All articles by Diane Pham

Diane is the founder and Editorial Director of 6sqft. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Real Estate Finance & Development and a minor in Architecture, she enjoyed stints at SCI-Arc, the A+D Museum Los Angeles, Perkins Eastman Architects and Resolution 4: Architecture. She also previously served as Senior Editor of Inhabitat.com and spent several years as an analyst at CB Richard Ellis Investments in Milan, Italy.
The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here
November 17, 2014

The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here

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Those who've been waiting for a glimpse into the late Lauren Bacall's Dakota apartment will finally have their curiosity quelled. Curbed has just spotted the official listing for Ms. Bacall's sprawling Central Park West home and, as expected, it boasts a $26 million asking price. It was previously reported that the apartment was in need of quite a bit of work, but by the looks of things, the home is in fine shape with many of its original 19th century details still intact, including the original plaster moldings, pocket doors, fireplaces, wainscoting and hardware.
Inside the Dakota apartment
VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”
November 17, 2014

VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”

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15 Central Park West is frequently in the news—whether it's because a new celeb has moved in, or that it's recorded yet another blockbuster sale. But standing far from the limelight is the building's architect, Robert A.M. Stern, who, like his buildings, opts for the stately, subdued and classic over the winding and twisting standalones of his contemporaries. "We have a lot of silly buildings being built, in my opinion. The buildings should not look like Lady Gaga,” the architect says. In the latest installment of the Louisiana Channel Stern discusses what might be his most famous project, 15 CPW, and why he strives for buildings that complement, not dominate.
Watch the interview here
20 Years from Now We May Sorely Regret Building All of These Glass Towers

What Manhattan will look like in 2018. Many of the buildings going up will be wrapped in glass. Image via CityRealty

November 14, 2014

20 Years from Now We May Sorely Regret Building All of These Glass Towers

By
Providing more affordable housing to New Yorkers is at the top of the De Blasio administration's agenda, but greening the city is certainly a major concern as well. It is anticipated that a new bill aimed at cutting the city's greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 will be signed in to law, much of which is expected to center on green building. Ambitious, yes—but is 2050 too late? The Globe and Mail recently interviewed Canadian architect and journalist Lloyd Alter on the glass condo obsession, which, as with NYC, is taking the cities of Vancouver and Toronto by storm. What Alter shares for the future of glass towers worldwide is quite bleak, but he also proposes a number of measures and case studies that NYC developers should certainly take note of if they want to reduce costs and keep property values up in the long run.
Find out more here
Checking In on the Progress of Zaha Hadid’s High Line Condos
November 14, 2014

Checking In on the Progress of Zaha Hadid’s High Line Condos

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Of the condos planned along the High Line Park, one of the most—if not the most—anticipated addition comes via Zaha Hadid. One of our intrepid reporters recently stopped by the construction site located at 520 West 28th Street to see how works are coming along, and it looks like the site is near-ready for its starchitect treatment. […]

Real Estate Wire: Inside the Kelley Mansion’s Top Floor Apartment; Ben Shaoul Wants $73M Cash for 62 Bloom
November 14, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Inside the Kelley Mansion’s Top Floor Apartment; Ben Shaoul Wants $73M Cash for 62 Bloom

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The top floor of the historic Kelley Mansion in Bed-Stuy hides an interesting apartment with an unexpected modern design. [Curbed] Ben Shaoul is looking to sell 62 Bloom for $73M cash. [TRD] 532 West 20th Street, the site of an art gallery near the High Line, has sold for $24.25M to luxury condo builder DDG. [Crain’s] Development sites at the south of […]

One57 Is the City’s Most Expensive Condo Building
November 13, 2014

One57 Is the City’s Most Expensive Condo Building

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15 Central Park West has held strong as the most expensive condo building in New York City for the last two quarters, according to CityRealty. But while perusing their latest report we were led to their dynamic CR100 building list which reveals that.... wait for it... One57 is, as we speak, the most expensive building in the city. With an average closing price of $6,703 per square foot, this building boasts a per-square-foot premium of $286 per square foot over its predecessor, 15CPW. Units currently up for grabs also top the charts at an incredible $6,719 per square foot.
READ MORE
Your Brain on Architecture: Neuroscientific Proof That Design Matters
November 12, 2014

Your Brain on Architecture: Neuroscientific Proof That Design Matters

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If there were ever a case to hire an architect and not skimp on design, a new study revealing that certain styles of architecture can have a measurable effect on one's mental state might be a good foundation. The new research, conducted by a team of architects and neuroscientists, uses a fMRI to capture the effects of architecture on the brains of a set of subjects as they thumb through images of "contemplative architecture" such as churches and temples. The fact that architecture can have an impact on well-being may be a "duh" conclusion to you, but for most it is not. And this architectural neuroscience team is making it their goal to turn the way in which individuals experience slight nuances in our built environment into scientific observations that can be applied to the design of buildings and urban planning.
More on the study here
Where I Work: Check out Chip Brian’s design empire (and coffee shop) in Long Island City
November 11, 2014

Where I Work: Check out Chip Brian’s design empire (and coffee shop) in Long Island City

By
Chip Brian may look like he's all business, but he's a builder and a Californian with an inclination for all things sustainable. The founder of Design Development NYC (DD), Best & Co. and a new and experimental venture called Neue Atelier, Chip has managed to build a creative empire that, luckily for his busy clients, is a one-stop design/build shop that brings architecture, renovation and furnishings under one roof. We recently stopped by his Long Island City space where he gave us the grand tour of the studio.
Inside the studio here
Urban Reviewer: A New Map Tool Reveals NYC’s Vacant Lots Ready for Revitalization
November 10, 2014

Urban Reviewer: A New Map Tool Reveals NYC’s Vacant Lots Ready for Revitalization

By
New York City is home to some of the world's most spectacular parks, and though we may pride ourselves on these well-tended green spaces, more than a handful of neighborhoods don't see more than a single tree for every 60-foot stretch of concrete. Enter 596 Acres, a grassroots land access nonprofit looking to change all of this with the Urban Reviewer. Developed with the help of a team of volunteer researchers, urban planners and designers, this new online tool allows anyone to view the staggering amount of publicly-owned lots that once had an urban renewal plan in the pipeline but were scrapped due to bureaucracy. By mapping out all of the vacant spaces across the city, 596 hopes that we as a community can take a top-down approach to turning these urban blights into public gardens, play lots, and spaces where people can “co-create.”
Find out more here
Real Estate Wire: What Will Manhattan’s Skyline Look Like in 2018?
November 10, 2014

Real Estate Wire: What Will Manhattan’s Skyline Look Like in 2018?

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A fantastic projection of what Manhattan’s skyline could look like in 2018. Things are getting very tall and crowded, to say the least. [CityRealty] A month after launching sales, a quarter of the Beekman Residence’s 68 condos are under contract for an average price of $2,200 per square foot. [TRD] Research who your future neighbors will be. [NYT] The Coney Island […]

Tenement Talks: Learn About Lowline’s Past and the Underground Park That May One Day Fill It
November 7, 2014

Tenement Talks: Learn About Lowline’s Past and the Underground Park That May One Day Fill It

By

Ever since architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch announced their plan to turn a forgotten trolley terminal below Delancey Street into an underground park, design enthusiasts, urban planners, locals, celebs, and, well, just about everyone who’s caught wind of it has been waiting in anticipation for what’s to come. The push to make this cool concept […]

Award-Winning Playwright Bathsheba Doran Buys a Skylit Clinton Hill Loft for $1.3M
November 7, 2014

Award-Winning Playwright Bathsheba Doran Buys a Skylit Clinton Hill Loft for $1.3M

By
It looks like British playwright Bathsheba Doran is firmly planting roots in Brooklyn with the purchase of a beautiful new loft in Clinton Hill. According to city records, the critically-acclaimed writer (who also penned season three of Boardwalk Empire) has just purchased a home at 334 Grand Avenue for $1.3 million. The lovely two-bedroom loft sits within a classic carriage house and could easily be the setting of one of Doran's riveting works. The home is naturally lit with numerous skylights punctuating almost every room, and for those peaceful moments spent contemplating life and work, this charming abode comes with its own private deck hugged by lush trees—led to, of course, by a spiral staircase. Could this loft get any cuter?
Tour this bright and beautiful apartment here
Real Estate Wire: Four Floors of a Brooklyn Office Building Up for $100M; Effort to Storm-Proof 70K NYC Buildings
November 6, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Four Floors of a Brooklyn Office Building Up for $100M; Effort to Storm-Proof 70K NYC Buildings

By

The top four floors of a six-story Downtown Brooklyn building have hit the market for $100M. The property, located at 180 Livingston Street, comes with 165,000 square feet of fully leased office space and the potential to add another 140,000 square feet, possibly for residential use. [Crain’s] The Federal Emergency Management Agency will look into storm-proofing 70,000 NYC buildings. […]

BKSK Proposes an Undulating Glass Topper for the Landmarked Tammany Hall
November 6, 2014

BKSK Proposes an Undulating Glass Topper for the Landmarked Tammany Hall

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The landmarked Tammany Hall at 44 Union Square East could be getting a modern makeover in the form of a restored facade, brand new storefront, 27,000 square feet of office space, and, most notably, a two-story glass dome topper that would bring the height of the building up to 85 feet. BKSK Architects presented their plans to gut and revamp the historic building this week to the Community Board 5’s Landmarks Committee. And though no one could argue with the design's glassy allure, board members were otherwise not all that thrilled.
Find out more here
Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Will Go for a Jaw-Dropping $26 Million
November 6, 2014

Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Will Go for a Jaw-Dropping $26 Million

By

Since Lauren Bacall passed away this summer, many have been watching the iconic actress’s longtime Dakota home in hopes of catching a glimpse of the interior—and a chance at owning Hollywood history. Now word has it that the residence will hit the market any minute now with Warburg Realty brokering what is expected to be a $26 million listing. […]

$3.58M Forsyth Revitalization Project Will Bring an Elevated Park Off the Manhattan Bridge
November 5, 2014

$3.58M Forsyth Revitalization Project Will Bring an Elevated Park Off the Manhattan Bridge

By
If you've ever walked or biked across the Manhattan Bridge, or simply tried to make your way past the off-ramp on foot, you know that it can be a heart-thumping jaunt that often requires expert maneuvering to avoid collision. A new design proposed for a triangular section of land beside the Manhattan Bridge along Forsyth Street could bring some much-needed calm to the frenetic energy of this area. Tomorrow, the Department of Design and Construction will present their plan to transform this elevated space into a public green space that's being likened to the High Line Park.
Find out more here
Easily Outfit Your Home in Greenery with Plant Wall Design’s Vertical Garden
November 5, 2014

Easily Outfit Your Home in Greenery with Plant Wall Design’s Vertical Garden

By
Urban gardeners rejoice! Your chance to truly flex your green thumb has come with Plant Wall Design's Live Vertical Garden. This lovely design comes in mahogany wood with an oil or painted finish and is ready to enliven the most elegant to the most industrial of homes. Plants can be even be grown on both sides of the wall, so if you've been looking for a colorful and creative room partition—or if you're just looking for a new centerpiece—this garden wall is the way to go.
See some of the modular designs waiting for you here
Real Estate Wire: Pearl Paint Building on Canal Sells to Vornado; Tips for Cohabiting Couples
November 4, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Pearl Paint Building on Canal Sells to Vornado; Tips for Cohabiting Couples

By

Vornado has purchased the Pearl Paint building on Canal Street for $16.4M. [TRD] Tips for couples cohabiting for the first time. [Brick Underground] The Brooklyn Public Library is pondering knocking down its one-story Sunset Park branch library and replacing it with an eight-story building boasting a bigger library topped with affordable rental apartments. [DNA Info] Checking in on the […]

See How Top Architects Build Sculptures from 100,000 Cans of Food to Help the Hungry
November 4, 2014

See How Top Architects Build Sculptures from 100,000 Cans of Food to Help the Hungry

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Food drives and can collections are not uncommon as we approach the holidays. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, Canstruction is back again for its 22nd year with a brand new exhibit that invites New Yorkers to not only think about food in a whole new way, but to take part in a good cause. This year's event has invited 32 teams made up of NYC's top architecture and engineering design firms to turn 100,000 cans of food into spectacular sculptures at Brookfield Place. To give you a taste of what's to come when the exhibit opens this Thursday, some of last year's participants included big names like Skanska, Perkins Eastman, CetraRuddy, Ennead Architects, Arup, and Dattner Architects. Yes, these are more than just a bunch of stacked cans.
More on the new exhibit
Midtown Site of the Iconic Lutèce Restaurant Sells for $17M – Will It Be Demolished?
November 4, 2014

Midtown Site of the Iconic Lutèce Restaurant Sells for $17M – Will It Be Demolished?

By
These three townhouses may not look like much to you, but they've for decades been making appearances in pop culture, from the penned to motion pictures, including The Prince of Tides, Wall Street, Crossing Delancey, and most recently, Mad Men. Located at 249-253 East 50th Street, this site once housed the world-renowned Lutèce restaurant. Though today the structures can be described as dilapidated at best, that hasn't stopped a group of Chinatown investors from scooping up the properties for $17 million from East 50th Development LLC. Now in new hands, what's up next for this famed locale?
More details here
Staten Island’s Abandoned 45-Acre Farm Colony Will Be Revitalized to Include a Massive Public Park
November 3, 2014

Staten Island’s Abandoned 45-Acre Farm Colony Will Be Revitalized to Include a Massive Public Park

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Staten Island's renaissance continues to move full steam ahead as the Landmarks Preservation Commission has unanimously approved the rehab of the long-abandoned poorhouse and farm located on the oft forgotten borough. Curbed reports that the New York City Farm Colony will be redeveloped into 350 units of senior housing with some retail space in a new eco-minded project called 'Landmark Colony'. The plan, which is being spearheaded by NFC Associates in cooperation with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Vengoechea + Boyland Architecture was lauded for its site-sensitive design and ample green space.
find out more here
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