October, 2015 | 6sqft

October 13, 2015

The Enveloppe Sofa by Inga Sempe Is as Great as Spooning

Sometimes after a long day at work you can almost hear your couch calling your name. But by introducing the Enveloppe Sofa by Inga Sempe into your living room, your most beloved piece of furniture will actually welcome you home with a well-deserved hug. The curved design of the couch can be enjoyed solo, with a friend or a loved one.
find out more here

October 13, 2015

Upper East Side Townhouse by Blair Harris Boasts Opulent Details and Regal Allure

By Rebecca Paul

Blair Harris Interior Design is relatively new to the New York design scene, but the work they've been churning out thus far is simply stunning. This beautifully decorated Upper East Side townhouse boasts an array of opulent textures, colors, and patterns, and the carefully curated furniture and light fixtures give the home a regal allure. The architectural details include floor-to-ceiling windows, ornate ceiling medallions, handsome molding, and decadent built-ins.
Take a look around

We May Soon Be Free of Those Horrid Taxi TV Screens

Image via

October 13, 2015

We May Soon Be Free of Those Horrid Taxi TV Screens

By Diane Pham

Those annoying taxi TV screens that can turn a great night into one of frustration and fury as you fumble to hit the mute button may finally be silenced once and for all. According to the Post, the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will vote this Thursday night on whether or not the screens should be removed in favor of smartphone or tablet payment systems. As it stands, sources say that the the proposal will most likely pass. Apparently officials have been "flooded" for years with complaints about the TVs and they've also been a big reason that riders opting for Ubers as an alternative to the yellow cab, the agency admits.
Find out more here

October 13, 2015

Historic Ship May Become Real Estate Development in Gowanus; Halloween Windows at Bergdorf

By Dana Schulz

Department store windows aren’t just for Christmas anymore. Bergdorf Goodman has created a spooky Halloween display inspired by the horror film “Crimson Peak.” [Town & Country] Inside this massive Gowanus garage, a man is collecting and repairing 58 classic cars from the ’40s and ’50s. [Core 77] Two years after the Village Voice moved from its […]

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October 13, 2015

Mayor de Blasio Supports Plan for $11B Underground Cross-Harbor Freight Tunnel

By Dana Schulz

Now that he's done battling the state for MTA funding, perhaps Mayor de Blasio can set his sights on the Port Authority and the long-proposed Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel. Representative Jerrold Nadler has been pushing for the freight rail tunnel for three decades, but the Bloomberg administration was strongly against it. Now, Nadler has a supporter in de Blasio, and the Port Authority is even studying the plan, which calls for a tunnel running from Jersey City to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and another into Queens and Long Island. Why do politicians feel a multibillion-dollar tunnel is necessary? WNYC points out that NYC is the most truck-dependent city in the nation. Ninety percent of the 400 million tons of freight that come through the city each year travel by truck. The reason is that "New York City has no direct link to the national freight rail network, so goods coming into the ports and rail yards in New Jersey mostly cross the river by truck." Nadler has claimed that the new tunnel would take 2,500 trucks off the Hudson River crossings every day, thereby reducing pollution and the price of goods.
Find out more

Transit

October 12, 2015

New Renderings of One Vanderbilt Show the 1,500-Foot Tall Tower Set in the Skyline

By Diane Pham

Outside of a $1.1 billion lawsuit, news on the One Vanderbilt front has been relatively quiet. The supertall tower received unanimous approval back in May by the City Council and since then demo at the site has been underway. But now, NY Yimby has gotten ahold of some new renderings that offer additional views of the KPF-designed tower—in particular, how the 1,500-foot behemoth will fit in with the existing NYC skyline. Once the building is constructed, it will be one of the tallest skycrapers in the city with a roof height exceeding that of One World Trade's. And as noted by YIMBY, One Vanderbilt will also be the first building in Midtown east to surpass the Chrysler Building in height (which, if you look closely at the above rendering, you can see demurely reflected in the building's glass).
see more here

October 12, 2015

INTERVIEW: ADFF Founder Kyle Bergman Invites You to Revel in Architecture Films All This Week!

By Diane Pham

Attention all film, architecture and architecture film buffs! This week marks the start of the seventh annual Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF). For six glorious days, from October 13th-18th, New Yorkers are invited to enjoy more than 30 feature-length and short films centered on, you guessed it, architecture and design. While many of you may be thinking that watching a two-plus hour movie about a building is a guaranteed snoozer, ADFF's Kyle Bergman would most definitely argue otherwise. We recently caught up with the festival founder and architect who turned the once five-film gathering into a multi-city phenomenon that has captured the eyes, ears and hearts of not just design professionals, but folks from all walks of life looking to be inspired and moved by great cinema. Learn more about how the festival came to be and what's in store for this year's ADFF ahead. **BONUS: 6sqft readers can enjoy special discount on tickets! Just enter the code “FLOOR” at check out.**
read the interview with Kyle here

October 12, 2015

Fashion Photographer Francesco Carrozzini Asks $16M for Historic Greenwich Village Townhouse

By Emily Nonko

This Greenwich Village townhouse at 88 MacDougal Street is full-on historic from the outside, and completely chic once you walk through the doors. The seller is fashion photographer Francesco Carrozzini, who the Daily News says is singer Lana Del Rey's boyfriend, and who has photographed the likes of Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell, Beyonce, and Heidi Klum. He bought it seven years ago for $6.8 million and is now trying to make a big profit with an ask of $16 million. Will that high price fly for this renovated townhouse, which includes a retractable rooftop penthouse and deck? Last year, it was on the rental market for $16,000 a month.
Check it out to decide

October 12, 2015

Landmarks Gets Started on 25-Year Backlog; A Manhattan Studio Asking Less Than $1,000/Month

By Dana Schulz

After withdrawing its plan to de-calendar 95 historic sites that had been on backlog for 25 years, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has begun public hearings for these places. [WSJ] A new report shows that NYCHA residents see little benefit from gentrification in their neighborhoods. [NYDN] The 1920s Green Point Savings Bank in Prospect Heights will be […]

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October 12, 2015

Supertall Towers Getting Multimillion-Dollar Antenna Systems to Ensure Good Cell Reception

By Dana Schulz

"If I can't text, I'm moving" is the title of a New York Times article that looks at the growing issue of cell phone reception in supertall towers. Of course, the main problem arises in sky-high units that are above cell tower antennas or are in the path of other signals, but new construction methods are also getting in the way. Thick concrete walls, reinforced steel floors, and low-emission windows all can weaken, if not altogether block, wireless signals. "To correct this issue, developers are installing elaborate in-house wireless networks to boost coverage within projects ranging from new rental towers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to condominium conversions in the 1913 Woolworth Building in Manhattan," the paper explains.
More on the trend

October 12, 2015

This Seesaw Table Was Designed to Keep You Alert During Meal Times

By Rebecca Paul

It may not be ideal for that already-awkward Tinder date, but this cool seesaw table, also known as De Tafelwip, is perfect when vying for a loved one's full attention. The table's design was inspired by Dutch designer Marleen Jansen's thesis project called "being forced voluntarily" that examined the subject of table manners. Her intention was to create a product that would inherently prevent people from walking away from the table while eating dinner, and as far as we can tell, she was certainly successful in this pursuit.
More ahead

October 12, 2015

Specht Harpman Transforms an Awkward 425-Square-Foot Apartment Into an Open Space Oasis

By Rebecca Paul

Buying property in NYC sometimes requires a little imagination, as it did for this Upper West Side micro loft, first purchased for $95,000 by its current owner Huxley Somerville back in 1994. Somerville, who is a managing director at a commercial mortgage-backed securities division, had almost gone to school to study architecture, so he was able to recognize the potential in this awkward 425-square-foot brownstone apartment. Finally in 2009, after living abroad and subletting the place for many years, Somerville teamed up with the architecture firm Specht Harpman to turn his open-space vision into a reality.
See the transformation

October 12, 2015

Ditch Columbus Day for National Native Americans’ Day; JFK Airport Gets a Potato Farm

By Alyssa Alimurung

It’s Columbus Day, but it’s also National Native Americans’ Day. Take a look at the Museum of the City of New York’s gallery of the Blackfeet Tribe. [MCNY] JFK has an urban garden outside of Terminal 5 that provides potatoes for JetBlue’s Terra Blue chips that are complimentary to passengers. [Grist] If your two favorite […]

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October 12, 2015

State and City Finally Agree on Funding Plan for the Debt-Ridden MTA

By Dana Schulz

After months of squabbling over who's responsible for funding repairs and expansions of NYC's transit system, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio reached an agreement on Saturday to keep the MTA's $26.1 billion, five-year capital plan on track. The state will put in $8.3 billion and the city $2.5 billion (much more than de Blasio's original $657 million planned contribution). However, Cuomo was clear that their commitment won't come from increasing taxes and that he's confident the money can be found in the existing state budget. The city, too, said it would not raise taxes, but rather take $1.9 billion from city funds and the rest from sources that could include development rights or rezoning. The agreement still leaves the MTA $700 million short of its total, but the agency hopes to close the gap by finding "further efficiencies."
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October 12, 2015

This Well-Preserved $1.95M Ditmas Park Victorian Has Lots of Perfect Spots to Soak Up Some Sun

By Michelle Cohen

This well-preserved two-and-a-half-story (plus basement), six-bedroom single-family Victorian house at 447 Rugby Road in Ditmas Park has a small-town vibe–from the big, wide front porch that's just waiting for that porch swing to the very chill upstairs sun porch perfect for catching the last warm autumn rays. But there's big-city subway access and plenty to do within a few blocks, and a citified price of $1.95 million, a number that wouldn't have been seen in this lovely and historic neighborhood a few years back.
Tour this pretty piece of Brooklyn history

October 11, 2015

Upper East Side Co-op Personally Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Asks $9.5 Million

By Emily Nonko

Talk about a selling point: This apartment, located in the Upper East Side co-op building 820 Park Avenue, has been personally redesigned by starchitect Robert A.M. Stern. He is well known for his project on the other side of the park, 15 Central Park West, where he designed a condo reminiscent of the historic co-op towers along the park. Here, he's taken a prewar co-op, which fills up the entire 12th floor, and added some modern luxury perks. The apartment itself has an interesting history; it was originally configured as a triplex for the building's owner, and was then owned by pharmaceutical giant Cheng Ching Wang, the late father of Vera Wang. Serena and David Steinberg (she's the daughter of Houston-based real estate mogul Gerald Hines, who's built projects designed by I.M. Pei, Frank Gehry, and, of course, Robert A.M. Stern) purchased this floor for $6.5 million in 2008, pre-reno, and subsequently brought on Stern. After such a grand renovation, the owners started seeking a hefty profit back in 2013, originally listing it for $16.5 million. Now, after several price chops, it's back for a much-reduced price of $9.5 million.
See the full renovation

October 10, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

By Dana Schulz

New Video Takes Us Inside Anderson Cooper’s Converted Village Firehouse October 18th Is Your LAST CHANCE to See the TWA Flight Terminal In All Its Glory You Can Live in Daniel Radcliffe’s Soho Apartment for $19,000 a Month Watch New York City Get Blown Up With the ‘Every Demolition in Manhattan’ Map The Liberty Bridge […]

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October 9, 2015

REVEALED: Chelsea Atelier’s Mixed-Use High Line Development With Viewing Decks

By Ondel Hylton

Another forward-looking project may be coming to the banks of the High Line, this time for a T-shaped lot near the corner of Tenth Avenue and West 17th Street. While still in its conceptual stage, the design of 455 West 17th Street is being handled by architecture and project management firm Chelsea Atelier. The two-wing project consists of a four-story Tenth Avenue wing, to contain a small hotel or offices, and a larger 11-story wing that would house residential condominiums. Amir Shouri, senior designer at Chelsea Atelier, says the design seeks to create viewing decks to capture glimpses of the High Line and the Hudson River. The blurred boundaries between inside and out will ceaselessly showcase the "live urban activity of the High Line during the day and motivate inhabitants to go out an enjoy the area's many amenities."
More details this way

New Yorker Spotlight: Lee Schrager Unites the Culinary World at the NYC Wine & Food Festival

By Susan Cohen

Pumpkin everything may be the hot foodie topic of the moment, but for serious gourmands and winos, it's all about the year's biggest culinary event. From October 15-18th, the eighth annual Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) presented by Food & Wine will bring together sommeliers with wine aficionados and chefs with foodies for four days of libation and food appreciation. Lee Schrager, a vice president at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, is the founder, director, and visionary behind NYCWFF; he launched the event in 2008 following the success of its sister festival, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Fast forward seven years, and the NYC festival’s dinners, master classes, and wine tastings are some of the hottest tickets in town. We recently spoke with Lee to find out why he brought NYCWFF to New York, how he approaches each year's programming, and what types of wining and dining New Yorkers can look forward to next week.
Read our interview here

October 9, 2015

William Randolph Hearst’s Stunning Central Park West Penthouse Sells for $18M

By Annie Doge

After nearly a year on the market, and a deal with Giorgio Armani that ultimately fell through, the ornate penthouse that previously belonged to publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst has finally sold. As reported by The Real Deal, the buyer of the magnificent home is John Legere, a T-Mobile CEO who entered contract to buy the pad back in July. Originally listed for $27.5 million, the home saw numerous price cuts over the last few months, ultimately settling on a $18 million price tag with Legere. While the penthouse is not nearly as large as Hearst's other former top floor spread (that one had an incredible 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space!), this 1,600-square foot beauty maintains many spectacular details, including a wood-burning fireplace, herringbone floors, hand-carved wood doors, stained glass windows and a private terrace encompassing the entire frontage of its 91 Central Park West address.
Go inside the home

October 9, 2015

The Fuck You Umbrella Gives You Peace of Mind and the Rain a Piece of Your Mind

By Rebecca Paul

Any seasoned New Yorker knows that unfavorable weather conditions can rear their ugly head in a New York minute. However, if we let a little rain or snow muck up our productivity we'd get nothing done come fall and winter (and who wants to work in the summer?). But that doesn't mean we're happy about it. This "Fuck You Rain Umbrella" helps us to move on with our day despite the rain or snow, and maybe make us feel a bit better in the process—we're just venting here.
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October 9, 2015

1970s Documentary Shows Tribeca Skybridge and Vintage Subway Cars

By Dana Schulz

"News from Home" is a 1976 documentary by filmmaker Chantal Akerman that uses New York City as a backdrop while she reads aloud letters her mother had written her while she was living in the city. The film wasn't groundbreaking by any stretch, but 40 years later, it provides a glimpse into a bygone era in New York. Tribeca Citizen unearthed a digital version of the documentary on Hulu and took some great stills, including those of vintage subway cars and Tribeca's Staple Street skybridge. The latter (which is actually where the film begins) has made headlines recently as it's one of Manhattan's last skybridges and the two residences on either side of it (one a townhouse, one an apartment) are currently for sale for $30 million, meaning one lucky buyer can claim the historic structure as part of their home.
See more of 1970s NYC

History

Turkish Consulate’s New Tower Across From UN Finally Moves Ahead, Offices and Apartments Planned

Concept design by Chelsea Atelier

October 9, 2015

Turkish Consulate’s New Tower Across From UN Finally Moves Ahead, Offices and Apartments Planned

By Ondel Hylton

After more than three years on the drawing board, the replacement tower for Turkey’s Consulate General and Permanent Mission to the United States at 821 First Avenue is finally moving forward. First announced in 2012, the proposed project, known as the Turkevi Center, has commissioned Perkins Eastman as the architects of record. The building will house new offices for the consulate, and diplomatic residences for permanent staff and visitors above.
Find out more here

October 9, 2015

NY Historical Society Opening a Women’s History Center; Buy Fall Leaves From New England for $20

By Dana Schulz

The New-York Historical Society plans to open the Center for the Study of Women’s History in early 2017 on the building’s fourth floor. It will cost $31 million. [NYT] Portraits of nine NYC carriage drivers and their horses. [DI] Fashion designer Rachel Roy picks two local foodie entrepreneurs, one being Jessica Siskin of Misterkrisp, to model her new […]

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