By Dana Schulz, Fri, October 19, 2018 The Vessel upon topping out in December 2017, courtesy of Related-Oxford
The Vessel–Thomas Heatherwick’s 150-foot-tall, honeycomb-shaped, climbable public art installation at Hudson Yards–is expected to open to the public this coming spring, and in advance of tickets becoming available in February (yes, apparently you need to reserve a spot to climb the thing), you can now sign up for an advanced place to be notified when the “schedule” opens up. There will be dedicated time slots, at least in the beginning when the attraction is sure to be flooded with New Yorkers, but since the structure can hold a whopping 1,000 people at a time, this shouldn’t be much of a problem. Read more
By Dana Schulz, Thu, October 18, 2018 As a media sponsor of Archtober–NYC’s annual month-long architecture and design festival of tours, lectures, films, and exhibitions–6sqft has teamed up with the Center for Architecture to explore some of their 70+ partner organizations.
In 2012, 40 years after it was conceived by late architect Louis Kahn, Four Freedoms Park opened on four acres on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. Part park, part memorial to FDR (the first dedicated to the former president in his home state), the site was designed to celebrate the Four Freedoms that Roosevelt outlined in his 1941 State of the Union address–Freedom of speech, of worship, from want, and from fear. In addition to its unique social and cultural position, the Park is set apart architecturally–the memorial is constructed from 7,700 tons of raw granite, for example–and horticulturally–120 Little Leaf Linden trees are all perfectly aligned to form a unified sight line.
And with these distinctions comes a special team working to upkeep the grounds and memorial, educate the public, and keep the legacy of both Kahn and Roosevelt at the forefront. To learn a bit more about what it’s like to work for the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, we recently toured the park with Park Director Angela Stangenberg and Director of Strategic Partnerships & Communications Madeline Grimes, who filled us in on their day-to-day tasks, some of their challenges, and several secrets of the beautiful site.
Take the tour!
By Dana Schulz, Wed, October 17, 2018 It’s hard to believe actress Mariska Hargitay has been starring as NYPD Lieutenant Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU” for nearly two decades, but when it comes to her living situation, she likes to change things up a bit more. She and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, bought a stunning Upper West Side brownstone for $7 million in 2012, and they’ve now put it on the market for $10.75 million. Hermann told the Wall Street Journal that they’ve decided to sell because their “family needs have changed,” but they’d remain in the neighborhood. The six-story, 6,000+ square-foot home is located at 45 West 84th Street, between Central Park West and Columbus, and is “loaded with color and vibrancy,” according to Hermann, thanks to a collaboration with designer Jeffrey Bilhuber.
Take the grand tour
By Dana Schulz, Wed, October 17, 2018 Photo via Flickr cc
In a not-very-surprising move, foodie phenom Smorgasburg has announced that it will open indoor markets in Fort Greene and Williamsburg this winter, according to Eater. Since first opening as an outcrop of Brooklyn Flea in 2011, Smorgasburg has grown to operate seasonal outdoor markets in Williamsburg, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Flea, as well as the indoor Berg’n food hall and even another outdoor market in Downtown LA. Their newest spots will be a 25,000-square-foot space in the Atlantic Center mall across from the Barclays Center and a night market in collaboration with Vice Media at their Williamsburg event space Villian. The latter will also have a full bar, DJs, and art exhibitions.
All the details
By Dana Schulz, Tue, October 16, 2018 Everything about this East Village co-op can be described as cute, but it’s the newly renovated kitchen that really has us swooning. Listed for a surprisingly reasonable $549,000, the one-bedroom pad at 633 East 11th Street also boasts chic whitewashed brick walls, ridiculously charming decor, and windows with rustic shutters.
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By Dana Schulz, Tue, October 16, 2018 6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to designer Stella Rose’s bubblegum pink Bushwick apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!
“Why not make your living space look like a party every day?” says fashion designer, stylist, and model Stella Rose Saint Clair. And that’s exactly what she did in her unapologetically pink Bushwick apartment. In fact, she’s painted every NYC apartment she’s lived in this same hue because it makes her feel “optimistic, rebellious, wacky.” When asked to sum up her fun and festive aesthetic, she explained, “I love over-the-top vintage interiors and the retro obsession around pink for household decorating. I am also a sucker for tropical plants and party supplies.”
From the Rococo sofa she found on Craigslist and bought from an eccentric divorcée on Staten Island to the collection of vintage food packaging in the kitchen, everything in Stella’s apartment has a story, many of which will make you laugh. But behind the giggles and bubblegum walls, Stella is not afraid to get real–“I don’t have my shit together, and I’m okay with it.”–and take a serious look at how obstacles in her life, such as being bullied as a teen, have shaped her into the creative force she is today. Ahead, take a tour of Stella’s one-of-a-kind apartment and get to know her a bit better.
Take the tour!
By Dana Schulz, Mon, October 15, 2018 Abby Leigh may be famous around the world for her contemporary art, but here in NYC, she’s becoming just as well known for her big-ticket real estate wheeling-and-dealing. In June of 2014, just three months after her husband, Tony-winning “Man of La Mancha” composer Mitch Leigh, passed away, she bought a $4.8 million Upper West Side artist co-op at 27 West 67th Street. The following year, she both listed her Upper East Side townhouse for $28 million (it sold for $20.4 million in 2016) and bought an $8 million home in one of the turrets of the former New York Cancer Hospital on the Upper West Side. And perhaps now Leigh has decided she only needs one UWS residence, as she’s just unloaded the 67th Street residence for $4.8 million according to property records, breaking even on the sale.
Get a look around
By Dana Schulz, Mon, October 15, 2018 The NYC architectural firm of Delano & Aldrich designed some of the turn-of-the-century’s most sophisticated structures, from the Knickerbocker and Colony Clubs to the Rockefeller’s upstate estate Kykuit to a slew of uptown mansions. At the time, they veered away from the popular Beaux-Arts style and popularized an Anglo-American mix of Neo-Classical and -Federal designs. One such example is this grand townhouse at 15 East 88th Street, just listed for $28.8 million. As the listing states, it’s one of their few intact mansions remaining in private hands. And since it’s had only a few owners over the years, it retains its historic details and stately facades.
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By Dana Schulz, Fri, October 12, 2018 It may not have the size of Versailles but in just 1,200 square feet, this Upper East Side co-op packs an opulent punch that’ll have you saying “oui s’il vous plaît.” The $2.2 million duplex is located within a former mansion at 8 East 68th Street, just a few buildings in from Central Park. And in addition to location, it boasts intricate crown moldings and ceilings medallions, reclaimed oak herringbone floors, and an incredibly ornate marble fireplace mantle.
Get a look around
By Dana Schulz, Thu, October 11, 2018 Hudson Yards‘ first residential building to rise, the 88-story 15 Hudson Yards, has just opened its affordable housing lottery for 107 of its nearly 300 units. Listings for the market-rate condos went live two years ago, ranging from a $3.8 million two-bedroom to a $32 million penthouse. By comparison, the affordable rentals, available to New Yorkers earning 50 or 60 percent of the area median income, range from $858/month studios to $1,350/month two-bedrooms. And in addition to the incredible price point, residents will have access to all of the mega-development’s amenities, including new parkland, The Shed performance space, and plenty of retail and restaurant space. Plus, 15 Hudson Yards has a 24-hour attended lobby, two floors of wellness offerings including a gym, yoga studio, and swimming pool, and a skytop lounge with views of the Hudson River and Thomas Heatherwick’s huge climbable installation, the Vessel.
Find out if you qualify
