25, 2015

$2M Townhouse in Downtown Brooklyn Has a Goldfish Pond and 30 Types of Flowers

Sitting on a quiet block of colorful, historic homes in Vinegar Hill (okay, Downtown Brooklyn, but minor details...) is the perfect three-bedroom townhouse for a budding family. The 100-year-old storybook home covers 1,878 square feet and features a shady landscaped backyard with more than 30 types of flowers, a stone goldfish pond, and a winding path. And it's back on the market for $1.995 million.
Check it out here
June 24, 2015

Following a Meticulous Renovation, Philip Johnson’s Wiley House Is on the Market for $14M

The listing says it's "perhaps the ultimate Mid-Century Modern home available in the world." We can't confirm or deny that statement, but we can assure you that this property, Philip Johnson's Wiley House, is a pretty incredible piece of modern architecture. Located in New Canaan, the same Connecticut town as the architect's world-famous Glass House, the Wiley House is considered the most "livable" of all Johnson's works. It was built in the 1950s, sits on six acres of land, and is "a transparent glass rectangle cantilevered over a stone podium," according to the Wall Street Journal. Wall Street executive Frank Gallipoli bought the property for $1 million in 1994, a time when buying modernist homes was not as popular as it is today. He then spent millions more to restore the property, preserving Johnson's original design, but adding green upgrades like heat-insulating glass panes and floor heating. Gallipoli told the Journal that living in the home is like being "up in a treehouse."
Check out the rest of this amazing property
June 24, 2015

Looking at NYC’s 10 Scenic Landmarks and What Sets Them Apart from Other Public Parks

Since 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the New York City landmarks law, we've been talking a lot about historic buildings–those that have been saved, those that were destroyed, secrets of some of the city's most famous spots. We even discovered that there are two landmarked individual trees. And starting tomorrow, the New York City Parks Department is hosting a new exhibit at the Arsenal in Central Park called Living Landmarks, which takes a look at nine of the city's ten scenic landmarks, showcasing "their contributions to landscape design and to the dynamism of the city through historical and contemporary photography, renderings, maps, artifacts, and memorabilia." Many of these, like Central Park, Prospect Park, and Bryant Park, are no brainers, while others like Verdi Square, Fort Tryon, and Ocean Parkway, are a little more under-the-radar.
See the rest and find out what makes these public spaces landmark-worthy
June 24, 2015

First Look: Andrés Jaque’s Wild, Water-Purifying ‘COSMO’ Now Open at MoMA PS1!

"COSMO" has officially brought the party to MoMA PS1. The winning project of MoMA PS1's 16th Young Architects Program (YAP) is now open for public viewing in the museum affiliate's courtyard. "COSMO: Give me a pipe and I will move/celebrate the Earth," which was designed by Andrés Jaque/Office for Political Innovation, is a moveable artifact made from customized irrigation components that puts out an effort to make visible–and enjoyable–the hidden urbanism of the water pipes we live by. We stopped by the courtyard earlier today as "COSMO" got its finishing touches, and we must say, this installation looks as incredible as its renderings.
Your first look here
June 24, 2015

The World’s Largest Geodesic Dome Home on Long Island Now Selling for $1M

We've featured this incredible green dome home on 6sqft before, but now comes word that this spectacular dwelling has hit the market for $1 million. The home, located at 1489 Sound Avenue in Calverton on Long Island, is the world's largest geodesic dome home, measuring a massive 70 feet in diameter, 45 feet high, with 5,850 square feet at its disposal. In fact, according to its owner Kevin Shea, it's so big that "two traditional homes can fit inside!"
Have a look inside
June 24, 2015

Mike Myers Selling Two Soho Apartments for $21.5M; South Street Seaport Named an Endangered Historic Place

Mike Myers ups the ante on his penthouse listing, adding another unit and a few extra million dollars to the price tag. [Curbed] South Street Seaport is one of the nation’s most endangered historic places. [Crain’s] The developer of the Rheingold Brewery site in Bushwick is allegedly trying to nix including any affordable housing. [DNA […]

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June 24, 2015

‘Sofa So Good’ Is Finnish Designer Janne Kyttanen’s Latest 3D Printed Piece

Finnish designer and conceptual artist Janne Kyttanen first fell in love with 3D printing while studying at Amsterdam's Gerrit Rietveld Academy. After graduating, he soon started imagining a future where products would be scaled down into digital files and people could just download any design they liked. His "Sofa So Good" piece is one of his latest and most intricate 3D printed designs, which joins a wide collection of objects he's created that includes lamps, tables and packaging as well as ping-pong paddles and futuristic shoes.
Learn more about sofa so good
June 24, 2015

Whole Foods Is Ripping Us Off; The Strange Collections Jay Maisel Left Behind at 190 Bowery

Keith Haring’s six-story Statue of Liberty mural is going up for auction. [NYP] Turns out there is some validity to the “Whole Paycheck” nickname for Whole Foods. The grocery store has been overcharging for pre-packaged foods. [Gothamist] Past and present: Manhattan Beach’s “Apartcot” bungalow colony. [Brownstoner] According to an interview with real estate investor Aby […]

June 24, 2015

POLL: How Do You Like the Nordstrom Tower’s New Name, Central Park Tower?

We knew the name Nordstrom Tower wasn’t going to stick; the unofficial moniker came only from the fact that the building will have a Nordstrom department store at its base. And just a week after news hit that the supertall from Extell will be the country’s highest by roof height, we’ve learned the official name: Central Park […]

June 24, 2015

Renderings Revealed for Pacific Park Mega-Development’s Eight-Acre Green Space

Formerly known as Atlantic Yards, Pacific Park Brooklyn will be a 22-acre site anchored by the Barclays Center in Prospect Heights and containing eight million square feet of mixed-use development that includes 16 condo towers and 2,250 units of affordable housing, as well as an eight-acre park. Almost a year ago, developers Forest City Ratner Companies and Greenland USA (now merged as Greenland Forest City Partners) announced that they'd chosen Thomas Balsley Associates to design the green space. And now, we're finally seeing the first set of renderings for the public space, in addition to a master plan. The Daily News first shared the renderings, showing "the long, meandering park, which will follow the footprint of the new towers." The outdoor space will boast a public plaza and promenade, toddler and children's play areas, a bocce ball court, basketball court, dog run, glowing lanterns, sloping lawns, and a water garden.
More details ahead
June 24, 2015

$3M Brooklyn Heights Duplex Features Huge Outdoor Living Area Complete with a Fire Pit

Here's a $2.995 million garden duplex at 132 State Street in Brooklyn Heights with a gorgeous private backyard. The 25-foot-wide brownstone apartment features 2,275 square feet on the garden and parlor levels. And it's almost an insult to call the 1,000-square-foot rear garden "just" a backyard. It's actually more like an outdoor living room, but we'll get to that later.
More pics inside
June 23, 2015

INTERVIEW: Fōz Design’s Fauzia Khanani, a Young Architect Goes Solo in NYC

Apart from Zaha Hadid, Jeanne Gang and Annabelle Selldorf, very few women in architecture manage to grab headlines like their male counterparts. But a relative newcomer named Fauzia Khanani is hoping to help change all of that. Fauzia started her practice, Fōz Design, back in 2011 with a single project in upstate New York. Since then, she's grown what was then a huge leap of faith into a full-fledged design studio working on residential, commercial office and public spaces from New York to California. We recently caught up with Fauzia to learn more about what it's been like to go out on her own in such competitive city, the challenges of being a female minority architect in world being designed by men, and how taking a "reflective design" approach can really improve a space.
Read our interview with Fauzia here
June 23, 2015

3 World Trade Center Gets Update to Better Complement Its Bjarke Ingels-Designed Neighbor

Ever since starchitect Bjarke Ingels revealed renderings for 2 World Trade Center (after taking over the design from Norman Foster), the building has been the talk of the architecture world, especially since Ingels has been so generous about giving interviews to the press. The tower has now even influenced the architects of 3 World Trade Center (a.k.a. 175 Greenwich Street) to rethink their design. As Yimby reports, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have amended their plan for the third-tallest building on the site to have a more streamlined roof, now void of its spires, to better complement 2 World Trade.
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