Architecture And Design

REVEALED: Interior Renderings for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed 520 Park Avenue
December 11, 2014

REVEALED: Interior Renderings for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed 520 Park Avenue

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Robert A.M. Stern's 520 Park Avenue has already been called "the next 15 Central Park West," and like its Stern predecessor, 520 is an ultra-luxury development with a stately façade wrapped in stone. Set to be completed in 2016, it will rise 51 stories high, but contain just 31 units, one of which is the $130 million penthouse, the city's most expensive apartment. And though most of the attention has been on "the greatest apartment on the Upper East Side," the fanfare has now shifted to the first batch of interior renderings for the building. 520 Park's full website is now live, and not surprisingly, the residences have classic layouts, impressive Central Park views, and a host of high-end amenities.
Take the tour here
Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street
December 10, 2014

Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street

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For New Yorkers addicted to their smart phones, standing still at traffic lights must be quite painful (unless they're texting of course), but a fun new invention would help pass those 13 seconds in no time. Known as the ActiWait project, this street light installation allows pedestrians on either side of a street to play pong (or "street pong," if you will) with each other while waiting to cross. There are currently two sets of the touch-screen devices installed in Hildesheim, Germany, so it shouldn't be long before New Yorkers are running late to work due to an intense game of pong on Park Avenue.
More on the ActiWait street pong project here
In.Site-Architecture’s Southern Tier BARNagain Is Built from Old Barns
December 10, 2014

In.Site-Architecture’s Southern Tier BARNagain Is Built from Old Barns

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Instead of building a new home from scratch, a resourceful family decided to put all of the wood they salvaged from a few local barns to good use. They called up In.Site-Architecture to help them on their journey, and what they got was a reclaimed wood dwelling with a stunning modern meets rustic look.
Learn more about the recycled BARNagain
6sqft Gift Guide: Wacaco’s On-the-Go Espresso Maker Can Fit Inside a Purse
December 9, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Wacaco’s On-the-Go Espresso Maker Can Fit Inside a Purse

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If you've got someone on your gift list that's overworked, under-caffeinated and looking for a better way to get their fix (this is New York, after all), look no further than Wacaco's Minipresso as the perfect present. This portable hand-held device is a godsend for those who frequently need a boost but don't have the time to wait in long coffee shop lines—or simply for those with a more discerning taste for the finer grounds in life.
More on this cool high-caf design here
Greenpoint Townhouse by WeDesign WeBuild Has a Unique Point of View
December 9, 2014

Greenpoint Townhouse by WeDesign WeBuild Has a Unique Point of View

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We love Greenpoint. We also love great design, and this beautiful townhouse brings those two fabulous things together. From the design team at WeDesign WeBuild, the interior of this home is a fresh approach to color, texture and light. With subtle Scandinavian-style touches, warm natural elements, and crisp white walls, this home could easily turn any self-professed Manhattanite into a happy Brooklyn dweller.
Take a look around
Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D in the All-Glass Photon Space
December 9, 2014

Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D in the All-Glass Photon Space

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It's raining, it's pouring, and all we can think of are sunnier days. Before people knew the health risks of tanning beds, they were a welcome cure for the winter blues, and a new, first-of-its-kind, all-glass modular structure could be just the safe replacement we've been looking for. The Photon Space was recently launched on Crowdcube, a British crowdfunding platform, by the Photon Project, a group of innovators in the fields of architecture, technology, engineering and design, along with scientists at Oxford University. It is a 147-foot compact living space that takes into account the health benefits of exposure to natural light. The distinguishing element of the Photon Space is its intelligent glass architecture, which can change in an instant from transparent to opaque.
More on the structure ahead
Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America
December 9, 2014

Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America

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Since the opening of One World Trade Center just a few weeks ago, the world has been in an uproar over the design and the incredible cost of making New York's tallest tower a reality. But one feature that we all seemed to have forgotten was the promise that the tower would be the greenest building in America. A recent City Lab article looks at what went wrong, and why, in a race to meet contractual obligations to its anchor tenant, Condé Nast, the development dumped a major part of its plans to go green, currently leaving the building in a state of noncompliance.
Find out more here
Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn
December 8, 2014

Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn

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Architect Ben Hansen’s State Street townhouse is a contemporary masterpiece located in one of Brooklyn’s most charming neighborhoods. Originally a dated townhome with a dysfunctional floor plan, Hansen used this project as a chance to reinterpret the classic brownstone typology as a modern home suited for a young couple and their three small children. Hansen gutted the interior and joined the parlor floor rooms to create a space that both allows the home's inhabitants to move easily between spaces and enjoy their verdant surroundings from within.
Take the tour here
This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M
December 8, 2014

This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M

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This massive house, located at 4547 Livingston Avenue in the Bronx's beautiful historic Fieldston neighborhood, is 17 rooms deep, boasts 10,450 square feet, and is now available for $7,950,000 (h/t Curbed). Built in 1911 with fieldstone quarried from the property, the home was last sold in 1984 for $451,000 to philanthropists Harvey and Jayne Beker. Over the past 30 years they meticulously renovated and expanded the property with no detail left behind. The mansion now boasts an indoor lap pool with Jacuzzi, a heated driveway, a paved terrace that can accommodate a 100-person dinner party, and an "au pair suite."
Tour the massive Bronx home here
The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat
December 7, 2014

The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat

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BarlisWedlick Architects LLC joined forces with Bill Stratton Building Company to create this sweet, high-performance and very quick-to-build home. The stunning glazed dwelling sits within the Hudson Valley just two hours north of the city. Dubbed the Hudson Passive Project, this cutting-edge dream home is not only beautiful, it's proudly New York State's first-ever certified passive house.
Learn more about the stunning Hudson Passive Project
New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free
December 6, 2014

New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free

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One of the city's most mysterious buildings has become a whole lot less intriguing with this newly released rendering from Massey Knakal. The image, which was pulled from the marketing materials of the broker by Bowery Boogie, shows a very pristine 190 Bowery totally free of graffiti and all lit up. Formerly the Germania Bank Building—and formerly the home of photographer Jay Maisel—the massive 72-room building was reportedly recently purchased by Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for an undisclosed amount (the sale has yet to hit city records) and, to much surprise, was put back on the market just a couple of weeks ago as a flip.
Find out more here
REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

L to R: Building 1, Building 2 (21 West End Avenue), Building 3, Building 4, Building 5 (1 West End Avenue)

December 5, 2014

REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

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The final appearance of Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center master plan is coming into full view. A bevy of images depicting three never-before-seen crystalline towers have been released by Goldstein Hill & West Architects, giving us a more complete look at what the two-block site will ultimately look like circa 2018. The city-approved plan will ultimately hold three acres of open space and five mixed-use buildings containing approximately 2,500 condo and rental units, a public school, a hotel, a movie theater and an auto showroom.
More details ahead
Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract
December 5, 2014

Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract

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The Naftali Group's 12-story condominium dubbed The Seymour has topped out just six months after breaking ground. Though we've yet to see the traditional topping-out tree, a flag can be seen pitched atop the concrete frame of the building's bulkhead–a sure sign of the completion. Sales have been just as speedy with more than half of the building's 67 units in contract. According to CityRealty, there are currently nine units available on the market with an average price of $1,882 per square foot, ranging from $1.3 million for a one-bedroom unit to $3.95 million for a three-bedroom home on the 10th floor.
More details here (plus learn the origins of
Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

Green-Wood Cemetery via wallyg via photopin cc

December 5, 2014

Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

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Major controversy ensued earlier this week between preservationists and city officials when the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) released a proposal to de-calendar 94 historic sites and two historic districts. The plan would have left these locations, including Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, completely unprotected and ripe for alterations […]

Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M
December 5, 2014

Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M

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One of Lamb & Rich’s original townhouses in the West End-Collegiate Historic District is resolving to find a new owner in the New Year. The flexible 6,875-square-foot layout can either be a sprawling 6-8 bedroom single-family mansion, or a spacious quadruplex with a separate garden duplex rental. Add to that late 19th century original details and modern updates, and this could be the perfect home for anybody...with $10.9 million in their pocket.
Take a look inside here
Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan
December 5, 2014

Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan

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The tallest residential building in the outer boroughs is underway, and no, it's not going to be in boomtown Brooklyn, but rather along the rapidly evolving corridor of Queens Plaza in Long Island City. 42-12 28th Street will soar 57 stories from an 18,000-square-foot lot and will contain 447 luxury rental units. At its 635-foot projected height, it will be just 20 feet shy of the current outer borough tallest, One Court Square (the "Citi" building). Recently posted images on Goldstein Hill & West's revamped website reveal some new aspects of the project, including its ground-level street frontage and an "extensive" amenity package to include a swimming pool directly linked to an outdoor roof deck.
More details on the record-setting project
Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat
December 4, 2014

Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat

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Plenty of New Yorkers have already begun weekend trips up to their second homes in the Berkshires, but once the snow starts falling all the winter-loving urbanites will really start making an exodus. And this estate in Red Rock, New York couldn't be any more perfect for a festive getaway. The work of Anmahian Winton Architects, the Red Rock House is a property made up of the main one-bedroom house and a combined guest house/garage. It's situated on a densely wooded, 16-acre site and was designed to work with the existing topography, taking advantage of the landscape, views, and daylight.
Tour the entire property
Lowline Underground Park Creators Want to Open “Lowline Lab,” a Research Hub and Exhibition Spot
December 4, 2014

Lowline Underground Park Creators Want to Open “Lowline Lab,” a Research Hub and Exhibition Spot

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Four years ago, likely inspired by the wildly successful High Line, architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch revealed their plan to turn the forgotten historic trolley terminal below Delancey Street on the Lower East Side into a solar-powered underground park. By 2012, the Lowline had raised over $155,000 from 3,300 donors on Kickstarter, setting a record for the largest number of supporters for an urban design project on the platform. And now, with design competitions, support from elected officials, and planning studies under their belt, the Lowline team is aiming to complete negotiations with the MTA and the city by 2017, anticipating a 2018 opening. But the latest component of the $55 million project is the development by May 2015 of the "Lowline Lab," a year-round nucleus serving as a research hub and exhibition spot, and going by the success of their previous crowdfunding campaign, the team is once again reaching out to the public to fund the initiative.
More details on the Lowline Lab ahead
Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views
December 3, 2014

Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views

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The idea of creating a glass observation deck is nothing new, but the Hudson Yards development wants to push the limits with a seemingly perilous glass-enclosed capsule 1,000 feet up in the sky. According to the NYP, the "thrill device" is modeled after the glass module located 350 feet above Royal Caribbean cruise ship Quantum of the Seas, but amped up with a tilting glass walkway. A detailed design of what will be the tallest observation deck in the city has yet to be revealed, but when Related Hudson Yards President Jay Cross spoke about it at the Young Men's/Women's Real Estate luncheon back in November, he said, “You can choose to pay for it separately and crap your pants.”
Find out more
Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities
December 3, 2014

Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities

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Interior design buffs are undoubtedly familiar with J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons's former home; it was featured in countless magazines and blogs, hailed for its mix of traditional pieces with mid-century modern and pops of color. But in 2012, after a bidding war that included prospective buyers being asked to write personal essays, she sold the 19th century Park Slope pad for $4 million to Vince Clarke, founder of Depeche Mode, and his wife Tracy Martin, CEO of the Morbid Anatomy Museum. And needless to say, they gave the 4,000-square-foot home quite the overhaul, infusing it with a mix of historic styles and curious touches that could serve double duty in Martin's taxidermy-filled museum. The masterminds behind the transformation were Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the founders of design firm Roman and Williams, who created a home that looks like it was furnished in the last century. Their goal was to embrace the home’s historic details while achieving an idiosyncratic and moody approach.
Tour the curiosity-filled home here
QUIZ: Can You Guess When This Building Was Constructed?
December 3, 2014

QUIZ: Can You Guess When This Building Was Constructed?

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Modernism, neoclassical, deconstructivism, colonial. You may know your architectural styles, but what if a glassy building was really built in the early 1900s? Would that trip you up? This fun BuzzFeed Quiz rounds up a few tricky buildings whose styles differ from those of the decade in which they were actually constructed. See if you can figure out what was built when, ahead. […]

95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

The currently calendared Pepsi sign in Long Island City via gigi_nyc via photopin cc

December 2, 2014

95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

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Just a month before the year-long celebration of the landmarks law's 50th anniversary is set to commence, the preservation community was dealt what is perhaps its biggest blow since the demolition of Penn Station. The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission revealed in its public review meeting last Wednesday that it would de-calendar 95 historic sites and two historic districts throughout the five boroughs, removing the historic buildings and spaces from the landmarking to-do list and leaving them completely unprotected. Proponents of the plan argue that many places on the list have been there for 50 years, and their removal would free up the LPC's backlog. Preservationists dismiss this claim, citing that the fact that the historic sites have sat unlandmarked for so long is all the more reason this out-of-nowhere proposal is bad public policy. Some of the more high-profile locations under consideration include Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
More on the de-calendaring and what it means
Fabrica718 Transforms Industrial Space into Cool Williamsburg Loft Perfect for Work and Play
December 2, 2014

Fabrica718 Transforms Industrial Space into Cool Williamsburg Loft Perfect for Work and Play

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Most New Yorkers are well aware that a short ride over the Williamsburg Bridge will put you in one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city. This cool pad, located on Jackson Street in Williamsburg, was previously outfitted for a manufacturing business, but was recently converted into a design office and residential loft. The design team responsible for the upgrade is Fabrica718, and their goal was to optimize the common spaces to account for all of their client's needs. The stylish new interior is the perfect combination of the hip and rustic styles that typify the surrounding neighborhood's attitude.
Check out the rest of the home
6sqft Gift Guide: Neighborwoods Map Coasters
December 2, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Neighborwoods Map Coasters

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Coasters are definitely high on the list of "gifts for people who you don't know what to give," and if you're like us, you're always searching for sets that aren't the standard square cloths or round pieces of wood. So, we've found the perfect coasters--not only are they unique and visually appealing, but they have a personal touch. Neighborwoods Map Coasters were created by San Francisco graphic designer Aymie Spitzer, who has a passion for hand-lettered vernacular and antique maps. The cedar wood coasters celebrate the special neighborhoods of some of the country's biggest urban sites, including Manhattan and Brooklyn.
More on Neighborwoods Coasters here
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