All articles by Dana Schulz

Could You Live on a 9 x 18 NYC Public Parking Space?

August 14, 2014

Could You Live on a 9 x 18 NYC Public Parking Space?

Earlier this year, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) unveiled new ideas for public housing--in a parking lot on its Atlanta campus. SCADpads, as they're called, reimagined the common public park space as a solution to the growing need for sustainable, efficient housing worldwide. Now, a team of architect-fellows at the Institute for Public Architecture are building on the same idea, proposing ways to turn unused public parking spaces in New York City into housing, co-working spaces, bike-share stations, playgrounds, and farmers markets. The group is called 9 x 18, the size of a typical parking spot, and they have reevaluated the current zoning laws surrounding parking and affordable housing, using the Carver Houses in East Harlem neighborhood as a case study.
More about the new ideas

454 Rugby Road Joins the Million-Dollar-Sale Club in Victorian Flatbush

August 13, 2014

454 Rugby Road Joins the Million-Dollar-Sale Club in Victorian Flatbush

We tend to feature a lot of historic townhouses, and while we love these brownstone beauties, it's always a treat when we come across the less-common Victorian home. Not surprisingly, this charming, free-standing house is located in Ditmas Park West, part of what is known as Victorian Flatbush. Built in 1905, the home at 454 Rugby Road recently sold for $1,975,000 million according to city records, almost $100,000 above the asking price and not far behind another recent Rugby Road sale that was one of the most expensive in the neighborhood to date.
See why this painted lady is a deserving member of Victorian Flatbush's Million-Dollar Club

Gastro-Architecture Looks at Landmarks Through a Culinary Lense

August 13, 2014

Gastro-Architecture Looks at Landmarks Through a Culinary Lense

Foodies are rampant in today's urban metropolises, but this time, instead of talking fish tacos and foie gras, we're talking buildings. Nicholas Blechman, art director for the New York Times Book Review, has reimagined some of the world's most famous landmarks as food in his delightful series Gastro-Architecture. From drawing the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica as a lemon juicer to noting the striking resemblance of Kohn Pedersen Fox's Shanghai World Financial Center to a can opener, Blechman has created an entirely new type of architectural review.
Check out our favorite NYC illustrations from Gastro-Architecture

Architecture And Design

New Knicks President Phil Jackson Buys $5 Million Apartment at the Osborne

August 12, 2014

New Knicks President Phil Jackson Buys $5 Million Apartment at the Osborne

When he hasn't been busy revamping the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson has been scoping out NYC real estate. And according to city records, the Knicks President purchased an apartment at the Osborne, 205 West 57th Street, for $4.85 million. Considered one of the greatest NBA coaches in history, Jackson spent many years with both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, but now he's jumping back into the New York City scene head first, having gotten his start with the Knicks in 1967 as a player. His new home was meticulously renovated by Ferguson and Shamamian Architects to preserve the original details of the landmarked 1883 building. Hand-carved mahogany pocket doors, inlaid oak and cherry floors, and stained glass transom windows are just some of the historic accents that make this three-bedroom apartment a true masterpiece.
Tour the rest of this basketball legend's new digs

Sunbreak Shades Could Control Skyscraper Temperatures Right From an iPhone

August 12, 2014

Sunbreak Shades Could Control Skyscraper Temperatures Right From an iPhone

You know the drill, wear a wool sweater to work in the summer and layer with a thin t-shirt in the winter. It's the curse of working in a tall, glassy, climate-controlled building. But a new shading prototype called Sunbreak, created by the architects at NBBJ, acts as a skyscraper skin that adjusts on a window-by-window basis depending on the angle of the sun, conserving energy and allowing workers to control office temperatures. Sounds like just what we've been waiting for, huh?
More about the proposed product

Scoping Out Staten Island: New Developments in the Oft-Forgotten Borough

August 11, 2014

Scoping Out Staten Island: New Developments in the Oft-Forgotten Borough

You won't find any Staten Island jokes or snarky references to secession here. No, we're celebrating the borough that so easily gets forgotten amid the shiny new towers of Manhattan and trendy culture waves of Brooklyn. But just because it might not make daily headlines, doesn't mean that Staten Island isn't in the middle of some pretty amazing developments. From the Staten Island Ferris Wheel to the borough becoming the next great tech hub, we've rounded up the cultural, economic, and architectural projects that are going to make you want to board the Staten Island Ferry in pursuit of your new home.
Check out our list and get ready to start packing

Ocean Guest House by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects Uses Shifted Volumes to Shield from the Elements

August 11, 2014

Ocean Guest House by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects Uses Shifted Volumes to Shield from the Elements

The allure of living ocean side can come with its own set of challenges, including intense direct sunlight, heavy rains, and strong sea breezes. Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects built their Ocean Guest House with these weather-related qualms in mind, utilizing geometric, shifted volumes to create a functional and visually stunning structure. Situated on the street side of this ocean-front property, the guest house is a simple, two-story, two-bedroom structure. The apartment resides on the second floor, while a garage and storage/laundry space occupy the ground floor.
Find out all the guest house's tricks here

Sabin Design Lab’s 3D-Printed, Ceramic PolyBricks Eliminate Construction Waste

August 11, 2014

Sabin Design Lab’s 3D-Printed, Ceramic PolyBricks Eliminate Construction Waste

3D printing has been making the design rounds lately, popping up as the construction method of choice for many new furniture pieces. Now, though, a team of researchers has created a 3D-printed product that can be used to construct entire buildings. Developed by the Sabin Design Lab in collaboration with Cornell and Jenny Sabin Studio, the ceramic bricks are interlocking and require no mortar, the first of their kind. Additionally, the technology eliminates construction waste completely.
More about the one-of-a-kind product here

Bloomberg L.P. CEO Dan Doctoroff Sells Upper West Side Mansion for $11 Million

August 11, 2014

Bloomberg L.P. CEO Dan Doctoroff Sells Upper West Side Mansion for $11 Million

Looks like the De Blasios aren't the only mayoral figures making moves. Dan Doctoroff, former Deputy Mayor and current President & CEO of Bloomberg L.P., has sold his Upper West Side townhouse at 309 West 91st Street for $11.25 million, slightly less than the $13 million asking price from when the home went on the market in November 2013. He and his wife Alisa purchased the mini mansion in 1994 for $1 million out of foreclosure and then put millions into a gut renovation. The five-story, stately townhouse was built in 1896 by Clarence True, one of the most prominent architects on the Upper West Side around the turn of the century. It is one of a row of seven limestone masterpieces that feature True's signature low-stoop façade. The Doctoroffs had the home impeccably restored by architect Oliver Cope and designer Victoria Hagan, down to every last elegant detail, including four wood-burning fireplaces, a winding sky-lit staircase, and spectacular crown moldings.
Check out more of the 6,400-square-foot townhouse

#sofa4manhattan was Crowd-Crafted for a New Yorker’s Lifestyle

August 8, 2014

#sofa4manhattan was Crowd-Crafted for a New Yorker’s Lifestyle

Couch shopping in New York is not as simple as one may think. The furniture has to be petite enough not to overpower a small space, fit through the doorway, and make it around the sharp walk-up turns (remember the "pivot" scene from Friends?). And with those challenges in mind, Berto and Design-Apart brought together 11 New York-based designers and Italian designer Luca Nichetto to crowd-craft the ideal sofa for Manhattanites. Design-Apart produced one of the three designs from the workshop. Called #sofa4manhattan, the selected concept is a contemporary work that unites a number of different pieces.
More about the project and sofa

Popular Articles

Lego Architecture Studio is a Grown-Up Version of the Famous Building Blocks

August 8, 2014

Lego Architecture Studio is a Grown-Up Version of the Famous Building Blocks

We'll now have an excuse to relive one of our favorite childhood pastimes. Danish toy company Lego has taken its world-famous building blocks to the next level, giving the children's toy a sophisticated update geared toward architects and designers. Lego Architecture Studio is the first set of the plastic, snap-together blocks to come without instructions. Comprised of more than 1,200 pieces of 76 different unique shapes, options range from standard bricks to chamfered wedge-shaped blocks.
More about how Lego Architecture Studio will “allow you to explore the ideas and principles of architecture”

Humberto Leon is Second Opening Ceremony Cofounder in a Week to Buy a Brooklyn Townhouse

August 8, 2014

Humberto Leon is Second Opening Ceremony Cofounder in a Week to Buy a Brooklyn Townhouse

Last week we learned that Opening Ceremony cofounder Carol Lim picked up a $3.43 million Prospect Heights townhouse, and it looks like her partner Humberto Leon got a bit of apartment envy, because he too just purchased a brownstone in nearby Park Slope. The two fashion magnates met 19 years ago at the University of California, Berkeley and have been joined at the hip ever since, turning their brand into an international destination for streetwise style. So it's no wonder that their homes share a few similarities; both are four stories, have picturesque backyard spaces, and retain a good amount of historic details. According to city records, Leon nabbed his new digs at 758 Union Street for the asking price of $2.85 million.
READ MORE

Leading with LEED: A Look at NYC’s Eco-Friendly Housing

August 7, 2014

Leading with LEED: A Look at NYC’s Eco-Friendly Housing

Radiant Orchid may be Pantone's color of the year, but here in New York City we think green is the hot hue of the moment. Eco-friendly design features and sustainable buildings are sprouting up faster than ever, and buyers are seeking out the next best green amenity, from Vitamin C-filtered showers to electric vehicle charging stations. And thanks to some A-list support from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, environmentally friendly design is being embraced by developers and real estate professionals alike. Last week, we took a look at Battery Park City, the largest green neighborhood in the world, which is often credited with launching New York City's modern sustainable movement. And now we're exploring some of the latest eco-friendly buildings to follow in its footsteps and take advantage of contemporary environmental technologies.
Read about these green developments here

Beatrice Trussardi Buys Appropriately Fashionable Police Building Pad for $2 Million

August 7, 2014

Beatrice Trussardi Buys Appropriately Fashionable Police Building Pad for $2 Million

Beatrice Trussardi does much more than sit alongside the runways at Fashion Week. In addition to running the internationally successful, Italian fashion label Trussardi that her late father Nicola Trussardi founded, she heads the Nicola Trussardi Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes contemporary art and culture. And now she can add "New York City homeowner" to her roster of titles. Ms. Trussardi just snatched up unit 3K at 240 Centre Street, the historic landmark known as the Police Building, for $2,147,500, according to city records. The one-bedroom Nolita apartment is chic and contemporary, and we'd expect no less for such a fashion-forward gal.
Check out the fashionable digs

The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is a Former Industrial Site Turned Locally Designed Getaway

August 7, 2014

The Roundhouse at Beacon Falls is a Former Industrial Site Turned Locally Designed Getaway

There's so much talk these days about the happenings up in Beacon, New York, from the Dia:Beacon, undoubtedly the area's biggest attraction, to the locally sourced restaurants lining the Hudson. And if you're hoping to make this upstate getaway longer than just a day trip, the Roundhouse at Beacon Falls can accommodate much more than just your overnight stay. Aryeh Siegel, unofficial "architect of Beacon," was enlisted by developer Robert A. McAlpine to restore and adaptively resue the buildings on this 9-acre, 19th century industrial site located on the Fishkill Creek. They were transformed into a complex including a hotel, restaurant, and event space. Historically appropriate, modern private residences were added, and the former power house is being reconstructed to provide hydro-electric power, which will account for 60% of the hotel's energy. The Rockwell Group outfitted the hotel and restaurant interiors with a contemporary yet rustic design esthetic, incorporating pieces from local artisans.
Take a tour through this gorgeous getaway

Mojo Stumer’s East Hampton Home is a Contemporary Take on the Traditional Seaside Residence

August 6, 2014

Mojo Stumer’s East Hampton Home is a Contemporary Take on the Traditional Seaside Residence

When the owner of this East Hampton property decided to undertake a renovation of their home, they wanted to veer from the traditional beach style of shingled Hamptons homes. Mojo Stumer Associates approached their client's desires thoughtfully, utilizing the existing building for economic and time efficiency and creating the contemporary East Hampton residence that makes the most of the space's modest footprint.
Tour the modern getaway

Architecture And Design

Performance Artist Marina Abramović Sells her Urban Glass House Apartment for $3 Million

August 6, 2014

Performance Artist Marina Abramović Sells her Urban Glass House Apartment for $3 Million

You might have expected the apartment of Marina Abramović to be intense and dark with large, empty spaces for the world-renowned performance artist to create her highly experimental work, but instead her home is pleasant and light-filled with contemporary furnishings and pops of color. She's leaving the two-bedroom, corner unit at the Urban Glass House, though, as it's sold for $2.995 million, according to city records.
Take a look at the apartment here

AquaFence Flood Barriers Pop Up at NYC Waterfront Buildings

August 6, 2014

AquaFence Flood Barriers Pop Up at NYC Waterfront Buildings

Nearing the two-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, developers, architects, and building owners are still wrestling with how to keep their waterfront properties safe from any future storms that may wash up on New York's shores. Some have moved mechanical systems above ground, white others have installed heavy duty generators and emergency lighting and elevator systems. But a popular preventative mechanism among the posh residences of the West Village and Lower Manhattan is AquaFence, a portable, temporary flood barrier system that can defend structures from flood heights of up to eight feet.
See how this product is constructed and installed

Policy

Spray-Painted Solar Cells Get One Step Closer to Reality

August 5, 2014

Spray-Painted Solar Cells Get One Step Closer to Reality

You may have heard last year that scientists began exploring the idea of spray-paintable solar cells, and now researchers at Sheffield University in England have made a breakthrough that could bring this green energy dream one step closer to reality. The advance comes from the use of organometal halide perkovskite, a mineral/crystal, organic/metal hydra, which offers the potential to combine high-performing, mature solar cell technologies with organic photovoltaics that have a low embedded energy cost.
More on the technology ahead

CB4 Housing Plan Calls for 11,000 Units of Affordable Housing

August 5, 2014

CB4 Housing Plan Calls for 11,000 Units of Affordable Housing

Mayor de Blasio called for all 59 New York City community boards to propose ways to increase the number of affordable housing units within their district, and CB4, which covers Chelsea, Clinton, and Hell's Kitchen, is the first to respond. The Manhattan District Board 4 Affordable Housing Plan was voted on internally by the board on July 23, but is expected to be officially presented to the city on August 8th. The 81-page plan, which could influence affordable housing policy throughout the city, focuses on six major themes that will outline how the west side neighborhoods tackle the addition of 11,000 units of affordable housing.
We break down the themes

Design Trust for Public Space Announces Winning Ideas to Redefine NYC Public Spaces

August 4, 2014

Design Trust for Public Space Announces Winning Ideas to Redefine NYC Public Spaces

Ever walk by an area with park benches, plantings, or public art, and think that something's missing... oh yeah, there's no people. Though positive in theory, some urban public spaces don't engage their communities and aren't efficiently designed. To address this issue, the Design Trust for Public Space held a competition, The Energetic City: Connectivity in the Public Realm, that requested project proposals to seed and develop projects that redefine New York City's public space. Four winning ideas were selected, and their implementation will begin immediately through a design prototype, pilot intervention, public artwork, and research, planning, or public outreach stages.
Check out the winning designs

Architecture And Design

Greenland Forest City Partners Selects COOKFOX and Thomas Balsley for Pacific Park Brooklyn (Formerly Atlantic Yards)

August 4, 2014

Greenland Forest City Partners Selects COOKFOX and Thomas Balsley for Pacific Park Brooklyn (Formerly Atlantic Yards)

Forest City Ratner Companies and Greenland USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Greenland Group, announced today that their new joint venture, Greenland Forest City Partners, has selected COOKFOX Architects to design two residential buildings at their Pacific Park Brooklyn project. They've also chosen Thomas Balsley Associates to design the site's eight-acre public park, which will be called Pacific Park. Formerly known as Atlantic Yards, Pacific Park Brooklyn will be a 22-acre site anchored by the Barclays Center and containing 8 million square feet of mixed-use development. The public park will be revealed in phases, with permanent and temporary installations. COOKFOX has begun the design for its two residential buildings-- 550 Vanderbilt Avenue, set to feature 275 condominiums, and 535 Carlton Avenue, which will have approximately 300 affordable rentals. Construction is expected to begin on the latter this December, with 550 Vanderbilt not far behind. A third residential building will be designed by SHoP Architects, who were the minds behind the Barclays Center, at 30 Sixth Avenue with another 300 affordable rentals.
Much more on the project here

Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block in Cooper Joseph Studio’s Writer’s Studio

August 3, 2014

Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block in Cooper Joseph Studio’s Writer’s Studio

It's not easy working from home as a writer with distractions like family, cell phones, emails, and the myriad of other interruptions that modern life creates. But Cooper Joseph Studio created a place to escape and be one with the keyboard. Nestled in a serene setting in Ghent, New York, the Writer's Studio is the perfect one-person getaway for meditation, writing, or any type of creation expression one might fancy. The single-room studio is a rectangular volume that overlooks ponds and fields on one side and the deep woods on the other. Each façade is specifically designed to highlight its views, and the minimalist interior is accented by walnut and black slate detailing.
More about this writer's dream home straight ahead

Franck Bohbot’s “Light On” Photographs Showcase NYC Landmarks After Dark

August 2, 2014

Franck Bohbot’s “Light On” Photographs Showcase NYC Landmarks After Dark

You haven't truly become a New Yorker until you've learned to love the city in both daylight and darkness, and urban photographer Franck Bohbot has masterfully captured the latter in his series "Light On." Interested in cinematographic iconography and architecture, Bohbot plays with melancholic light and chromatics to highlight the relationship between the individual and his/her surroundings. In "Light On" he produces photos that appear to be stills from a movie, the landmarks warmly aglow against the nighttime background.
More about Bohbot's urban photography

Events & Things To Do

Soo Chan’s Soori High Line Will Offer 16 Private, Heated Swimming Pools

August 1, 2014

Soo Chan’s Soori High Line Will Offer 16 Private, Heated Swimming Pools

Forget public pools and health clubs, the Soori High Line will offer private, heated swimming pools in 16 of its ultra-posh residences. Soo Chan, principal of Singapore-based SCDA Architects, has already made a name for himself in Asia as the pool master, designing towers with up to 120 private swimming holes. Now Chan's water-inspired interiors have also come to the surface in New York. The 11-story, 27-unit building at 522 West 19th Street will feature 16 pools ranging in size from 23 to 26 feet long, 7 to 9 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.
More about the Soori's pools this way

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