Architecture And Design

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

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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
2,000 More Bioswales Will Help NYC Absorb Stormwater
November 11, 2014

2,000 More Bioswales Will Help NYC Absorb Stormwater

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What's a bioswale? (We know that's what you're saying to yourself.) It's a curbside garden built to absorb stormwater. The city currently has about 255 of them, but will be installing an additional 2,000 throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to prepare for the possibility of more intense storms in the future. Not only will the bioswales absorb an estimated 200 million gallons of stormwater each year, but they'll therefore mitigate pollution in the Bronx River, Flushing Bay, Gowanus Canal, Jamaica Bay and Newtown Creek.
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Architect Steven Harris Builds a Floating Staircase to Heaven in This Tribeca Loft Renovation
November 10, 2014

Architect Steven Harris Builds a Floating Staircase to Heaven in This Tribeca Loft Renovation

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Made possible by handiwork from the firm Steven Harris Architects, the design and luxury of this Tribeca loft renovation are magnificent. The entirety of the project included the renovation of a huge penthouse located in a converted 1930s office building into a dream home for one family with three teenagers and no budget constraints. What emerged was this multi-level unit that occupies the 27th and 28th floors with nearly 8,000 square feet of living space. The property features a self-contained guest house, a new glass and teak beam rooftop (which also doubles as a recreation room), and fabulous views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. However, within all of this architectural glory our favorite detail is the elegant floating staircase that climbs up the living room wall and almost into the clouds.
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‘Orange is the New Black’ Actress Alysia Reiner Renovates Historic Harlem Townhouse
November 10, 2014

‘Orange is the New Black’ Actress Alysia Reiner Renovates Historic Harlem Townhouse

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This Harlem townhouse on 128th Street may look like a sunny respite now, but back in 2007 when actress Alysia Reiner and her husband David Alan Basche bought it, the building was nothing but an abandoned space with some dusty (but beautiful) brick walls. Armed with MontesBuild Green Street Construction and their vision to turn it into […]

Tsao & McKown’s Half-Buried Home Tackles the Human Desire for Open and Private Living Space
November 9, 2014

Tsao & McKown’s Half-Buried Home Tackles the Human Desire for Open and Private Living Space

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Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown, partners of Tsao & McKown, designed a stunning minimalist home in Wainscott, New York–a community planned by Richard Meier. The Sagaponac House was created for a hypothetical client, and due to an alteration to the terrain the home is partially underground. This roots it in the landscape while offering both privacy and openness toward the young forest around it.
Learn more about this half-buried home
New Yorker Spotlight: Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Takes Us Inside His Architectural World
November 7, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Takes Us Inside His Architectural World

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From an early age, architect Mark Stumer was practicing skills needed for his future craft. He engaged with the world of design through drawing, admiring buildings in Manhattan, and even studying lobbies and courtyards. It's fair to say that Mark wanted to be an architect before he even knew what one was, or what the job entailed. Genetics likely played a role as his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all in construction. For almost 35 years, Mark and his partner Thomas Mojo have served as principals of Mojo Stumer & Associates, an architectural firm known for their modern designs and incorporation of architecture and interior design. The firm has received numerous accolades, and recently added another AIA Award to their collection. We recently spoke with Mark about his life-long architectural passion.
Read our interview with Mark here
Songpa Micro-Housing: An Apartment That Adjusts to Your Relationship Status
November 7, 2014

Songpa Micro-Housing: An Apartment That Adjusts to Your Relationship Status

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Breaking up is hard to do, especially in New York where shacking up saves you big bucks. And other than mending a broken heart, the worst part is finding a new apartment in a pinch and the dreaded division of belongings. But what if you could just throw a wall in between you and your ex and call it a day? A new design for small-scale housing communities does just that. Songpa Micro-Housing, named for the district of Seoul in which it's located, is a mixed-use building designed by SsD Architecture, a firm based in New York and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has 14 units that can be combined and rearranged to fit lifestyle changes. So, two lovebirds can rent a place together and if it doesn't work out, they can simply separate the units.
Find out more about the adjustable housing
Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look
November 7, 2014

Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look

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An updated rendering of a ground-up, mixed-use tower along the south side of Bryant Park has been revealed on HFZ Capital Group's website. The storied site at 20 West 40th Street was acquired by HFZ after Fortieth St. Partners defaulted on a $44 million loan back in 2010. According to HFZ's project page, the development will include a 5-star hotel, restaurant and bar, and residential condominiums. Construction permits filed last month specify that the hotel-design experts Stonehill & Taylor are the architects of record.
Additional details on the project
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

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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 […]

Bush Terminal Piers Park Opens on the Sunset Park Waterfront
November 7, 2014

Bush Terminal Piers Park Opens on the Sunset Park Waterfront

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Sunset Park has gotten people's attention in recent months–ours included–thanks to an influx of creative and commercial opportunities, as well as the major Industry City development. Located in the former Bush Terminal, the 16-building, 6.5 million-square-foot complex is being remodeled with the intent of creating “a dynamic 21st century innovation and manufacturing community that balances existing manufacturing tenants with those centered on creative and innovation economy fields.” And adjacent to the site is Liberty View Industrial Plaza, an eight-story, 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse that will offer work space. These waterfront developments are touting Sunset Park as a walk-to-work neighborhood, and now residents will have a new park to stroll through on their way in to the office. Bush Terminal Piers Park opened this week after being in the works since the '90s. Extending from 45th to 50th Streets along the waterfront, Brooklyn's newest park sits atop a former toxic waste site, but was cleaned up over the past decade and now offers an esplanade overlooking tide ponds and restored wetlands.
More on the park and its surrounding neighborhood
<b>New York City’s Residential Skyscraper Boom: Living in the Sky Part II</b>
November 6, 2014

New York City’s Residential Skyscraper Boom: Living in the Sky Part II

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You've probably realized that New York is in the midst of a skyscraper boom, but if the ubiquitous scaffolding and sidewalk detours haven't given it away, we bring you further proof — with part two of our series detailing the tallest residential towers set to rise high above the city, forever changing New York's skyline. Compared to the previous 26 projects — the tallest of the tall that included ultra-luxury and super-tall towers such as 432 Park Avenue and 125 Greenwich Street — this second batch is composed of smaller buildings ranging from 500 to 700 feet tall and features greater geographical diversity and lots more rentals. With developers scouring the city for less expensive areas to assemble properties, these often-controversial projects are slated to rise in some of our more human-scaled 'hoods such as East Harlem, South Street Seaport, and Williamsburg.
Will they all get built? Unlikely, but in any case here's our list
Artist Transforms Decrepit Woodstock Property into a Psychedelic Playground and Home
November 6, 2014

Artist Transforms Decrepit Woodstock Property into a Psychedelic Playground and Home

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We know Woodstock, New York is an upstate haven for creative types, but we still had to look twice when we saw this rainbow-colored house gracing its woodsy landscape. Artist Kat O'Sulllivan, also know as Katwise, is the mastermind behind the psychedelic transformation of this barn-home. When she first purchased the property it was a decrepit looking house from the 1840s, far from the graphic masterpiece that it is today. The exterior of her home boasts a vibrant spectrum of colors and patterns, and the interior is equally spectacular and whimsical.
Take a look around the colorful abode
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

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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. […]

Andrew Franz Transforms an Old Soap Factory into a Tranquil Tribeca Oasis
November 5, 2014

Andrew Franz Transforms an Old Soap Factory into a Tranquil Tribeca Oasis

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Architect Andrew Franz is known for his nature-inspired designs, and he has successfully infused his signature aesthetic into the tranquil interior of this Tribeca home. Franz transformed a 19th century Manhattan soap factory into what is now a gorgeous example of adaptive reuse. The designer's goal for this project was to create the feeling of being outdoors when inside the walls of the Romanesque Revival building, while also maintaining as much of the original structure as possible. By combining modern clean lines and open spaces with rustic wooden columns and raw brick walls, Franz creates a visual narrative celebrating the preservation of something old in the creation of something new and beautiful.
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$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

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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
Live Like Hamptons Royalty in the $4.3M Red-Brick Castle
November 5, 2014

Live Like Hamptons Royalty in the $4.3M Red-Brick Castle

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Yes, this Southampton Village home is palatial, but "castle" is not being used here as just an adjective; the historic home is actually titled "the Castle." And it's a fair moniker, as the red-brick residence is covered in romantic ivy, features a dreamy turret and sits on 43 acres. Famed Manhattan interior designer William Sofield of Studio Sofield purchased the estate in 1999 for $830,000 and spent over a decade restoring its original Arts and Crafts style. He has now listed the house, which was built in 1911 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for $4.3 million.
Tour the Castle
<b>How the Historic Apartments and Hotels of the Upper West Side Came to Be</b>
November 4, 2014

How the Historic Apartments and Hotels of the Upper West Side Came to Be

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It's hard to imagine today that people had to be lured to settle on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but such was the case at the turn of the 20th century when the first New York City subway line opened. The Interborough Rapid Transit Line (IRT) started at City Hall, with the most epic of subway stations (now closed off to the public except on official Transit Museum tours). The Astors and other enterprising investors owned the land uptown, purchased in a speculative property boom. Now, the question was how to brand the area.
The history behind the opulent doors of the Upper West Side
Bates Masi’s Northwest Harbor Residence Rises on 16 Piles above a Floodplain Terrain
November 4, 2014

Bates Masi’s Northwest Harbor Residence Rises on 16 Piles above a Floodplain Terrain

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In a post-Sandy world, waterfront residents are faced with the choice of whether or not to raise their homes. Some may worry about the esthetics of this type of renovation, but Bates Masi + Architects' Northwest Harbor residence shows that raised homes can be strikingly beautiful. The green-minded firm works with the environment and not against it. Instead of modifying this East Hampton terrain, they allowed the natural landscape to take the lead. The stunning result is supported by 16 sturdy stilts that raise this wooden dwelling right above an unsettling floodplain terrain while improving the overall environmental quality of the unique wooden home.
Learn more about this stunning high up home
1/2 Stool by WITAMINA D Mixes Wood and Metal
November 4, 2014

1/2 Stool by WITAMINA D Mixes Wood and Metal

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If we had to pick out the ugliest items in our house, the step stool would probably top the list. Typically an unattractive hunk of  plastic or miniature-ladder-looking apparatus, these pieces are extremely functional (especially in New York where we have to build up), but not usually designed with style in mind. That's why we love the 1/2 Stool by Malgorzata Knobloch and Igor Wiktorowicz of WITAMINA D. It's an appealing combination of half a tree trunk and a technical, laser-cut metal base. And it's certainly sturdy enough to endure the wear and tear of an urban abode.
More on the 1/2 Stool
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
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
Poorex’s Tripod Furniture Makes a Statement on Three Legs
November 3, 2014

Poorex’s Tripod Furniture Makes a Statement on Three Legs

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As New Yorkers, we're always on the hunt for space-saving furniture, but oftentimes those pieces don't quite meet our design esthetics. The Tripod Furniture collection, however, is an exception. Created by Polish design studio Poorex, the beach wood furniture puts a contemporary twist on the classic photography stand. The collection includes a lamp, clock, an adjustable mirror, two types of tables, and a toy. And since the pieces are able to expand and contract, the user can modify the tripod's height and angle to their specific needs, as well as fold it up for easy storage.
More details on the Tripod Furniture
Copper-Clad Writer’s Cabin by Andrew Berman Changes Color with the Sun
November 3, 2014

Copper-Clad Writer’s Cabin by Andrew Berman Changes Color with the Sun

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Some people need a tranquil, secluded space to create, and this stunning writing studio by Andrew Berman Architect is the perfect place to fulfill that need. Located in Bellport, New York, on Long Island's South Shore, this unique shelter is certainly eye-catching as it's entirely clad in copper. In addition to boasting a large central window that overlooks the green landscape, this charming abode also changes color depending on the light. Talk about an ideal spot for daydreaming and curing writer's block...
More on the house here
Today’s the Day: Condé Nast Moves into One World Trade Center
November 3, 2014

Today’s the Day: Condé Nast Moves into One World Trade Center

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More than nine years after ground broke at One World Trade Center, the tower's first and largest tenant, Condé Nast, is moving in. Though the media company will not complete its move until January, the relocation actually began last weekend when 2,800 orange crates full of files, photos, and books were carted downtown from the media company's Times Square office. Today, 175 employees will start their days at One WTC, the first wave of the 3,400 employees at 18 magazines. And as the New York Times notes, the scene they're encountering is much different than when construction began nearly a decade ago. As the number of financial institutions has declined, tech firms, advertising agencies, and media companies have made the Financial District their new home, along with a residential population of 61,000.
More on the big move here
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