All articles by Dana Schulz

October 1, 2014

Could Jet Taxis Make Waves in NYC?

New York is often criticized for being a city that doesn't take advantage of its waterfront location in the way that Chicago or Baltimore, for example, do. But with new developments like Brooklyn Bridge Park and ideas for floating pools, we are well on our way to becoming an aqua-fied metropolis. But are we ready for the newest water transportation model, the jet taxi? Luca Solla and Pierpaolo Lazzarini of Italian-based company Jet Capsule are launching their 8-12-passenger vehicle in their home country in 2015, but expect other major cities around the world will want to get in on the action. They envision the jet functioning in hybrid, electric, private, personal, diving, and ambulance versions.
More on the sleek vehicle here
October 1, 2014

POLL: Will Freshkills Transform Staten Island?

Last week, we interviewed Eloise Hirsh, the Freshkills Park Administrator about her role in transforming 2,200 acres of reclaimed land at the former Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, the largest landfill-to-park conversion in the world to date. Though it won’t be entirely completed until 2035, Staten Islanders are already visiting the park and enjoying its […]

October 1, 2014

Strivers’ Row Home Tour & Exhibit at Macy’s Showcase Harlem’s Elegant Enclave

This weekend, all you old-house lovers will have two opportunities to step back in time and explore the elite Harlem enclave known as Strivers' Row. Located on West 138th to West 139th Streets, between Adam Clayton Powell and Frederick Douglass Boulevards, the area was once home to prominent, wealthy African-American performers, artists, and professionals who lived in the harmonious row of stately brick dwellings. Running until Sunday, October 5th is an exhibit at Macy's called “Strivers’ Row Style: Uptown Comes Downtown,” which will feature vignettes by various designers of what the interiors of these historic homes would have looked like during the heyday. Also on the 5th is the Strivers' Rome Home Tour, which lets participants inside eight of the distinctive residences and four historic churches.
More on Striver's Row and the upcoming events
October 1, 2014

Two Puck Building Penthouses List for a Combined $57M

It was pretty big news back in June when Penthouse IV at the landmarked Puck Building sold for $28 million, netting real estate tycoon Jared Kushner a pretty penny. It was the second largest out of the six units in the penthouse-only building. As we reported then, there were four others that were yet to be listed, and they were expected to sell for between $21 and $60 million. Well, it looks like we weren't too far off the mark, as two additional penthouses at 295 Lafayette Street have now listed for a combined $57 million. PHII, is a three-bedroom, five-bathroom home, with 5,222 square feet of interior space and 800 square feet of outdoor space, listed for $35.1 million; and PHVI, the smallest of the "limited edition" penthouses at 4,895 square feet, is on the market for $22 million (it originally went up for sale in January for $21 million).
More details and floor plans ahead
September 30, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Tour the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital; Pikaplant Shelf Automatically Waters Plants

The abandoned Ellis Island Hospital Complex, where 1.2 million immigrants were treated, is opening for public tours starting October 1st, reports AM New York. Take a load off…the Battery Conservancy is hosting its “Draw Up A Chair” design competition in Battery Park’s Castle Clinton to decide the official chair of the park. More on Tribeca Trib. A […]

September 30, 2014

openhousenewyork’s Weekend Event Guide is Finally Here – Take the Tours!

You can probably guess that we're pretty excited about the 12th annual openhousenewyork weekend, taking place this year on October 11th and 12th, so of course we couldn't wait to share the just-announced guide to the spaces on this year's roster. Tour goers will have access to 300 sites and tours in all five boroughs, including private residences, new buildings, and sites of architectural, cultural, and historical significance. Some of the sites we're most looking forward to touring are the TWA Flight Center at JFK, Kickstarter headquarters, the Manhattan Micro Loft, and El Barrio's Artspace PS109.
More on these sites and the entire OHNY Weekend
September 30, 2014

Could Spofford Juvenile Center in Hunts Point Become Mixed-Income Housing? Majora Carter Thinks So.

Tribeca has adaptively reused its former manufacturing lofts; Gowanus its factories; and Long Island City its bakeries. Now, Hunts Point might be added to the adaptive reuse list for its conversion of a former jail. Urban revitalization strategist and public radio host Majora Carter is aiming to transform the Spofford Juvenile Center into a combination of mixed-income housing, open space, and economic development, a formula she feels would appeal to the neighborhood.
More on Carter's vision and the transformative project
September 29, 2014

Triangular Townhouse in Greenwich Village with Italian Renaissance Interior Sells for $5M

Fashion director and stylist Alessandra Gambaccini (who goes by Sciascia) purchased her Greenwich Village townhouse at 45 West 12th Street in 1996 for $865,00, and has now sold it for a whopping $4,975,000. But it's not just the incredible profit Ms. Gambaccini made that makes this historic home stand out--it's also its unusual triangular shape, the result of having been built in 1846 diagonal to Minetta Brook, since covered over by the city. There are hidden remnants of the old creek all throughout the Village, and this Greek Revival townhouse is definitely one of the most storied. Sciascia spoke to the Wall Street Journal about her fascinating home and how she was rather intrigued by its unusual shape. The four-bedroom house is also noted for its opulent interior, outfitted with custom-made Italian décor thanks to Milan-based architect and decorator Roberto Gerosa. And if those weren't enough talking points, the deed to the cobblestone courtyard is said to have once been owned by English royalty, and Frank Lloyd Wright's sister is a past inhabitant.
Now, let's check out those interiors
September 29, 2014

Daily Link Fix: How the Apple Cube Landed in Midtown; Packstache Is a Cardboard Bike Carrier

New app Getaround lets New Yorkers borrow cars from strangers on demand. It’s the freedom of driving without the anxiety of alternate side parking. More on Business Insider. Daily Intelligencer uncovers the little-known story of how the Apple cube actually landed in Midtown. Packtasche is an architect-designed cardboard carrier that makes toting groceries and the like while […]

September 29, 2014

$5.25M Dietz Lantern Building Loft Is Historic Tribeca Living at Its Finest

High, barrel-vaulted ceilings? Check. Exposed brick? Check. Classic columns? Check. Oversized windows? Check. This apartment in the Dietz Lantern Building at 429 Greenwich Street offers everything you'd want from a historic Tribeca loft and is on the market for $5.25 million. The four-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot apartment is located within the Tribeca North Historic District in a former factory building, erected in 1887, that manufactured lanterns for horse-drawn carriages. It was converted to condominium in 1996, and today its homes boast an enviable mix of historic details and modern conveniences.
Take a look inside unit 7B here
September 27, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Michelle Williams lists her gorgeous ivy-covered Boerum Hill townhouse for $7.5 million. See exclusive photos from the opening of the High Line’s third phase, as well as some beautiful snaps by photographer Iwan Baan. City Kids: Why parents pick city living over the suburbs. The Columbia Street Waterfront District, a quirky, 22-block enclave wedged between Red Hook […]

September 26, 2014

Upcoming Exhibition at MCNY Showcases Hyper-Real Photos of NYC from Artist Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao

An upcoming exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, New York: Assembled Realities, will showcase more than 40 works from Taiwanese artist Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao. His large-scale panoramas push the boundaries of traditional documentary photography by mixing several exposures of the same location taken over the course of many hours. The photographs that result are hyper-real and complex and provide a fascinatingly accurate depiction of the frenzy that is New York.
More on the exhibit and Liao's work
September 26, 2014

New Exterior Rendering Released for 60 Water Street Rental Project in DUMBO

Two Trees Management Company has revealed an additional, close-up exterior rendering and a teaser website for their new rental development 60 Water Street in DUMBO, which is nearing completion. Designed by LEESER Architecture and Ismael Leyva Architects, the building will begin leasing in the coming weeks, though pricing and interior images have not yet been released. The façade stands out in the former-industrial neighborhood thanks to glass curtain walls with angled windows.
Get a closer look at the glass pattern and entrance
September 25, 2014

Timeless Trophy: 740 Park Avenue

New York City may have an ever-revolving cast of hottest restaurants, hippest clubs, and even most desirable neighborhoods, but some real estate titans never go out of style in this metropolis. Known as the "Tower of Power," 740 Park Avenue is one such mainstay. The Upper East Side 19-story, Art Deco building was completed in 1930 to the designs of Rosario Candela, often considered the finest architect of luxury apartment interiors, as the last of the grand dames erected along Manhattan's Gold Coast. It didn't reach its peak until the real estate boom of the 1980s, but is today one of the most sought-after addresses with 31 apartments, mostly all duplexes, triplexes, and penthouses. The massively scaled residences feature grand living rooms, formal dining rooms, spiral staircases, high ceilings, expansive foyers, and an abundance of windows.
Plenty more on this timeless trophy residence and its long list of well known inhabitants
September 25, 2014

Y-Shaped Guest House was Co-Designed by HHF Architects & Artist Ai Weiwei

When you're avid art collectors like the owners of the Tsai Residence and Guest House, you probably won't be too impressed with a typical rectangular structure to house your masterpieces. That's where Swiss-based firm HHF Architects and world-famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei come in. Working together, they created a unique Y-shaped guest house for the couple's Ancram, New York property. Each of the home's three wings has a specific purpose--bedroom, workroom, and art gallery. The simple and effective design "served to link these elements at isolated points and to define the overall appearance of the guesthouse."
More on the artistic residence, which is the only Ai Weiwei-designed house in the country
September 25, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Instagrammer Takes Photos from Atop 432 Park Avenue; WEDG Personal Cloud Offers Stronger Security

A new infographic, The Schematic of Structures, displays the 90 greatest architectural achievements since prehistory. You can be the judge of this list over on Fast Co. Design. Break out the Meow Mix, NYC’s first permanent cat café could open next spring. According to Gothamist, a $65,000 crowdfunding campaign is underway to make the kitty dream a realty. […]

September 24, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Lincoln Center Exhibit will Simulate a Power Plant; Tour New Williamsburg Design Store Beam

DNAinfo speaks to some of the city’s gardening experts for tips on how residents can turn vacant lots into their very own community gardens. A new contemporary art project will open at Lincoln Center plaza on October 3rd. According to Architizer, “Solar Reserve (Tonopah, Nevada),” by Irish artist John Gerrard, will use computer simulation to recreate an […]

September 24, 2014

REVEALED: Beekman Hotel and Condo Interiors

Last month, pricing and exterior renderings were released for the much-anticipated Beekman Hotel and Condo conversion project. The long-shuttered historic structure (originally known as the Temple Court Building) will be topped off with a 51-story condominium tower adjacent to the 1883-built landmark and its famous atrium. It will contain 68 residential units designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. The building's lower levels will house 287 hotel rooms. Now, Curbed has received the first reveal of the interior renderings, and they do not disappoint. From the modern apartments with Woolworth Building views to the luxe amenity areas, the rooms at 5 Beekman Street exude luxury and prestige. One of the most impressive interior shots is of the atrium, which extends through all nine stories of the original Terra Cotta structure and is topped off by a large, pyramidal skylight. It will be a lounge by Tom Colicchio known as the Living Room, the centerpiece of the hotel and a fine dining spot for residents and guests alike.
Tour the rest of the conversion, from the atrium to the roof terrace
September 23, 2014

Hudson Design’s Rustic Writer’s Studio Barn is a Converted Two-Story Garage

There's something intriguing about living in a former garage...maybe it's the lofty openness or the unexpected conversion. But whatever the case, the Writer's Studio Barn by Hudson Design lives up to our enchantment. Located in Garrison, New York, the iconic American barn was originally used as a garage with two horse stalls. The conversion was conceived as a tranquil retreat for a couple to find inspiration among the lush landscape and natural views. And the existing stick-frame structure offered a loft with the perfect space and orientation for a secluded studio. It's now a rustic one-bedroom apartment with room for cars and storage.
Take a tour and get the creative juices flowing
September 23, 2014

Prominent Architecture Couple Buys Pretty-in-Pink Victorian in Ditmas Park

We have a feeling well-known architects David H. Sherman, of Abelow Sherman Architects, and his wife Benita Welch, a Principal at Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects, will give the interior of their new home a fresh coat of paint before settling in...that is, unless they like the current bubble-gum-pink color scheme. It makes perfect sense that the couple picked up this Victorian house in Ditmas Park for themselves and their two children, as Benita specializes in restoring historic homes, and David is known for his expertise working with NYC townhouses. According to city records filed today, they purchased 28 Waldorf Court for $1.41 million. Located just off Rugby Road (often considered the heart of Victorian Flatbush) on a highly desirable cul-de-sac, the five-bedroom home has been in the same family for 30 years.
Tour the home before it gets what's sure to be a beautiful makeover
September 23, 2014

Built by Women NYC Is Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Female-Led Design

Since we all have feminism on the mind thanks to Emma Watson's empowering speech at the UN yesterday, we thought it was perfect timing to highlight the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation's competition, Built by Women New York City (BxW NYC). Nominations are currently being accepted through October 31st for "outstanding structures and built environments in New York City, either contemporary or historic, designed and/or constructed by women."
More on BxW NYC here
September 22, 2014

REVEALED: Penthouse Floorplans for Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower

Just last week, we announced that the Jean Nouvel-designed MoMA residential tower was finally moving forward, after the purchase of $85 million in air rights and with a new construction loan of $860 million. Now, The Real Deal has obtained penthouse floorplans for the 82-story tower, and they are nothing to sneeze at.
Check out the floorplans and dream about living in a Nouvel-approved penthouse