Architecture And Design

Colorful Loft by Ghislaine Vinas Will Have You Feeling Young at Heart
October 2, 2014

Colorful Loft by Ghislaine Vinas Will Have You Feeling Young at Heart

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Sure, this beautiful Tribeca loft by designer Ghislaine Viñas has the requisite “grown up” touches. One look at the soothing palette and economy of design in the master bedroom and the word sanctuary easily comes to mind. Similarly, the kitchen’s clean lines and austere finishes are decidedly adult. But make no mistake; this is very much a family home. Skillfully combining stark white furnishings with bursts of bright color, Viñas clearly had fun ensuring this home’s youngest inhabitants felt, well…at home.
See why children and adults alike will feel right at home
Leroy Street Studio’s Stone House Estate Is the Ideal Mother-Daughter Retreat
October 2, 2014

Leroy Street Studio’s Stone House Estate Is the Ideal Mother-Daughter Retreat

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If this mother-daughter client was nervous about going in on a weekend retreat together, Leroy Street Studio's design probably eased any anxieties they had. Located in East Hampton, the Stone Houses sit on a flat, open 12-acre site full of lush greenery. The clients requested that their homes have great expanses of glass to take in the views, as well as that the buildings were low-maintenance and incorporated Westchester granite. Sticking to this plan, the firm created two buildings that "together create an abstract composition of planar materials which redefine the property  as a series of internal and external courtyards spaces for the family."
See more of this beautiful retreat
21st Street Loft: Past-Era Panache Gets a Modern Update
October 1, 2014

21st Street Loft: Past-Era Panache Gets a Modern Update

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This townhouse duplex may have been built at the turn of the century, but you'd never guess that from its distinct bohemian vibe. A clean, contemporary makeover gave the 21st Street Loft space a new life back in the 1960s, when two early 1900s townhouses were turned into a mid-century masterpiece that spans two levels with a modern floor plan. The older renovation featured a number of unique handmade solutions geared towards the challenges of daily life, and much care was taken to preserve them. But Ensemble Architecture's most recent refresh has brought this home to a whole new level, drastically transforming the loft into a much brighter and more inviting space for modern family living.
See how the space gets a fresh new look while keeping its warmth and creative vibe
Earth-Sheltered Home Uses Surroundings to Save on Energy
October 1, 2014

Earth-Sheltered Home Uses Surroundings to Save on Energy

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We’ve featured plenty of beautiful sustainable homes here on 6sqft, many of which include some pretty hi-tech gadgets from geothermal wells to highly reflective roofing materials. But John Grzibowski decided to just use what’s available in nature. He built an Earth-sheltered home in Newburgh, New York that strategically uses the surrounding landscape to insulate itself. The […]

Strivers’ Row Home Tour & Exhibit at Macy’s Showcase Harlem’s Elegant Enclave
October 1, 2014

Strivers’ Row Home Tour & Exhibit at Macy’s Showcase Harlem’s Elegant Enclave

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This weekend, all you old-house lovers will have two opportunities to step back in time and explore the elite Harlem enclave known as Strivers' Row. Located on West 138th to West 139th Streets, between Adam Clayton Powell and Frederick Douglass Boulevards, the area was once home to prominent, wealthy African-American performers, artists, and professionals who lived in the harmonious row of stately brick dwellings. Running until Sunday, October 5th is an exhibit at Macy's called “Strivers’ Row Style: Uptown Comes Downtown,” which will feature vignettes by various designers of what the interiors of these historic homes would have looked like during the heyday. Also on the 5th is the Strivers' Rome Home Tour, which lets participants inside eight of the distinctive residences and four historic churches.
More on Striver's Row and the upcoming events
<b>Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions</b>
September 30, 2014

Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions

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For Manhattan’s jet-set crowd, the 2010s are starting to look an awful lot like the 1900s. New York’s upper crust are embracing a return to the Gilded Age, moving out of their fancy penthouses, co-ops and lofts and into opulent single-family mansions. From Aby Rosen’s quest to build the largest private mansion on Park Avenue to Jared Kushner’s conversion of three former Brooklyn Law School buildings into single-family townhouses—the most affluent buyers are now on the hunt for New York’s ultimate trophy prize.
More on makeshift mansions
openhousenewyork’s Weekend Event Guide is Finally Here – Take the Tours!

Eldridge Street Synagogue. Image courtesy of ohny

September 30, 2014

openhousenewyork’s Weekend Event Guide is Finally Here – Take the Tours!

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You can probably guess that we're pretty excited about the 12th annual openhousenewyork weekend, taking place this year on October 11th and 12th, so of course we couldn't wait to share the just-announced guide to the spaces on this year's roster. Tour goers will have access to 300 sites and tours in all five boroughs, including private residences, new buildings, and sites of architectural, cultural, and historical significance. Some of the sites we're most looking forward to touring are the TWA Flight Center at JFK, Kickstarter headquarters, the Manhattan Micro Loft, and El Barrio's Artspace PS109.
More on these sites and the entire OHNY Weekend
<b>Goldilocks Blocks: Vanderbilt Avenue in Wallabout, Brooklyn</b>

Between hyper-developed hotspots, main drags in up-and-comers, and those genuinely avoidable areas, there can often be found a city’s “just-right” zones. They aren’t commonly known, but these micro-neighborhoods often hide within them real estate gems coupled with perfectly offbeat vibes. Continuing our Goldilocks Blocks series, this week we turn to Brooklyn.

September 29, 2014

Goldilocks Blocks: Vanderbilt Avenue in Wallabout, Brooklyn

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The culturally rich, architecturally stunning Brooklyn neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill need little introduction. The Brooklyn Navy Yard to the north is busily growing as a start-up business incubator and creative and commercial hub. An “in-between” zone—the sort of area that engenders a question mark and a furrowed brow when perusing neighborhood maps—lies just north of Myrtle Avenue and south of the Navy Yard. Known as Wallabout, the area was named for Wallabout Bay to the north, much of which was filled in to create the Navy Yard in the 19th century. Unique among its neighbors, a block-long stretch of this border district feels more like a small-town side street than a growing urban crossroads.
Find out what makes this historic block so special, and why it’s likely to stay that way.
Gardens and Grandeur for $7M on a Tree-Lined Street in Brooklyn
September 29, 2014

Gardens and Grandeur for $7M on a Tree-Lined Street in Brooklyn

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It is no surprise this impeccable 24-foot-wide multifamily brownstone is located in the aptly-named enclave of Carroll Gardens, since it boasts two lovely and spacious gardens of its own. Located on tree-lined 1st Place, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, its $7 million price tag offers a taste of suburbia with all the advantages of city living.
Tour the beauty here
Triangular Townhouse in Greenwich Village with Italian Renaissance Interior Sells for $5M
September 29, 2014

Triangular Townhouse in Greenwich Village with Italian Renaissance Interior Sells for $5M

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Fashion director and stylist Alessandra Gambaccini (who goes by Sciascia) purchased her Greenwich Village townhouse at 45 West 12th Street in 1996 for $865,00, and has now sold it for a whopping $4,975,000. But it's not just the incredible profit Ms. Gambaccini made that makes this historic home stand out--it's also its unusual triangular shape, the result of having been built in 1846 diagonal to Minetta Brook, since covered over by the city. There are hidden remnants of the old creek all throughout the Village, and this Greek Revival townhouse is definitely one of the most storied. Sciascia spoke to the Wall Street Journal about her fascinating home and how she was rather intrigued by its unusual shape. The four-bedroom house is also noted for its opulent interior, outfitted with custom-made Italian décor thanks to Milan-based architect and decorator Roberto Gerosa. And if those weren't enough talking points, the deed to the cobblestone courtyard is said to have once been owned by English royalty, and Frank Lloyd Wright's sister is a past inhabitant.
Now, let's check out those interiors
Even Wackier Design Emerges for an Earthship Home at 61 Pitt Street
September 29, 2014

Even Wackier Design Emerges for an Earthship Home at 61 Pitt Street

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Some of you may remember a proposal from 3+ years ago to bring a sustainable Earthship home to 61 Pitt Street—a vacant Lower East Side lot zoned for a twelve-story building. The proposed design was the brainchild New Mexico-based architect Michael Reynolds and backed by local resident Ken Ruck who championed for its construction with the LES' Community Board 3. Surprisingly, the board wasn't against it, nor was the site's owner, but Ruck and Reynolds didn't make much headway beyond that meeting and quietly disappeared without any word on what would come next. Now fast forward to 2014, and Mr. Reynolds is back with a new and improved (but equally out-of-this-world) iteration that employs the popular floor-maximizing cantilever taking our city by storm.
More on the updated here
New Yorker Spotlight: Eloise Hirsh on Turning the Freshkills Landfill Into a Thriving Park
September 26, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Eloise Hirsh on Turning the Freshkills Landfill Into a Thriving Park

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Similar to Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's grand ideas for Central Park, there is a vision for the 2,200 acres of reclaimed land at the former Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. Where trash once piled up for as far as the eye could see, the site is now a blossoming park full of wildlife and recreational activities. The Park Administrator overseeing this incredible transformation is Eloise Hirsh. Eloise is a major force behind the largest landfill-to-park conversion in the world to date. In her role as Freshkills Park Administrator, she makes sure the park progresses towards its completion date in 2035, and regularly engages with New Yorkers to keep them informed and excited. 6sqft recently spoke with Eloise to learn more about Fresh Kills' history, what it takes to reclaim land, and what New Yorkers can expect at the park today and in the years to come.
Read the full interview here
<b>Before There was ‘Ruin Porn’ There was ‘Ruin Value’</b>
September 26, 2014

Before There was ‘Ruin Porn’ There was ‘Ruin Value’

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In the internet hierarchy of "things the internets like", we'd argue that ruin porn sits wedged somewhere between Buzzfeed quizzes and cats. Images of decaying architecture conjure up unsettling feelings of tragedy and loss, but somehow manage to grip us with its intangible beauty. Whatever the cause for this may be, the thrill and enjoyment we get from looking ruin porn is palpable. The term 'ruin porn' is said to have been coined by blogger James Griffioen during a 2009 interview with Vice magazine in which he criticized photographers who scouted down-trodden Detroit for provocative photos. While ruin porn is the trend at hand, decades before its arrival there was something called 'ruin value'.
learn more about ruin value
D’Aquino Monaco-Designed Apartment at 15 Central Park West Is Colorful and Whimsical
September 26, 2014

D’Aquino Monaco-Designed Apartment at 15 Central Park West Is Colorful and Whimsical

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Tucked away within the austere limestone façade of Architect Robert A.M. Stern’s 15 Central Park West is this fabulous apartment courtesy of Carl D’Aquino and Francine Monaco of New York-based design firm D’Aquino Monaco. Every single room is a treat to the senses, with bold splashes of color and unusual finishing touches combined to create a living space as cozy as it is quirky.
Tour the colorful and whimsical home here
New Exterior Rendering Released for 60 Water Street Rental Project in DUMBO
September 26, 2014

New Exterior Rendering Released for 60 Water Street Rental Project in DUMBO

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Two Trees Management Company has revealed an additional, close-up exterior rendering and a teaser website for their new rental development 60 Water Street in DUMBO, which is nearing completion. Designed by LEESER Architecture and Ismael Leyva Architects, the building will begin leasing in the coming weeks, though pricing and interior images have not yet been released. The façade stands out in the former-industrial neighborhood thanks to glass curtain walls with angled windows.
Get a closer look at the glass pattern and entrance
<b>Timeless Trophy: 740 Park Avenue</b>
September 25, 2014

Timeless Trophy: 740 Park Avenue

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New York City may have an ever-revolving cast of hottest restaurants, hippest clubs, and even most desirable neighborhoods, but some real estate titans never go out of style in this metropolis. Known as the "Tower of Power," 740 Park Avenue is one such mainstay. The Upper East Side 19-story, Art Deco building was completed in 1930 to the designs of Rosario Candela, often considered the finest architect of luxury apartment interiors, as the last of the grand dames erected along Manhattan's Gold Coast. It didn't reach its peak until the real estate boom of the 1980s, but is today one of the most sought-after addresses with 31 apartments, mostly all duplexes, triplexes, and penthouses. The massively scaled residences feature grand living rooms, formal dining rooms, spiral staircases, high ceilings, expansive foyers, and an abundance of windows.
Plenty more on this timeless trophy residence and its long list of well known inhabitants
Y-Shaped Guest House was Co-Designed by HHF Architects & Artist Ai Weiwei
September 25, 2014

Y-Shaped Guest House was Co-Designed by HHF Architects & Artist Ai Weiwei

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When you're avid art collectors like the owners of the Tsai Residence and Guest House, you probably won't be too impressed with a typical rectangular structure to house your masterpieces. That's where Swiss-based firm HHF Architects and world-famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei come in. Working together, they created a unique Y-shaped guest house for the couple's Ancram, New York property. Each of the home's three wings has a specific purpose--bedroom, workroom, and art gallery. The simple and effective design "served to link these elements at isolated points and to define the overall appearance of the guesthouse."
More on the artistic residence, which is the only Ai Weiwei-designed house in the country
Coney Island Design: “Defending the Honor of American Pop Culture”

Image © Javier Ignacio Acuña Ditzel

September 25, 2014

Coney Island Design: “Defending the Honor of American Pop Culture”

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Coney Island is an entertainment destination in New York, with its beach and amusement park rides, but it is also a city center for weirdo culture and kitsch. The neighborhood's aesthetic has developed into something like an early 20th century carnival surrounded by '60s and '70s storefronts which may or may not be conscious of their dated designs. So the question is, how do you design a new building in a neighborhood which is so identified with an attractively shabby, authentically dated look? Buildings like the Coney Island Museum face that difficulty with each passing year.
See the retro Americana design of Coney Island here
GIVEAWAY: Win Two Tickets to the Architecture and Design Film Festival!

Image of The Oslo Opera House from the film Cathedrals of Culture

September 25, 2014

GIVEAWAY: Win Two Tickets to the Architecture and Design Film Festival!

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Your three favorite things rolled into one five-day event: the Architecture and Design Film Festival. Starting October 15th, 25 curated films will be on show at the Tribeca Cinemas for the nation’s largest film festival dedicated to architecture and design. Sound like something you’d love to see? We’ve teamed up with ADFF to give one lucky reader two free […]

Luxury ‘Glamper’ by Tinywood Homes is Perfect for Fall Excursions (Hot Tub Included)
September 24, 2014

Luxury ‘Glamper’ by Tinywood Homes is Perfect for Fall Excursions (Hot Tub Included)

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The autumn months can get a bit chilly, but rest assured, fall is one the best seasons for camping. Cool and crisp weather make for ideal hiking conditions, and beautiful colors reign supreme immersing onlookers in otherworldly-hues. However, if you're still adverse to sleeping with nothing more than a slip of fabric between you and the ground, this luxurious 'glamper' is the perfect solution for those who'd rather experience nature with the creature comforts of home. In fact, this cool camper comes with one fun (arguably, low-brow) indulgence most of us never get to enjoy: a hot tub.
Inside the 'glamper' here
This Roman and Williams-Designed Nolita Apartment on the Market for $2M is Bellisimo
September 24, 2014

This Roman and Williams-Designed Nolita Apartment on the Market for $2M is Bellisimo

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From the Boom Boom Room to the Standard and Ace Hotels, acclaimed husband and wife team Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch — aka, Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors — infuse plenty of personality into everything they do. And their first ground-up residential project, a seven-story condominium building in the heart of Nolita at 211 Elizabeth Street, was no exception. Not only did the duo bring their signature character to the building’s actual construction, which garnered the firm a Palladio Award in 2010, they piloted the interior design as well, including every detail of this one-bedroom unit currently on the market for $2 million.
See more of this apartment's Roman and Williams interior
Hudson Design’s Rustic Writer’s Studio Barn is a Converted Two-Story Garage
September 23, 2014

Hudson Design’s Rustic Writer’s Studio Barn is a Converted Two-Story Garage

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There's something intriguing about living in a former garage...maybe it's the lofty openness or the unexpected conversion. But whatever the case, the Writer's Studio Barn by Hudson Design lives up to our enchantment. Located in Garrison, New York, the iconic American barn was originally used as a garage with two horse stalls. The conversion was conceived as a tranquil retreat for a couple to find inspiration among the lush landscape and natural views. And the existing stick-frame structure offered a loft with the perfect space and orientation for a secluded studio. It's now a rustic one-bedroom apartment with room for cars and storage.
Take a tour and get the creative juices flowing
Prominent Architecture Couple Buys Pretty-in-Pink Victorian in Ditmas Park
September 23, 2014

Prominent Architecture Couple Buys Pretty-in-Pink Victorian in Ditmas Park

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We have a feeling well-known architects David H. Sherman, of Abelow Sherman Architects, and his wife Benita Welch, a Principal at Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects, will give the interior of their new home a fresh coat of paint before settling in...that is, unless they like the current bubble-gum-pink color scheme. It makes perfect sense that the couple picked up this Victorian house in Ditmas Park for themselves and their two children, as Benita specializes in restoring historic homes, and David is known for his expertise working with NYC townhouses. According to city records filed today, they purchased 28 Waldorf Court for $1.41 million. Located just off Rugby Road (often considered the heart of Victorian Flatbush) on a highly desirable cul-de-sac, the five-bedroom home has been in the same family for 30 years.
Tour the home before it gets what's sure to be a beautiful makeover
The Whitechapel Projects Plan to Reuse Jersey Warehouse as a Sustainable, Artsy Space
September 23, 2014

The Whitechapel Projects Plan to Reuse Jersey Warehouse as a Sustainable, Artsy Space

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We don’t usually cover Jersey here at 6sqft, but this inspiring adaptive reuse project was too good to pass up. Inhabitat NYC reports that a newly approved development, The Whitechapel Projects, will be converting an old industrial warehouse in Long Beach into a paradise for all things sustainable, artistic and foodie (read: super hip). The new […]

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