Architecture And Design

September 19, 2014

NYC Gets a New Neighborhood Map from the City Planning Department

Every few years the New York City Department of City Planning releases a new map to document changes in demographics, geographic profiles and neighborhood boundaries. The maps have been produced since 1994, and following its 2010 update, the City has just released a 2014 version. In addition to offering some insight into the current socio-economic makeup of our […]

September 19, 2014

Brooklyn Loft in a Former Die Casting Factory Gets an Eye-Popping Upgrade by SABO Project

We've looked at a number of industrial renovations in the past, but this gut renovation recently completed by SABO Project definitely tops our list as one of the most inventive. The 'Doehler' loft is located within a 1913 building and was first renovated during the 80s. At the time, industrial chic wasn't quite as admired as it is today, and the developer opted to hide all of the structure's original details, encasing the columns and ceilings in lackluster drywall. When SABO took on the project last year, they knew that the home's historic roots as a former die casting factory was the magic of the space, and with that, they stripped the entire loft and constructed modern features that could complement the old.
Explore the incredible home here
September 19, 2014

Norman Foster-Designed Yacht is a Sleek Way to Cruise the Open Seas

Norman Foster has designed some of the most futuristic structures in the world. From the Gherkin in London to the Heart Tower in New York, his creations are unexpected and tech-focused. But did you know that Foster + Partners dabbles in boat design? They've just launched (no pun intended) the new Alen Yacht 68. The sleek schooner is not quite as ground-breaking as the firm's architectural works, but it "combines the elegant social spaces of a cruising yacht with the fun of a day boat."
See what this expertly-designed yacht has to offer
September 19, 2014

William Noble’s Private Central Park West Residence Is on the Market…Again

William Noble would roll over in his grave if he knew the fate of his beloved private residence. The prominent developer built a cluster of spec homes toward the end of the 19th century and chose 247 Central Park West for himself. This 10,745-square-foot home’s impressive history continues as it was once the home of Walt Disney’s grandniece and it remains one of the few single-family homes on Central Park. However, history turns a bit sour beginning in 2006 when Keith Monda, president of Coach, purchased the home and spent a year renovating it as a gallery for his art. He sold the remodeled home to Ukrainian businessman Igor Iankovsky in 2012. Iankovsky apparently never moved in, preferring his French residence instead, and he has been trying to sell the home ever since. We’re not sure if it’s the renovation’s mixed reviews or the sky-high prices, but for some reason this home toggles back and forth on the sales and rental markets. Well, now it’s back with another price drop, asking $27.75 million or $65,000 a month.
Let's take a look inside
September 19, 2014

REVEALED: Skyline Views of KPF’s One Vanderbilt Near Grand Central

We've been keeping a close eye on One Vanderbilt, SL Green's new 65-story office tower planned for the entire block west of Grand Central and north of East 42nd Street. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, it will be the second-tallest building in the city when completed. Now, Yimby has hot-off-the-press skyline views of One Vanderbilt from KPF, and the newest NYC supertall certainly stands out amongst the nearby Empire State Building and Chrysler Building.
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September 18, 2014

Glass vs. Stone: An Epic Architecture Battle

Decisions, decisions...sometimes there's just far too many in New York City. Thai or Chinese takeout? Subway or bus? Central Park or the High Line? The list goes on. And one of the most grueling decisions we make as New Yorkers is where to live. From choosing a borough and neighborhood to deciding on a price point, it's quite the undertaking. But what about the most elementary component of the building in which we decide to live--it's material. To be more exact, glass or stone. Glass tower dwellers are often drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views, and clean lines, whereas buyers of apartments in stone buildings prefer a more traditional feel, with pre-war-style layouts that provide great separation of spaces. And some of the city's most prominent architects have become synonymous with one style or the other. Think Richard Meier for glass and Robert A.M. Stern for stone. CityRealty decided to take a closer look at this epic battle and see how pairs of glass and stone developments fared across the city.
See how these buildings battle it out
September 18, 2014

From Four-Family to One: MAS Architectures’ Unique Carlton Avenue Conversion in Fort Greene

When tasked with converting this historic brownstone on Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene from an existing four-family residence to a single home for a growing brood, MANIFOLD Architecture Studio (MAS) appears to have focused on the one item that unified the building from the start – the stairway.
See more of MAS' Carlton Street conversion
September 18, 2014

Classic Loft in Soho’s Cast Iron Historic District Wants $3.25 Million

A sprawling one-bedroom loft in the heart of Soho’s Cast Iron Historic District just popped up on the market, asking $3.25 million. This co-op at 85 Mercer Street is quite the looker with original pressed tin ceilings, cast iron columns, and plenty of light. But the most interesting feature of this modernized prewar loft is probably where you’ll be laying your head at night.
Take a look inside, here
September 18, 2014

Construction on Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower will Finally Move Forward!

Hot off the purchase of $85 million in air rights, and with a new construction loan of $860 million in tow, Hines is back on track to bring the Jean Nouvel-designed MoMA residential tower to fruition. According to TRD, Hines just closed on two deals to buy more than 240,000 square feet of development rights from MoMA and the St. Thomas Episcopal Church for $85.3 million.
more here
September 18, 2014

A La Sagrada Familia in Manhattan? See the Unbuilt NYC Gaudí

Atoni Gaudí was a brilliant and polarizing architect. Whereas most architects will see their works compared and contrasted against others in their field, even the most knowledgeable architectural critics will look at Gaudí's work and throw up their hands and say it must be something alien. The organic curves and mounds of Gaudí's designs look hundreds of years ahead of their time. But Gaudí worked mostly around his home region of Catalonia, and the businesslike skyscrapers of Manhattan have never looked anything like the the architect's designs. However, there was a time when a Gaudí NYC skyscraper almost came to be.
See the proposed Gaudí building here
September 17, 2014

Beautiful Brownstone Mansion on Prospect Park Asks $7 Million

What if you had the opportunity to live in a 7,000-square-foot brownstone mansion on a picturesque block just a stone’s throw away from Prospect Park? That’s just a taste of what 312 Garfield Place has to offer, for $6.995 million. It is believed that the brilliant home was built by developer William Flannigan for New York businessman J. J Galligan sometime during the turn of the 20th century. The resulting five-story building has a distinct Victorian charm with a light Renaissance touch.
Take a look inside, here
September 17, 2014

Carlo Sampietro Brings the Iconic NYC Street Barrier Indoors with the Police Table

Have a teenager who you're looking to keep out of trouble? This piece of furniture may be just the daily reminder he or she needs to stay on the straight and narrow. The custom-made Police Table Masterpiece by Carlo Sampietro is an elegant reinterpretation of the iconic and unique New York City police barrier. It also doubles as an ambient lamp.
More on the table here
September 17, 2014

Get Your Tickets for the Architecture & Design Film Festival

For the sixth year, the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) will take over the screens at Tribeca Cinemas, offering guests access to a special lineup of over 25 curated films from around the world. Running from October 15-19, this year's festival features an impressive panel of distinguished speakers, Q&A's, and special parties. It also will host the U.S. premier of Cathedrals of Culture, a 3D film project by German filmmaker Wim Wenders. Tickets go on sale today.
More details on this year's festival
September 17, 2014

Gamer Zach Gage Nabs Penthouse with Futuristic Rooftop Watchtower for $3.9M

Forbes' 30 under 30 in video games, Zach Gage, is cashing in on his success. The gamer and conceptual artist just picked up this sweet Chinatown penthouse at 18 Orchard Street for $3.9 million, according to city records filed today. The 28-year old, who has developed games such as SpellTower, Ridiculous Fishing, and Lose/Lose, and been exhibited at venues like the Venice Biennale, the MoMA, and in Apple stores worldwide, seems to not have strayed far from his edgy sensibilities. His new three-bedroom duplex features a rooftop catwalk, some killer lights, and a futuristic watchtower with "a transcendent view of the sunset and cityscape".
Tour the home here
September 17, 2014

POLL: Is the East River Skyway the future of NYC transportation?

Yesterday, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty, presented his proposal for the ‘East River Skyway,’ an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes. Now, we want to know what you think about the idea. Images: East River Skyway, courtesy of CityRealty […]

September 16, 2014

REVEALED: East River Skyway Will Bring Brooklyn Commuters to Manhattan in Under Four Minutes

There's no stopping the Brooklyn development boom, but getting to and from the borough from Manhattan will increasingly become a nightmare with thousands of new residential units hitting the market in the coming years. If you've commuted from Brooklyn to Manhattan (and vice versa) you know that the subway system is already taxed. But as more and more homes are added throughout the borough, it's surprising that no plans have been made to alleviate the transportation stress that will soon come with it. Until now. Today, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty*, will present his proposal for the 'East River Skyway', an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes.
Find out more about the proposed project
September 16, 2014

A Brooklyn Heights Loft in an Old YMCA Building Makes Room for Books, Art and Entertaining

The owners of this Brooklyn Heights loft on the top two floors of a converted YMCA building wanted to remodel their space to accommodate both of their individual, extensive book and art collections; they also needed a home that would be great for dinner parties and entertaining. Rather than settling on boring built-ins, they turned to Ensemble Architecture to create a solution that would put their most treasured items on show.
Tour the renovated space here
September 16, 2014

Event: Join Top NYC Architects and Artists at the 14+ Foundation Benefit to Build Schools in Zambia

The second Annual 14+ Foundation Benefit on October 2nd will support the building of schools in Zambia with the help of top New York architects and artists. Julian Schnabel, Rashid Johnson, and the Bruce High Quality Foundation have donated works for a live art auction, and Solange Knowles is set to perform. The event will take place at the Diamond Horseshoe from 6:00pm to 2:00am. It follows the organization's work on the Chipakata Children's Academy in Lusaka, Zambia, a new school, orphanage, and community facility that will provide arts-based learning programs, as well as daily meals.
More details on the benefit and 14+ Foundation's work
September 15, 2014

INTERVIEW: Karim Rashid on His Move into Architecture and Designing Colorful NYC Condos

You may not recognize Karim Rashid immediately, but odds are you have at least one of his designs in your home. A staunch believer that everyone deserves access to great design no matter what their budget (it's what he calls "designocrasy"), Karim has become one of the world's most celebrated designers having brought thousands of new ideas and innovations to the widest-possible audience. As such, Karim has won hundreds of international awards, including the prestigious Red Dot, and his work can be found in more than 20 permanent collections including those of the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and SFMOMA. Karim also calls everyone from Umbra to Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Alessi, Artemide and Veuve Clicquot as his clients, and Time magazine once described him as the "most famous industrial designer in all the Americas". Clearly having conquered the industrial design realm, Karim recently turned his creative eye to architecture. We recently caught up with the designer cum architect to talk about the evolution of his career and the three eye-popping HAP condos he's now got under construction for New York City. Hear what he has to say about his grand new endeavors—color, controversy and all.
Read our interview with Karim Rashid here
September 15, 2014

Historic Jones Alley Loft Offers All the Quirky Charms of Noho

The Noho Historic District is one of the most charming in Manhattan, with quaint cobblestone streets and an eclectic mix of historic lofts that once housed the city's dry goods centers and early-19th-century houses. And one of these quirky buildings is 3 Great Jones Street. The Greek Revival townhouse was erected in 1845, replacing a former stable building. It saw façade alterations in the 1920s, but the entryway to unit R1 still retains all of its old-time appeal, as it's situated on the side of the building on Jones Alley (formerly known as Shinbone Alley), a private, gated mews. A 14-foot, historic wooden door surrounded by welcoming plants leads to the duplex loft, on the market for $3.7 million.
You don't want to miss this home
September 15, 2014

Sawyer Berson’s Residence in Southampton is Composed of Calming Glass and Stone Pavillions

You might not think of a starkly modern home as calming or tranquil, but then you've probably never seen the Residence in Southampton by Sawyer|Berson architects. Built for designer Kelly Behun and her family, the home is characterized by its dramatic overhangs, large expanses of glass, and flowing, open floor plan. Part of a series of pavilions, the main house, pool, pool house, and guest wing are all oriented south to take advantage of the stunning beach views. The seven-bedroom home boasts a screening room, gym, and an an impressive collection of art. Perhaps the most interesting element of the residence is the infinity pool, which is visible from the gym and yard.
See what else this luxurious Southampton estate has in store
September 15, 2014

Ben Shahn Murals and a Market? YoungWoo & Associates Tries Again at the Bronx General Post Office

The firm that once hoped to bring a Bronx market to the Kingsbridge Armory site may get their chance with another historic building in the borough. Last week it was announced that developer YoungWoo & Associates purchased the landmarked Bronx General Post Office building on the Grand Concourse and East 149th Street for an undisclosed sum.
What's in store for the building and its treasures?
September 14, 2014

Fall House Tour Roundup: From Victorian Homes to Industrial Lofts

Though spring is typically considered the height of house tour season, the fall months offer their own roster of open-door events. It pretty much goes without saying that we love peeking inside all kinds of homes, so we've rounded up here the best of the upcoming tours. From industrial Tribeca lofts to Victorian homes on the Delaware River, there's definitely something for every interior design lover.
All the events here
September 12, 2014

Atelierhouse: A Movable Murphy-Like Furniture System to Keep Your Room Ultra-Organized

Hate clutter? Then you'll love this incredible furniture collection designed by Harry Thaler. Called 'Atelierhouse', the series of pieces were actually commissioned by the Museion museum in Bolzano, Italy to furnish a studio and living space for the museum's artists in residence. Though one-offs, we can definitely see them outfitting some of the spacious NYC artist lofts that are often required to do double duty as work/live spaces.
See more pieces from the collection here
September 12, 2014

Moleskine’s New Livescribe Notebook Is Like an iPad Made From Paper

Moleskine, the legendary notebooks used by artists and writers including Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, just launched their new pad. Called Livescribe Notebook, it comes with a Livescribe pen and is, as always, made from acid-free paper. Much like an iPad, it lets you write, draw, and make notes, allowing the 'intelligent' pen to automatically back up and transfer your ideas from paper to screen.
Learn more about the new Livescribe Notebook