All articles by Dana Schulz

Weekend House in the Berkshires is Part Glass House, Part Japanese Kimono
July 21, 2015

Weekend House in the Berkshires is Part Glass House, Part Japanese Kimono

By
Prior to starting his own firm, architect David Jay Weiner worked in Tokyo under Arata Isozaki, who is known for infusing Eastern influences into his modernist structures. He also spent time in the New York offices of James Stewart Polshek and Partners and John Burgee Architects with Philip Johnson. So it's no wonder that his award-winning Weekend House in Stephentown, New York fuses the principles of a Japanese kimono with the simplistic transparency of Johnson's Glass House. The small house (1,200 square feet to be exact) overlooking the Berkshire Hills was designed for a Japenese client as an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Learn all about the house here
GROWTH Is an Origami-Based Pot That Expands with the Plant
July 19, 2015

GROWTH Is an Origami-Based Pot That Expands with the Plant

By
We've taken a look at geometric planters and vases with a bit of origami flair to them before, and while they're quite lovely, they're missing one key element of the GROWTH pot–they don't expand as the plant grows. Created by London- and Istanbul-based Studio Ayaskan, GROWTH transforms in a folding pattern to accommodate the life cycle of a plant. Not only is this fun to watch, but it's sustainable, as it reduces the need for multiple pots.
Learn more about GROWTH
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
July 18, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

By

Tetra-Shed: A Portable Wooden Home Office with a Rubber Skin Brand New Photos for Bay Ridge’s Gingerbread House, Now Back on the Market for $11M Day vs. Night: What NYC’s Population Looks Like In New York City Your $100 Is Really Worth Just $81.77 New Video Reveals How SHoP’s 626 First Avenue Will Dance into […]

Grim Map Shows the Relationship Between Poverty and Pollution
July 17, 2015

Grim Map Shows the Relationship Between Poverty and Pollution

By
EJSCREEN is a new online mapping tool from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What makes it different than other pollution maps, though, is that it also includes census data to show the relationship between negative environmental factors and demographic indicators like low-income and minority populations. As Gizmodo reports, "The maps are color-coded to show poverty, and pollution (as measured by fine particle density). Grey is in area that’s below the 50th percentile, with the colors going up to yellow then red as the poverty (and pollution) increases." And as is clear in the animated image above, high-poverty areas like East Harlem, Washington Heights, and much of the Bronx are among the most polluted in the city.
More on the map here
New Map Shows Where More Than 50,000 Rent Stabilized Apartments Have Been Lost
July 16, 2015

New Map Shows Where More Than 50,000 Rent Stabilized Apartments Have Been Lost

By
At the end of last month, the Rent Guidelines Board voted to freeze rents for the first time on one-year leases for the city's more than one million rent stabilized apartments, which make up about 47% of the city's total rental units. They also increased rents on two-year leases by only two percent, the lowest in the board's 46 years. While this historic ruling is a huge win for tenants, it doesn't bring back the astonishing number of apartments that have been deregulated. Since 1994, nearly 250,000 units have lost rent regulation protections, and over these past eight years alone, New York City has lost more than 50,000 rent stabilized apartments. To put that staggering number into perspective, cartographer John Krauss has put together a handy map that shows where all of these 50,000 apartments are located (h/t Gothamist). Using scraped tax bills, he plotted changes in the number of rent-stabilized units, building by building.
How did your neighborhood fare?
New Initiative Rethinks Lower Manhattan Streetscape to Clear Tourists and Congestion
July 16, 2015

New Initiative Rethinks Lower Manhattan Streetscape to Clear Tourists and Congestion

By
If you've ever attempted to go shopping at Century 21 on a weekend or take a selfie with the Charging Bull, you know very well the perils of tourist-laden lower Manhattan. The confusing street layout, lack of open gathering spaces, and non-pedestrian-and-cyclist-friendly thoroughfares make the historic neighborhood a bit of a jumble, especially as it's currently undergoing a huge development boom and both residential population and tourism have more than doubled since September 11th. But a new initiative called Make Way for Lower Manhattan hopes to change all this. As DNAinfo reports, the plan's goal is to "highlight tourist areas, like the Seaport, the 9/11 Memorial, The Battery, Wall Street, and connect the dots better for tourists — giving them a means to find their way, stay and spend money without completely congesting the neighborhood." The group presented at this week's Community Board 1 meeting, unveiling ideas like creating a more accessible entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge that also connects people to the nearby South Street Seaport and moving the bull across from the New York Stock Exchange, its original home and much less congested site.
Find out more right here
190 Bowery Is Already Back on the Market, Aby Rosen Attempts a Flip

EDITOR’S NOTE: An RFR Realty representative reached out to Curbed to say that 190 Bowery is NOT for sale. The listing is not current and will be removed from Cushman & Wakefield’s site. 

July 15, 2015

190 Bowery Is Already Back on the Market, Aby Rosen Attempts a Flip

By
It seems like the saga of 190 Bowery is never going to be over. As you'll recall, photographer Jay Maisel turned the former Germania Bank Building into his own private mansion and lived there from 1966 until February of this year, at which time he sold it to developer Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for $55 million. Like we previously said, "Since that time, it’s been all eyes on Rosen. Is he removing or preserving that iconic graffiti? What the heck happened with that 'public' art show inside the building?" And though the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved plans in May for a restoration and conversion to an office building with ground-floor retail, it now seems that Rosen may be getting cold feet. Curbed reports that he's taking offers for 190 Bowery in what looks like a very high-profile flip attempt.
See what the listing has to say
For the Price of One Soho Apartment, You Can Buy 38 Homes in Memphis
July 14, 2015

For the Price of One Soho Apartment, You Can Buy 38 Homes in Memphis

By
We learned last week that the average sales price in Manhattan has skyrocketed to $1.8 million, and while this figure is definitely newsworthy, it's even more shocking when we look at the average price of an apartment in certain neighborhoods. Take tourist-friendly Soho, for example, where it costs an average of almost $3 million ($2,912,792 to be exact) for a residence. Many New Yorkers may be unfazed by this number–it seems that every day now we're being presented with seven-digit statistics. So the folks over at CityLab, decided to put it in perspective, mapping how many homes in cities across the country that $3 million price tag can buy.
See the breakdown here
Aerial Photos Taken from a Helicopter May Give You Vertigo; The Ultimate Glamping Accessory
July 14, 2015

Aerial Photos Taken from a Helicopter May Give You Vertigo; The Ultimate Glamping Accessory

By

Catching up with Jonathan and Drew Scott, better known as HGTV’s “The Property Brothers.” [NYP] These charts show how Americans’ living arrangements have changed since 1967. [BI] A documentary airs tonight on PBS about the 1977 Blackout, when over 1,600 stores were looted and 1,000 fires were started. [Bowery Boogie] Photographer Jeffrey Milstein captures cities using […]

Own an Entire Stone Mini-Estate in Putnam County for $500,000
July 13, 2015

Own an Entire Stone Mini-Estate in Putnam County for $500,000

By
Carmel, New York, located in Putnam County just an hour and a half north of the city, was described by the Times as "a quiet hamlet" where "many residents are highly protective of the lifestyle the 10-square-mile, semirural community offers." And just take one look at this historic stone estate and you'll understand why Carmel's residents are so loyal to their charming community. Built in 1935, the 2,050-square-foot home sitting on a full acre has "European Chalet charm" according to the listing, and it's all available for just $495,000.
Explore the estate here
NYC’s Bigbelly Trash and Recycling Bins Double as Wi-Fi Hotspots
July 13, 2015

NYC’s Bigbelly Trash and Recycling Bins Double as Wi-Fi Hotspots

By
We've all been that person who puts their Starbucks cup on top of an already heaping and overflowing garbage can, especially since it seems more often than not that this is the state of our city's waste bins. But if you've looked for a trash receptacle downtown recently, you might have been pleasantly surprised with the Bigbelly. These solar-powered "smart" trash and recycling bins are "equipped with a chip that detects when the bin is full or too smelly, allowing trash collectors to make a pick-up where they’re needed most," according to CityLab. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bigbellies can double as Wi-Fi hotspots, providing enough bandwidth to power a small business.
Learn more about the new technology
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
July 11, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

By

Katie Holmes and Suri Renting a $25,000 Penthouse in Chelsea Construction Update: NYC’s First Micro Apartment Complex Is Now Fully Stacked Jet-Setting Fashionista’s Sprawling Tribeca Loft Shines with Bold Decor VIDEO: Port Authority Was Considered a ‘Milestone of the Century’ When It Opened Construction Update: Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Begins Race into […]

On the Grid Is a Neighborhood Guide Curated by Local Designers
July 10, 2015

On the Grid Is a Neighborhood Guide Curated by Local Designers

By
These days when we travel we look for recommendations from real people, whether it be through friends or poring over online reviews. Brooklyn design firm Hyperakt recognized this trend and created a new platform that calls itself the "designer’s neighborhood guide." Dubbed On the Grid, the site is a place "where local design firms contribute personalized descriptions for their favorite places," according to Gizmodo. Along with the picks and reviews, Hyperakt adds sharp photos, maps, and fun illustrations of local landmarks. They also categorize the picks with icons like a wine glass for bars, paint palette for cultural spots, and dumbbell for fitness outposts. Though On the Grid wasn't designed as an app, it works just as nicely on a mobile device as it does on a regular computer screen.
See more features of this fun new guide
NYPL Fountains Are Back in Action; How Often Does Your Subway Station Get Cleaned?
July 10, 2015

NYPL Fountains Are Back in Action; How Often Does Your Subway Station Get Cleaned?

By

Patience and Fortitude, the NYPL’s marble lions, are now joined by Beauty and Truth, the grand fountains flanking the entrance that just started flowing again. [NYT] Smorgasburg Queens launches tomorrow in Long Island City. [Brownstoner Queens] The designers of the subway station poster talk about the Transit Authority Graphic Standards Manual, Massimo Vignelli, and people’s love […]

My 425sqft: Tour a Bubbly Packaging Designer’s Boerum Hill Studio Filled with Eclectic Finds

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Want your home to be featured here? Get in touch!

July 9, 2015

My 425sqft: Tour a Bubbly Packaging Designer’s Boerum Hill Studio Filled with Eclectic Finds

By
When we heard that freelance packaging designer Amy Sprague has traveled to 25 countries, we assumed her apartment would be filled to the brim with souvenirs from far-off places including Morocco, Germany, Cambodia, Australia, and Japan. We thought this would be even more true when we learned of her love for antiquing. But the charming Boerum Hill studio is perfectly edited, providing just the right amount of eclectic touches, while still maintaining the feeling of a calm oasis. This is especially true of her lovely outdoor space, where a canopy of trees provides a serene escape from bustling Brooklyn. Amy lived for several years in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan, but after dividing her time in 2013 and 2014 between New York and Offenbach, Germany (a small city outside Frankfurt), she decided to make the move across the East River. We recently visited Amy at her 425-square-foot studio and saw that her apartment's decor is just as fun and bubbly as she is. Let's have a look at how this design-minded gal was able to tastefully display her collection of antiques and travel mementos.
Tour the super-cute space right here
Build Your Own Mathematically Accurate Geodesic Dome with Hubs
July 9, 2015

Build Your Own Mathematically Accurate Geodesic Dome with Hubs

By
Last month we introduced Kodama Zomes, a unique hanging lounger shaped like a geodesic dome that's perfect for reading, meditating, or just plain relaxing outside on a summer day. But for the more scientifically inclined, we've now found a build-it-yourself geodesic dome. The product may not come with built-in cushions, but it is mathematically accurate and educational. First spotted by designboom, Hubs makes building a dome so simple that one can be erected in under 30 minutes.
Find out how it works here
Park Slope Townhouse by Etelamaki Architecture Uses a Nondescript Facade to Stand Out
July 8, 2015

Park Slope Townhouse by Etelamaki Architecture Uses a Nondescript Facade to Stand Out

By
This renovation of a Park Slope townhouse by Etelamaki Architecture puts into practice the old saying "less is more." According to Contemporist, the recently completed project "maximizes the potential of a non-descript building shell, and limited budget, to create a modern, light filled home that acknowledges the building’s past, while envisioning the neighborhood’s future." Since the block is filled with a mix of early 20th century apartment buildings and newer condos, the architects didn't have to worry as much about maintaining a historic style, giving them the opportunity to create something totally new and bold. The top three floors were transformed into an owner's duplex and the ground-floor into a rental.
Get a look inside here
Pitch a story icon

Pitch a Story

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

Distinctive Post Form

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544
Contact us image

Get in Touch

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a tip image
Delivering New York stories focused on design, lifestyle & real estate.

Send us a Tip

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams. It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo
or Call (212) 755-5544

Thinking about selling your home?

We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert.

CityRealty Logo

Sell a Home (Footer)

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Subscribe for NYC's Lastest Design, Lifestyle,
and Real Estate Trends!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your Daily Dose
of NYC Life!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.