Architecture And Design

Gorgeous Ditmas Park Craftsman Brings Romance Home for $1.75M
October 24, 2014

Gorgeous Ditmas Park Craftsman Brings Romance Home for $1.75M

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Ditmas Park is like the love song of Brooklyn. Okay well maybe not, but this Craftsman is a seriously romantic piece of property to say the least. The single-family home was built in 1907 and is located at 633 East 19th Street in the recently designated Fisk Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District. The property is currently listed for $1.75 million, and everything from the tiger oak mahogany staircase to the extra large backyard is a beautiful example of what makes Craftsmans so desirable.
See more of the historic home here
Urban Planners Propose Moving Madison Square Garden to Nearby Post Office
October 23, 2014

Urban Planners Propose Moving Madison Square Garden to Nearby Post Office

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If there's one thing that all New Yorkers can agree on it's that Penn Station is pretty awful. And if we're ever going to get a new home for NJ Transit, Amtrak, and the LIRR, Madison Square Garden will have to move (just don't tell any die-hard Rangers fans that). The Alliance for a New Penn Station, a coalition of the Municipal Art Society and the Regional Plan Association, is proposing in a new report (revealed at this morning's MAS Summit) that the world-famous venue take up residency in the Morgan Post Office and Annex, occupying the block bound by 9th and 10th avenues and 28th and 30th streets. The mail sorting facility site is large enough to accommodate a new state-of-the-art arena and is just a quick walk to Penn Station. The coalition told Capital New York: “Relocating the Garden to this site will provide the city with a new arena and allow for the reconstruction and expansion of Penn Station, each of which can be designed to vastly improve the conditions of the district.”
More on the proposal and renderings of what the new site could look like
Duplex Loft Conversion by Steven Harris Features Jaw Dropping Views Inside and Out
October 22, 2014

Duplex Loft Conversion by Steven Harris Features Jaw Dropping Views Inside and Out

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In a city where people pay a premium for spectacular views, few panoramas rival the majestic beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge. The window-filled living room of this Water Street duplex in the South Street Seaport Historic District certainly gives the owners their money’s worth, with the landmark East River crossing seemingly only inches away. But it’s the views inside this loft conversion courtesy of Steven Harris Architects that will have you either scratching your head or experiencing jaw-dropping delight.
See this home's jaw-dropping views inside and out
<b>Historic Post Offices: Architectural Masterpieces That Are More than Just Places to Drop Mail</b>
October 22, 2014

Historic Post Offices: Architectural Masterpieces That Are More than Just Places to Drop Mail

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The Federal government has dabbled in several architectural styles over the years when designing New York City post offices. From outdated baroque in the late 1800's to New Deal-era Art Moderne, all of these historic buildings seem to share two characteristics: grandiose and massive. We've rounded up here some of the greatest architectural stunners, which also showcase the evolution of historic post office architecture in the city (and almost make waiting an hour in line to mail one letter bearable).
See more of NYC's historic post offices here
Ghislaine Viñas’ Colorful and Eclectic Design Seamlessly Blends Together on Greenwich Street
October 21, 2014

Ghislaine Viñas’ Colorful and Eclectic Design Seamlessly Blends Together on Greenwich Street

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Just like the bright pink background of her website, Ghislaine Viñas’ interior designs grab your attention and never let it go. Bold color combinations that might seem garish in the hands of a lesser talent only serve to underscore Viñas’ “off roading” philosophy of experimentation and exploration.
Immerse yourself in this colorful home here
Learn About Three Urban Projects That Could Transform the City at MAS’ Jane Jacobs Forum
October 21, 2014

Learn About Three Urban Projects That Could Transform the City at MAS’ Jane Jacobs Forum

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As part of the Municipal Art Society's (MAS) 2014 Summit for NYC, the Jane Jacobs Forum: Projects That Ignite will showcase three unique urban interventions with the potential to positively impact the city. This free session, taking place on Thursday, October 23, was inspired by Jacobs' passion for livable cities and the ability of all people to change them. The three projects that will be highlighted are: Startup Box, a social enterprise and tech incubator prototype designed to increase opportunities for South Bronx community members; 9×18, a proposal that considers the city's parking lots as opportunities to help with the affordable housing crisis; and the Boogie Down Booth, a vibrant public space in a previously forlorn area under the low and loud 2 and 5 trains in the South Bronx.
More on the projects and the event here
<b>Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight</b>
October 20, 2014

Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight

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It isn’t unusual to see old warehouses, churches and banks converted into luxury multi-unit condos and apartments. But far more rare, and often shrouded in myth and mystery, are one-of-a-kind buildings that had former lives as banks, schools, a synagogue, a public bath house, a Con Ed substation, even a public restroom and a hillside cave–and have more recently served as home and workspace for a lucky handful of bohemian dreamers (and hard-working homeowners).
Find out who lives behind the gates of those those cavernous, mysterious buildings
REVEALED: Renderings of Greenpoint Landing’s Waterfront Park Designed by James Corner
October 20, 2014

REVEALED: Renderings of Greenpoint Landing’s Waterfront Park Designed by James Corner

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Renderings for the waterfront park to be built alongside the massive housing development Greenpoint Landing have been released. Flooding from Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area only a few years back, so it comes as no surprise that the local community was concerned with how the developers were going to address the possibility of damaging storm swells in the future. Despite their concerns the park's designer James Corner Field Operations has used intelligent design and beautiful landscaping to enhance the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the existing riverfront.
READ MORE
The Ostrich Pillow Mini Arms You with Comfort for Napping On-the-go
October 20, 2014

The Ostrich Pillow Mini Arms You with Comfort for Napping On-the-go

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Life can sometimes be hectic, and when you live in a city that never sleeps it can be exhausting. This is why we are head-over-heels excited about the Ostrich Pillow Mini, a new personal power nap pillow from Studio Banana by Kawamura Ganjavian. Weather you're on the subway or in a cubicle, this little bundle of joy was designed to be taken on the go, arming you for any mid-day napping location.
More on the design here
NYC’s First Certified “Passive House” by FABRICA 718 is Lean, Mean and Incredibly Green
October 20, 2014

NYC’s First Certified “Passive House” by FABRICA 718 is Lean, Mean and Incredibly Green

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When this Park Slope brownstone was first built in 1899 we’re pretty sure energy efficient design wasn’t a guiding factor in its construction. But over 100 years later an award-winning Passive House retrofit by FABRICA 718 has turned this classic residence into one that consumes approximately 90% less heat energy than the average home and 75% less energy overall.
See what consuming 90% less heat energy looks like
Inside the Historic $6M Bed-Stuy Mansion with a Presidential Connection
October 19, 2014

Inside the Historic $6M Bed-Stuy Mansion with a Presidential Connection

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Bed-Stuy's most expensive single-family home has a set of new photos that gives us a closer look into the work that's been put into bringing this storied home back to life. Designed by Montrose Morris and modeled after a Gilded Age Vanderbilt mansion along Fifth Avenue, this spectacular house known as 'The Kelley Mansion' was built for water meter magnate John Kelley in 1900. The mansion was a favorite hangout of Kelley's pal President Grover Cleveland and has for the better part of its existence been affectionately referred to as the 'Grand Dame' of Hancock Street. The home fell into disrepair over the decades, but savior Claudia Moran, a retired ad exec, dedicated a great deal of her time and money restoring the mansion after buying it up for just $7,500 in the 1980s. It's now selling for $6 million.
Take a look inside the incredible mansion
Starry Night Pendant Lamp Turns Any Room into a Personal Planetarium
October 17, 2014

Starry Night Pendant Lamp Turns Any Room into a Personal Planetarium

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One thing we don't see much of here in New York City are starry nights. Unfortunately, this leaves some city-dwellers nostalgic for their star-gazing, universe-pondering suburban youth. While it's unlikely that any skyscrapers will be moving to make room for a better view, Starry Light, a constellation lamp collection from Anagraphic, is a star-studded substitute worthy of praise.
More on Starry Light here
O’Neill Rose Architects’ Choy House in Flushing, Queens Is Three Homes in One
October 17, 2014

O’Neill Rose Architects’ Choy House in Flushing, Queens Is Three Homes in One

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When O'Neill Rose Architects was hired to build a family home in Flushing, Queens there was one small challenge--to "design three homes under one roof, in a neighborhood of Queens which is defined by single family homes." The resulting Choy House is made of three disparate dwellings, connected and overlapping to reflect the relationships of the extended family--a husband (the client), wife, and two small children; the husband's younger brother and his wife; and the brothers' mother.
Details of the project ahead
New Proposal Could Pave the Way for a Harlem High Line Park
October 16, 2014

New Proposal Could Pave the Way for a Harlem High Line Park

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The success of the High Line Park continues to inspire all corners of the world—including Queens—and now the latest neighborhood to jump on the elevated park bandwagon is Harlem. DNA Info reports a nonprofit called the Housing Partnership has proposed a plan to bring 2,000 affordable housing units and $170 million dedicated to public projects in Hamilton Heights. The new park encompassed within the nonprofit's 'Harlem Promenade' plan would run alongside the West Side Highway atop a portion of Amtrak rail lines.
More on the proposed harlem high line project here
Bates Masi + Architects Roughly Cut Cypress Home Feels Like a Tree House
October 16, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects Roughly Cut Cypress Home Feels Like a Tree House

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New York-based Bates Masi + Architects designed this beautiful family residence referred by its owners as their 'Tree House'. Located on Fire Island, this two-level wooden dwelling is surrounded by a dense grove of pines and hollies and overlooks the bay from its upper level. Built from roughly cut vertical cypress louvers, it blends naturally with its luscious environment.
Learn more about this stunning tree house home
REVEALED: Renderings for Santiago Calatrava’s Ground Zero Church
October 16, 2014

REVEALED: Renderings for Santiago Calatrava’s Ground Zero Church

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Ahead of the groundbreaking this weekend, a new video and renderings have been revealed for Santiago Calatrava's church near Ground Zero, which will overlook the 9/11 Memorial. The new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be constructed of white Vermont marble, inspired by a mosaic of the Madonna and Child Enthroned at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
More on the design here
Landmark Limestone Townhouse in Park Slope Returns for $4M
October 15, 2014

Landmark Limestone Townhouse in Park Slope Returns for $4M

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One of Park Slope’s landmark limestone townhouses has just returned to the market. The 5,100-square-foot, Frederick Tyrrell-designed home was built in 1901 at the height of the neo-classical style’s popularity. With a well-maintained original four-story building, along with a new extension, original details, and a private gated driveway, this $3.995 million home is definitely worth a look.
Take a closer look, here
75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains
October 15, 2014

75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains

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New York City's most taxed line is about to get a sizable cash infusion. Of the $210 million that developer SL Green Realty has budgeted for improving Grand Central's subway station for the green light to construct a 65-story office tower next door, more than 75% will go toward the Lexington Avenue line, Crain's reports. Yesterday, a 63-page study was delivered to Manhattan's Community Board 5 and to transportation advocates who have called for Midtown East's rezoning to include improvements to transportation infrastructure to meet current demand as well as the influx of nearly 16,000 workers as new lines are drawn. So where exactly will the money go?
Where will the money will go?
Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-Square-Foot “Superdesk” Puts Literal Twist on Collaborative Workspace
October 15, 2014

Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-Square-Foot “Superdesk” Puts Literal Twist on Collaborative Workspace

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Visitors to this past weekend’s 12th Annual Open House New York were treated to tours of Manhattan’s first fully robotic parking system, an African Burial Ground National Monument in Tribeca, and this 4,400-square-foot “superdesk" winding its way through the Chelsea offices of the Barbarian Group, a New York-based creative agency.
Right this way for more on this fun and functional
October 15, 2014

POLL: Will the QueensWay be the Next High Line?

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A study released yesterday revealed that the QueensWay– the High Line-esque linear park and cultural greenway proposed for a 3.5-mile stretch of abandoned railway in central Queens– will cost $120 million, give a boost to the local economy, and provide nearby residents with a safer place to walk and bike. But opponents of the project say central Queens already has […]

<b>An Abridged History of New York City’s Most Popular Bridges</b>
October 15, 2014

An Abridged History of New York City’s Most Popular Bridges

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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), Manhattan boasts about 20 bridges that connect the Big Apple to neighboring areas—many of which have various degrees of landmark status, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the High Bridge, the University Heights Bridge and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. We often use these marvels without giving them much thought beyond the grandiose size and maybe their engineering, so to give you a little trivia to impress your friends with the next time you cross one these storied bridges, we're offering up a handy primer on seven of the city's most famous.
A quick primer on the city's top bridges
Fabrica 718’s Renovation of Soho Loft in Former Department Store is Highly Fashionable
October 15, 2014

Fabrica 718’s Renovation of Soho Loft in Former Department Store is Highly Fashionable

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Firehouses, stables, factories – even churches – have long offered designers the opportunity to carve out unique living spaces from non-traditional structures. So it should come as no surprise that in a city as fashion conscious as New York, even department stores are fair game for residential conversion. When this co-op building in Soho was subdivided into loft apartments, each inherited some awkward and quirky features courtesy of its former life, but that didn’t stop Brooklyn-based designer Fabrica 718 from turning one of the apartments within into a different kind of showcase.
See more of Fabrica 718's fashionable renovation
It’s Official: 432 Park Avenue is NYC’s Tallest Residential Building
October 14, 2014

It’s Official: 432 Park Avenue is NYC’s Tallest Residential Building

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NYC supertalls all over town are weeping: 432 Park Avenue is officially the tallest residential building in the city as of today, topping out at 1,396 feet, and the second-tallest tower after One World Trade Center. Concrete on the highest floor of the Rafael Viñoly-designed building is being poured, probably as we speak, cementing (no pun […]

<b>Renovation Diary Part II: Choosing the Right Architect for the Job</b>

Image © Sarah Ross via flickr cc.

October 14, 2014

Renovation Diary Part II: Choosing the Right Architect for the Job

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Our Renovation Diary series follows 6sqft writer Michelle Cohen as she takes on the challenge of transforming her historic Clinton Hill townhouse into a site-sensitive modern home. In Part I she shared her experience of defining a plan of action and getting started and this week she takes on the all important task of choosing an architect. One of the first steps in our renovation project was to hire an architect. The house is in a historic district, so we have to submit all alteration plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission; we wanted to find someone who was very familiar with that process. We also wanted to find someone who was familiar with working on renovating old brownstones, and someone whose style we liked. Someone who comes with lots of good recommendations. And, not least of all, someone we could even close to afford. In our case he or she would be our main point person on the project, and, ostensibly, our advocate in any dispute that would occur later on.
Find out how to choose the right architect for your project and your budget.
Study Says QueensWay Will Cost $120 Million and Help Local Economy
October 14, 2014

Study Says QueensWay Will Cost $120 Million and Help Local Economy

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A new feasibility study, which is set to be released today by the Trust for Public Land, maps out the plan for the QueensWay--the High Line-esque linear park and cultural greenway proposed for a 3.5-mile stretch of abandoned railway in central Queens. The study points to the likely $120 million price tag and the park's benefit to the local economy. Through new renderings it also shows access points, exercise stations, food concessions, outdoor nature classrooms, bike paths, and an "adventure park," among other amenities.
More on the study here
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