Architecture And Design

It's not often that a New York City architect gets to work with an extra-wide townhouse, but the Brooklyn Courtyard House afforded DXA Studio just that opportunity. The client had purchased a standard 17-foot-wide townhouse in Cobble Hill, as well as the adjacent vacant lot, giving DXA over 30 feet of developable space. The firm used this chance to create a 5,600-square-foot, three-story home that blends with its Italianate neighbors from the outside and is entirely arranged around a central courtyard inside.
Check out the Brooklyn beauty

October 10, 2014

$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living

By Stephanie Hoina

Not only is this rare 1882 brownstone situated in the heart of one of New York City’s quintessential family-friendly neighborhoods, the home itself is perfectly suited for familial bonding of another kind – multigenerational living. With an owner’s triplex over a floor-through garden apartment, this lovely residence at 107 St. John’s Place in Park Slope speaks to the time-honored tradition of sharing space with extended family. But if you’re not quite ready for the whole “Everybody Loves Raymond” scenario, having a sought-after income-producing rental is still a wonderful perk, and only one of the home’s many charms.
See more of this classic 1882 brownstone

New 35-Story DoubleTree Hotel by Gene Kaufman Coming to Midtown West

Rendering of DoubleTree Hotel via Gene Kaufman (L); The project site at 350 West 40th Street (R)

October 10, 2014

New 35-Story DoubleTree Hotel by Gene Kaufman Coming to Midtown West

Fresh renderings have been posted for a new 35-story hotel currently undergoing excavation at 350 West 40th Street. Located just southwest of Times Square and directly across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the block-front between Eighth and Ninth Avenues has been the victim of a half-dozen mid-range hotels. With the large blank wall of the bus terminal on one side and an ungainly assortment of budget hotels, walk-ups, and parking lots on the other, the street may be a worthy contender for the "Ugliest Street in Midtown." The project was first revealed by YIMBY last spring. Permits call for a 315-foot, 594-room DoubleTree Hotel designed by Gene Kaufman and developed by Sam Chang of McSam Hotels. McSam--which already has several hotels up and running on the block including a Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Hampton Inn--has been one of the city's most active and notorious developers in the last decade.
More on the project here

<b>Sukkot Architecture: New York City’s Sukkahs Come in All Shapes, Sizes, and Locations</b>

Photo © Paul Clemence

October 9, 2014

Sukkot Architecture: New York City’s Sukkahs Come in All Shapes, Sizes, and Locations

By Susan Cohen

The Jewish holiday Sukkot, which began on Wednesday evening, has architecture, construction, and design built into the festival. To observe the holiday, Jews around the world build and decorate temporary "booths" known as sukkahs, and spend Sukkot's eight days eating meals with friends and family inside them. Depending on one's level of observance, some individuals sleep in them as well. When it comes to sukkahs in New York, where backyards are few and far between, institutions and individuals take advantage of the space available to them. This includes having sukkahs in parks or courtyards, on roofs and balconies, and even on the sidewalk dining area of a restaurant. We wanted to highlight a few of the city's sukkahs with particular interest to either their location, design, or both.
See sukkahs we've spotted around the city

October 9, 2014

Futuristic-looking Pink Amoeba by THEVERYMANY Wants You to Explore Its Insides

The latest art installation at the Storefront for Art and Architecture is much more than a futuristic-looking pink amoeba. Oslo-based artist Jana Winderen and Architect Marc Fornes of THEVERYMANY have created this interactive piece, entitled Situation NY, as a way to invite visitors to question the properties of matter and the built environment surrounding us. A vibrating sound piece, it also uses light and form to heighten the experience.
Lots more on the installation ahead

October 9, 2014

Ghislaine Viñas Brings a Whimsical Edge to the Interior Design of a Hip Tribeca Loft

Tribeca's own Ghislaine Viñas is back with another loft interior in the neighborhood that is a dynamic combo of sophistication, whimsy, and a harder edge. The playfully shaped accent pieces and confident color combinations are the finishing details that make Ghislaine Viñas' signature style. From a cable wired bed frame to the dark wood dining room table, the range of material, color, and influence used in this loft is nothing short of a good time.
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October 8, 2014

Landmarked 1867 Nomad Building May Recieve Blade Runner-Like Addition

Another iteration of a towering addition to a landmarked NoMad building has emerged from the 3-D visualization wizzes at Avoid Obvious. YIMBY broke the news back in March of a 20-story tower designed by the Spector Group and Think Architecture atop a charming commercial building at the northwest corner of West 27th Street and Broadway. Both iterations of Spector Group's design reveal a clean visual break between old and new: a restored neoclassical façade juxtaposed with a setback glassy prism rising above. The new reveal shows a more sculptural and chiseled tower rather than a Trump SoHo-like prism of clean vertical lines. It's unclear if this proposal is still on the table and if the Spector Group remains involved.
More on the design here

October 8, 2014

Orwell Hybrid Bed-Sofa-Cabin Recaptures the Intimacy of Home

The Orwell is a delightful design that combines the best of a sofa, bed, and cabin into one well-rounded piece of furniture. Designers Pablo Figuera and Álvaro Goula selected the name Orwell in reference to the surname of the '1984' writer and the impetus of the product idea "to recapture the intimacy which can sometimes be lost, even within our own homes." The piece is not only a place to sit or lie down, but it's also an invitation to climb inside and revisit the pillow-fort of your childhood.
More on the design

October 8, 2014

House in the Berkshires by David Hotson Is Made of Two Shed-Roofed Bars

This eco-friendly home in the Berkshires was designed by architect David Hotson to serve two functions-- a private getaway for the client (a couple with grown children) and a summer and winter vacation house to accommodate large family gatherings. And it's just about that time when the owners will have to start planning for their holiday get-togethers, which is likely a bit less stressful since the dwelling was built with these events in mind. The house is perched on a wooded hillside that slopes down toward an open clearing. It's composed of two long, parallel shed-roofed bars that run east to west, perpendicular to the site's slope.
More on the innovative design

Bunny Mellon’s Incredible Upper East Side Mansion Finds a Buyer for $41M

By Annie Doge

After a year on the market, this incredible Upper East Side mansion designed by Bunny Mellon has finally found a family ready to call it home. According to the Observer, the 1960s townhouse currently owned by Irish businessman Tony White and his wife Clare just went into contract for $41 million. The couple originally paid $22.5 million for it in 2006, and when it came time to resell last year, they asked an impressive $46 million. Pricey? Yes. But given its darling location and architectural splendor, why this beauty didn't fly off the shelf is a bit of a surprise to us. Just have a look inside and you'll immediately understand why.
Tour the stunning estate

October 7, 2014

45 Park Place: Tribeca’s Latest Condo Tower Could be an Architectural Stunner

New images have been uncovered of an upcoming 39-story condominium tower poised to rise from a storied site in Tribeca. Curbed first broke the rendering reveal back in July and a representative of the developers noted that tower depicted in renderings are not quite final. Nevertheless new images posted on of SOMA Architects' website give us additional glimpses of what the project could be. Simply known as 45 Park Place (for now), the development is comprised of a 665-foot tower luxury tower and an Islamic museum, is being developed by a consortium led by Soho Properties, headed by Sharif El-Gamal. The tower is being crafted by Michel Abboud of SOMA Architects, with Ismael Leyva serving as the architect of record. Renderings posted on SOMA's website convey a light, airy tower composed of stem-like volumes bundled by delicate bands of lattice-like mullions. The ground-level view gives us our first glimpse of the adjacent Islamic museum and prayer space reportedly designed by Pritzker Prize–winning French architect Jean Nouvel. A small plaza fronting the museum will expose a vegetated side wall of the neighboring building that houses popular downtown grocer Amish Market.
More on the development here

October 7, 2014

INTERVIEW: Architect Andrew Franz, A Modernist But Not a Minimalist

By Diane Pham

Architect Andrew Franz first caught our eye when we spotted his incredible renovation of a West Village townhouse just months ago. Since then, we've often found ourselves ogling his site for design inspiration, further falling in love with his ability to blend the old with the new through thoughtful material choices and a unique use of light and space. It goes without saying Andrew is a standout amongst the city's seemingly inexhaustible supply of homogeneous architects. We recently caught up with Andrew to find out about some of his latest projects, how collaboration plays into his process, and how he approaches the design of homes and buildings in a dynamic and storied environment such as New York City. Keep reading to find out what he had to share with us.
Read our interview with Andrew here

October 7, 2014

Nobu, A Transforming Desk-Shelf Inspired by Vintage Carrycases

For many living in New York City, or other densely populated communities, space is considered a treasured resource not to be squandered. In these situations efficiency is key, which is why we welcome with open arms Nubo, the 2.0 version of the traditional wall shelf. This bubble shaped shelf transforms from a utilitarian wall shelf or desk, into a treasure-box-bulletin-board—reminiscent of a vintage travel case, like the blue Pan-Am case of the 1960s. The Nobu was designed by the Italian-Danish duo known as GamFratesi, and first presented at imm Cologne.
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October 7, 2014

Own a Romantic One-Bedroom in Park Slope’s Iconic Chiclet Mansion

Part of what makes New York City so romantic are the picturesque historic buildings that have been maintained over the past few centuries. Now you can live this romance all day, everyday, in this 600-square-foot one-bedroom located at 115 Eighth Avenue in the Park Slope's iconic Chiclet Mansion (yes, a mansion designed for the gum magnate). Co-ops like this are very rarely available, and with its current listing price at $549,000 this one will not be on the market for very long.
Take a peek inside

October 7, 2014

Karim Rashid’s East Harlem HAP Building Gets a New Color Scheme After Much Opposition

By Diane Pham

After much outcry, the Karim Rashid-designed residential building at 329 Pleasant Avenue in Harlem will be getting a new color scheme. According to the WSJ, locals have voted to scrap HAP Five's color-blocked magenta and turquoise design for a facade of simple white balconies with a less audacious “translucent cirrus with [a] graduated magenta balcony trim”.
Find out more here

16-Story Residential Sliver Building to Rise Near Union Square

Existing three-story building at the site occupied by the Catholic Medical Mission Board

October 7, 2014

16-Story Residential Sliver Building to Rise Near Union Square

**UPDATE 10/10/2014: We've been informed that the Spector Group is no longer involved in this project. Beyer Blinder Belle has taken over the design. We will provide new renderings of the project when available. A new 16-story residential sliver tower will squeeze its way skyward from a narrow lot at 10 West 17th Street, situated just a block from foodie-hub Union Square in the Ladies' Mile Historical District. Permits filed with the NYC Department of Buildings call for a 47,000-square-foot residential building with 15 units. The architect of record is Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, a firm well adept in crafting developments in historically sensitive locations and navigating the city's Landmark's approval process. The majority of units in 10 West 17th will likely be full-floor apartments. The renderings shown here are designs from the Spector Group website, but it's unknown if they are still involved in the project.
More on the plans here

October 6, 2014

LAST CHANCE: Win Two Tickets to Dwell on Design New York!

By Alyssa Alimurung

In just a few days, Archtober will bring us one of the biggest architecture and design events of the year: Dwell on Design. Curated by the editors of Dwell magazine, DOD will fill 82 Mercer in SoHo with 5,000 renowned creatives ready to showcase and chat about new design ideas, products, and services. There will also […]

October 6, 2014

Slade Architecture Creatively Uses Freestanding Units to Divide This Soho Loft into Livable Spaces

By Aisha Carter

When Slade Architecture was commissioned to transform a 3,000-square-foot commercial loft space into the ultimate Soho residence, their goal was to create a functional space that capitalized on an open, airy, light-flooded interior. They achieved this by incorporating three eight-foot tall freestanding volumes to separate the 100-foot deep loft into three different sections ideal for both living and entertaining.
See more of the remodel, here

October 5, 2014

Luderowski Architect’s Pagoda-Shaped Stunner is Not Your Average Treehouse

By Patty Lee

This ain't your average treehouse. While the ones of our childhood dreams are usually simple little structures patched together with pieces from dad's leftover lumber piles, this eye-catching structure is more of a floating adult oasis. Shaped like a piercing pagoda, the honey-yellow treehouse seems like it was taken from the forests of Kyoto and carefully unloaded in Long Lake, NY, a picturesque town nestled in the Adirondack Mountains.
See more pictures straight ahead

October 3, 2014

Fort Greene Apartment in Former Seminary Has Us Praising Its Incredible Windows

By Stephanie Hoina

Formerly a seminary, the gothic-style structure sitting in Fort Greene at the crossroads of Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill was reborn as Cathedral Condominiums, and this 1,100-square-foot home within is certainly one to be worshipped. No matter what your religious persuasion there’s no denying the windows in this stunning condo at 555 Washington Avenue are a blessing.
See why this condo has us singing its praises

October 3, 2014

The Flowerbox Building: A Sustainable Gem in a Storied Setting

By Michelle Cohen

Built in 2007, The Flowerbox condo building at 259 East Seventh Street, about mid-way between Avenues C and D, is considered by many to be one of the city’s most beautiful new developments–and definitely a neighborhood standout, featuring a vertical garden that waters itself. The building boom that started with the 21st century and has continued apace since the end of the most recent economic downturn has given Downtown Manhattan an impressive collection of starchitect-designed creations, complete with Sky Garages, Boxwood Mazes and plenty of glass curtain walls. But the Flowerbox Building continues to charm with its design, quality and curb appeal.
Find out about the vertical

October 3, 2014

Nir Meiri’s Seaweed Marine Lights Bring the Ocean Indoors

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Tel Aviv-based Nir Meiri Design Studio has an unconventional approach to everyday objects. With a special love for raw, wild materials, this studio creates high quality handcrafted designs that are surprising yet minimal. The Marine Light is one of their latest creations—a design that uses seaweed for a lampshade that gives off an emerald gleam.
Find out more about this fishy design

October 3, 2014

Incorporated Architecture & Design’s Sixteen Doors House is “In” the Landscape

With sixteen transparent windows/doors, it's no wonder Incorporated Architecture & Design bills their Sixteen Doors House as being "in" the surrounding landscape. The rural retreat in a forest clearing in Hillsdale, New York gives the feeling of being in a completely transparent glass box, but still incorporates a warm wooden frame and privacy measures. The contemporary house is one of three upstate projects by the firm that arose from studies of the traditional, loft-like cow barns that are found throughout the local farmland.
Learn more about the design here

Architecture And Design

October 2, 2014

Living in the Clouds: 50 New York Residential Towers Poised to Scrape the Sky (Part I)