Architecture And Design

October 29, 2014

Greenwich Village Townhouse Boasts Cool Rooftop Office and Personal Secret Garden

Simply put, this historic Greenwich Village property, designed by BW Architects, is amazing. A sophisticated balance of design elements that blend the old with the new are incorporated throughout the 4000-square-foot home. And not only is it beautiful, but the 1840s townhome underwent an extensive reconstruction project, completed in 2012, that made it the first townhouse in downtown Manhattan to earn a LEED for Homes Gold rating. And have we mentioned its incredible rooftop office?
Check out the home

October 29, 2014

It Will Cost $32 to Visit One World Trade Center’s Observatory

By Dana Schulz

On Monday we learned that tourism is predicted to bring in one quarter, roughly $53 million, of the One World Trade Center's annual revenue by 2019. And now the much-talked-about ticket price to visit the three-floor observation deck of the tower, known as One World Observatory, has been revealed. It will cost $32 for an adult to visit the observatory when it opens in the spring of 2015.
More details and renderings of the observatory ahead

October 29, 2014

Unique Historic Penthouse with Intriguing Past Asks $7 Million

By Aisha Carter

The penthouse of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious and unique landmark apartment houses has just hit the market, asking $7.25 million. The one-of-a-kind pad was formerly the squash-tennis court of Kingdon Gould, grandson of the infamous multimillionaire financier Jay Gould, who notably fell from grace for manipulating gold and railroad stocks. Kingdon’s custom-built quarters consisted of a triplex penthouse with a fourth-level painting studio for his mother, and 20 rooms, including a double-height music room.
Take a look inside, here

October 28, 2014

I-Beam Design’s Pixelated Chelsea Renovation is Made From 20,000 LEGO Bricks

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

We all love and played with LEGO when we were kids, and this New York loft apartment is just another great example of how versatile the colorful Danish bricks are. The story begins when the son of Melissa Marks and Vicente Caride got too old not to have a door on his bedroom, so his parents decided to renovate their Chelsea loft in an innovative and playful way. I-Beam Design was called to do the job, and together with LEGO artist Sean Kenney they created an amazing pixelated new stair railing and wall using 20,000 LEGO bricks.
Learn more about this pixelated home

Photo © Field Condition

October 27, 2014

Has the Failed B2 Tower Ruined Large-Scale Prefab Housing for the City?

By Diane Pham

Prefab housing has taken the world by storm in the last years, lauded for its low cost and flexibility, with buildings ranging from single-family homes to art schools popping up across the globe. But not until Forest City Ratner's plan for B2 BKLYN have we seen an attempt to build a large-scale module tower topping out at 32-stories—the world's tallest prefab tower. It's well known that the project has been a big flop; construction was far slower than originally projected and was halted in August amidst disputes between the builder, Skansa USA, and the developer, Forest City Ratner. In September lawsuits went flying, both pointing fingers as to why the whole thing failed. Forest City blamed the execution of the plan, while Skanska said the design was flawed. Fast-forward to today, and the work on the tower has been shut down with only 10 stories erected. A recent WSJ article looks at where the whole thing went awry, and more importantly: Is pre-fab construction even feasible at such a scale?
READ MORE

October 27, 2014

Steven Holl’s ‘Writing With Light House’ Plays with the Light That Filters through Its Wooden Skin

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

American architect and watercolorist Steven Holl was inspired by Jackson Pollock's 1949 'Seven in Eight' paintings when designing this stunning property. Called the 'Writing With Light House', it stands near the former abstract expressionist painter's studio on Long Island and features wide-open interiors brightened with natural light. Boasting a striking linear wooden skin that lets the elements filter through, the power of this design can be best appreciated when the light lines inside play with the spaces throughout the day.
Learn more about this playful wooden house

October 27, 2014

Philippe Is a Skeletal Lamp by Zia Priven Sure to Be the Backbone of Any Room

By Dana Schulz

No, it's not a Halloween decoration. Philippe is a year-round floor lamp that's sure to spice up any room with its eerily glamorous appeal. Created by the lighting designers at Zia Priven, this lamp resembles a skeleton you might find at the doctor's office. The only difference is it's topped with lamp shade and comes finished in silver, bronze, or a natural-looking bone white.
More details on Philippe here

October 27, 2014

It’s Expected That Tourism Will Bring in 25% of One World Trade Center’s Revenue

By Dana Schulz

On Friday, news broke that anchor tenant Condé Nast will begin its big move in to One World Trade Center on November 3rd. And now we've learned that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, along with the Durst Organization, is predicting that one quarter, roughly $53 million, of the tower's annual revenue will be generated from tourism by 2019. The three-floor observation deck of the tower, known as One World Observatory, is expected to be visited by about 3.5 million people per year. Legends Hospitality LLC, the developer of the observatory, has not yet revealed what it will cost to visit the site, but it's expected to be on par with the Empire State Building, which received $101 million in 2013 from visits to its observatory (it costs $29 per person), 40% of its annual revenue.
Learn more about this prediction and the state-of-the-art observation deck here

October 26, 2014

Watermill Residence is Topped With Wildflowers and Powered by Geothermal Energy

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Andrew Berman Architect PLLC is a New York-based practice focused on the realization of unique and finely executed spaces, and the stunning Watermill Residence is not an exception. Created for a family of three generations, it features lovely, light-filled interiors and plenty of outdoors space for enjoying nature. It's made from an elegant combination of wood and polished concrete, is topped by a green roof made from local wildflowers and grasses, and is powered by geothermal energy.
Learn more about this stunning green-roofed residence

Terra Cotta in New York City: Beautiful Buildings Adorned in Ceramic

By Dana Schulz

Glazed terra cotta (a clay-based ceramic) became a popular architectural material in the United States between the late 1800's and 1930's thanks to being sturdy, relatively inexpensive, fireproof, and easily molded into ornamented detail. Plus, it was easy to make it look like granite or limestone, much more expensive materials. Terra cotta really took off when some of Chicago and New York's great architects, Cass Gilbert, Louis Sullivan, and Daniel H. Burnham, incorporated the material in to their most famous works such as the Woolworth Building, Bayard-Condict Building, and Flatiron Building, respectively. Additionally, Rafael Guastavino adorned many of the great Beaux-Arts masterpieces with his famous terra cotta tiled vaults. There are countless buildings in New York City that owe their elegance to glazed terra cotta, and we've put together a list of some of our favorites.
Explore terra cotta in NYC

October 24, 2014

Move-In Day at One World Trade Center Set for November 3

By Dana Schulz

Remember those jitters you’d get leading up to college move-in day? We wonder if Condé Nast is feeling that way in anticipation of its big move into One World Trade Center, now set for November 3rd. The tower’s anchor tenant will not make a big to-do of its move, but the Port Authority of New York and […]

October 24, 2014

Blaze Makoid’s Elegant Residence is Inspired by Long Island’s 70s Rustic Modernism

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

This quiet and elegant residence by Blaze Makoid Architecture was created for a father with three children who wanted a house that wasn’t 'extraneous or busy’. Located in Sagaponack, this stylish oceanfront dwelling takes inspiration from two iconic 70s buildings: Tod Williams’ Tarlo House (1979) and architect Norman Jaffe’s Perlbinder House (1970)—the latter credited for bringing 'rustic Modernism' to Eastern Long Island. Named Daniels Lane, this home's simple clean lines are a modern reflection of its client's wishes.
Learn more about this stunning 70s inspired home

October 24, 2014

Karim Rashid Tones Down His Signature Style in the Bedroom with ‘Kosy’

By Diane Pham

Karim Rashid is well-known for his uninhibited use of color, but his latest design destined for the bedroom takes on a much more muted palette. Although there are no pops of pinks and blues, Rashid's love for the unexpected does show in this striking collection through sensuous curves and a sleek finish that creates for a cozy yet upscale escape for sleep. Called Kosy, this bedroom collection is a combination of wood, leather and glass, in—of all things— grayscale!
More on Rashid's new design here

October 24, 2014

Gorgeous Ditmas Park Craftsman Brings Romance Home for $1.75M

By Rebecca Paul

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

October 23, 2014

Urban Planners Propose Moving Madison Square Garden to Nearby Post Office

By Dana Schulz

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

Architecture And Design

October 22, 2014

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

By Stephanie Hoina

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

October 22, 2014

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

By Jason Carpenter

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

October 21, 2014

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

By Stephanie Hoina

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

October 21, 2014

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

By Dana Schulz

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

October 20, 2014

Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight

By Michelle Cohen

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

Architecture And Design

October 20, 2014

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

By Rebecca Paul

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

October 20, 2014

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

By Rebecca Paul

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

October 20, 2014

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

By Stephanie Hoina

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

October 19, 2014

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

By Diane Pham

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

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