Architecture And Design

IKEA’s ‘Life at Home’ Project Offers a Crazy Detailed Look Into New Yorkers’ Mornings
October 13, 2014

IKEA’s ‘Life at Home’ Project Offers a Crazy Detailed Look Into New Yorkers’ Mornings

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IKEA has made their way into homes across the world, but with their latest project 'Life at Home' the furniture giant finds themselves square at our breakfast tables. Although you may think that your mornings aren't all that different from someone in say Paris or London (or in the next cubicle for that matter), as New Yorkers we're pretty distinct in how we wake up, how we dress ourselves, and even how long we shower. The company's Life at Home report is the first of what will be a series of studies geared towards developing new home products in line with a particular city's waking habits. The report covers seven other cities, including Paris, Berlin, London, Moscow, but of course, we're going to bring you the top findings from their NYC study. Many of these were surprising...
How New Yorkers spend their mornings this way
Studio Swine Makes Extraordinary Objects from Human Hair
October 13, 2014

Studio Swine Makes Extraordinary Objects from Human Hair

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Anglo-Japanese designer Studio Swine makes luxurious objects and furniture that sit at the intersection of culture and the future of resources. Their latest project is a collection of extraordinary objects inspired by the 1930s Shanghai-deco style translated into all sorts of objects, including boxes, vases, mirrors, screens and hair combs. But there's something in particular that makes them stand out. Called Hair Highway, their weirdly enchanting aesthetic can be attributed to the use of resin and human hair!
Learn more about these hairy designs
Tour Andrew Franz’s Mid-Century Modern Glass-Walled Hideaway in Upstate New York
October 12, 2014

Tour Andrew Franz’s Mid-Century Modern Glass-Walled Hideaway in Upstate New York

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Andrew Franz's philosophy is that "design should inspire, incite compliment and celebrate our lives. It should serve our legacies and our relationship with the environment." That philosophy is reflected in the renovation of this mid-century modern house, located upstate in Palisades, NY. The remodeling of the home involved updating the wood floors, the exterior walls and the kitchen, and Andrew's hand gave way to a design that's modern, warm, and in touch with the picturesque forest surrounding it. In other words, the clients got the perfect vacation hideaway they were wishing for.
Inside the home here
<b>An Architect’s Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport</b>

Photo courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

October 11, 2014

An Architect’s Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport

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The TWA Flight Center at what is today John F. Kennedy International airport represents both the ephemeral and the ageless; our vulnerability at the end of the "American century" and the enduring beauty of inspired modern design. The work of mid-20th century Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the historic terminal is among the city’s most beloved architectural treasures. It first opened in 1962, a year after the architect’s death, and Saarinen posthumously received the AIA Gold Medal award for the design in 1962. Despite its storied past and widespread reverence, since the demise of TWA and its subsequent purchase by American Airlines in 2001, the terminal’s iconic “head house” has remained eerily vacant, and its future continues to be a point of contention.
More on the terminal's past and uncertain future
<b>Living on Hallowed Ground: NYC Religious Buildings Being Converted to Luxury Housing</b>

The Anshei Meseritz
 Temple soon to be turned into condos © LuciaM via Panoramio

October 10, 2014

Living on Hallowed Ground: NYC Religious Buildings Being Converted to Luxury Housing

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New Yorkers know it often takes some divine intervention to land a great apartment. Luckily, with dozens of churches and synagogues now being partially or totally converted into luxury residential buildings, high-end apartment hunters can go straight to the source. As congregations grapple with changing demographics, shrinking memberships, and costly upkeep of historic buildings, many religious institutions are concluding that it makes better financial sense to sell off a portion of their development rights, relocate to a more affordable site, or even close their doors for good.
Here's a look at New York’s hottest and holiest developments
Throw Your Crap in the Gap of Line Depping’s Table
October 10, 2014

Throw Your Crap in the Gap of Line Depping’s Table

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Computers, phones, paper, books, pens, lamps, keys, food, hot drinks... We use tables for so many different reasons and they're usually flooded with stuff. But what happens when you have unexpected guests or if you just need to quickly clear a space? The clever 'Borrod' by Line Depping is designed specifically for that. Now you can magically hide everything sitting on your tabletop by simply pushing all that crap into the gap!
Find out more about this table with a gap
Brooklyn Courtyard House by DXA Studio Is Arranged Around a Central Atrium
October 10, 2014

Brooklyn Courtyard House by DXA Studio Is Arranged Around a Central Atrium

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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
$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living
October 10, 2014

$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living

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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

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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

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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
Futuristic-looking Pink Amoeba by THEVERYMANY Wants You to Explore Its Insides
October 9, 2014

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

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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
Ghislaine Viñas Brings a Whimsical Edge to the Interior Design of a Hip Tribeca Loft
October 9, 2014

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

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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.
READ MORE
Landmarked 1867 Nomad Building May Recieve Blade Runner-Like Addition
October 8, 2014

Landmarked 1867 Nomad Building May Recieve Blade Runner-Like Addition

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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
Orwell Hybrid Bed-Sofa-Cabin Recaptures the Intimacy of Home
October 8, 2014

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

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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
House in the Berkshires by David Hotson Is Made of Two Shed-Roofed Bars
October 8, 2014

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

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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
October 8, 2014

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

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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
<b> 45 Park Place: Tribeca’s Latest Condo Tower Could be an Architectural Stunner</b>
October 7, 2014

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

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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
<b>INTERVIEW: Architect Andrew Franz, A Modernist But Not a Minimalist</b>
October 7, 2014

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

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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
Nobu, A Transforming Desk-Shelf Inspired by Vintage Carrycases
October 7, 2014

Nobu, A Transforming Desk-Shelf Inspired by Vintage Carrycases

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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.
READ MORE
Own a Romantic One-Bedroom in Park Slope’s Iconic Chiclet Mansion
October 7, 2014

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

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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
Karim Rashid’s East Harlem HAP Building Gets a New Color Scheme After Much Opposition
October 7, 2014

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

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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

By
**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
Slade Architecture Creatively Uses Freestanding Units to Divide This Soho Loft into Livable Spaces
October 6, 2014

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

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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
Luderowski Architect’s Pagoda-Shaped Stunner is Not Your Average Treehouse
October 5, 2014

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

By
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
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