Architecture And Design

Cameron Sinclair Launches ‘Dead Prize’ Competition Honoring Architecture That’s Caused Remarkable Environmental Harm
August 5, 2014

Cameron Sinclair Launches ‘Dead Prize’ Competition Honoring Architecture That’s Caused Remarkable Environmental Harm

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Architects and designers love getting and giving accolades, and rightly so—there are some stellar projects out there transforming the world that deserve recognition. However, Cameron Sinclair, the Executive Director of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation and co-founder of Architecture for Humanity, seems to be fed up with the lack of discourse when it comes bad design, and in response he's just kicked off a new competition that aims to "honor" works that have inflicted serious harm on our environment. Called "Dead Prize", Sinclair hopes that this award will recognize the bad, point out the failures, and hopefully inspire individuals to do something to rectify these designs against humanity.
More on the competition here
Rianne Koens’ Modular Otura Furniture Takes Inspiration from Her Turkish In-Laws
August 5, 2014

Rianne Koens’ Modular Otura Furniture Takes Inspiration from Her Turkish In-Laws

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Dutch designer Rianne Koens' latest furniture collection was inspired by the friendliness and warm hospitality of the her own Turkish in-laws. Named after a combination of the Turkish words 'otur' (sit) and 'oturak' (stool), the Otura family has a flexible design that can easily adapt to any occasion. Separate stackable drawers, cabinets, tables and stools, all made from wood, were designed to be arranged and rearranged in an easy functional way.
about this versatile furniture here
Daily Link Fix: Snooze in a Honeycomb Pod; Revel in the Beauty of Summer in NYC
August 5, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Snooze in a Honeycomb Pod; Revel in the Beauty of Summer in NYC

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Honeycomb Sleeping Pods For Music Festival-Goers: Wired features B-And-Bee, the winning design for a Belgium competition for sustainable entrepreneurship. Believe it or not, each pod is big enough to fit a king size bed! Where do we sign up? There’s No Place Like NYC In The Summer: Summer Fridays, Saturday afternoons laying out in Sheep Meadow, outdoor dining […]

Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Wrap a Pristine White Studio with a Beautifully Aged Wood Skin
August 4, 2014

Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Wrap a Pristine White Studio with a Beautifully Aged Wood Skin

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We recently featured how Ryall Porter Sheridan renovated a 1970s house into a beautiful green retreat using Passive House standards. In a similar vein, the Manhattan-based architects have created a small artist's shelter with comparable aesthetic, employing many of the same sustainable strategies throughout. Called 'Orient Artist Studio', this project on the north-fork of Long Island is clad in a beautifully aged timber envelope that protects its pristine white interiors.
Learn more about this Passive artist studio here
Design Trust for Public Space Announces Winning Ideas to Redefine NYC Public Spaces
August 4, 2014

Design Trust for Public Space Announces Winning Ideas to Redefine NYC Public Spaces

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Ever walk by an area with park benches, plantings, or public art, and think that something's missing... oh yeah, there's no people. Though positive in theory, some urban public spaces don't engage their communities and aren't efficiently designed. To address this issue, the Design Trust for Public Space held a competition, The Energetic City: Connectivity in the Public Realm, that requested project proposals to seed and develop projects that redefine New York City's public space. Four winning ideas were selected, and their implementation will begin immediately through a design prototype, pilot intervention, public artwork, and research, planning, or public outreach stages.
Check out the winning designs
Summer Sculptures: Where to See Larger Than Life Art in the Parks
August 4, 2014

Summer Sculptures: Where to See Larger Than Life Art in the Parks

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The NYC parks system gives artists a public canvas for their sculpture and design work, and there are so many great artworks on display this summer. From abstract sculptures to innovative park design, here are just a few of the interesting sculptures and design exhibits you can see in New York City parks this last month of summer.
Find the best public sculptures here
Greenland Forest City Partners Selects COOKFOX and Thomas Balsley for Pacific Park Brooklyn (Formerly Atlantic Yards)
August 4, 2014

Greenland Forest City Partners Selects COOKFOX and Thomas Balsley for Pacific Park Brooklyn (Formerly Atlantic Yards)

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Forest City Ratner Companies and Greenland USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Greenland Group, announced today that their new joint venture, Greenland Forest City Partners, has selected COOKFOX Architects to design two residential buildings at their Pacific Park Brooklyn project. They've also chosen Thomas Balsley Associates to design the site's eight-acre public park, which will be called Pacific Park. Formerly known as Atlantic Yards, Pacific Park Brooklyn will be a 22-acre site anchored by the Barclays Center and containing 8 million square feet of mixed-use development. The public park will be revealed in phases, with permanent and temporary installations. COOKFOX has begun the design for its two residential buildings-- 550 Vanderbilt Avenue, set to feature 275 condominiums, and 535 Carlton Avenue, which will have approximately 300 affordable rentals. Construction is expected to begin on the latter this December, with 550 Vanderbilt not far behind. A third residential building will be designed by SHoP Architects, who were the minds behind the Barclays Center, at 30 Sixth Avenue with another 300 affordable rentals.
Much more on the project here
Prices and More Images of the Landmark Beekman Hotel and Condo Conversion Revealed
August 4, 2014

Prices and More Images of the Landmark Beekman Hotel and Condo Conversion Revealed

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It was announced back in May that the Beekman Hotel would finally being seeing its rebirth as a brand new condo and hotel. Now, not only has pricing for the 68-unit tower been revealed, but we're seeing a few new images of what's in store for the historic structure that has been shuttered for the last 20 years. As seen in the new renderings, the landmark building will be topped off with a conjoining 51-story condominium tower, creating a 68 residential units designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. Though fully integrated, residents of the Beekman will have their own private entrance and lobby, located on Nassau Street, and the lower levels of the building will host 287 hotel rooms with a separate access point provided on Beekman Street. All occupants will have access to the hotel's amenities.
Find out more here
Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block in Cooper Joseph Studio’s Writer’s Studio
August 3, 2014

Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block in Cooper Joseph Studio’s Writer’s Studio

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It's not easy working from home as a writer with distractions like family, cell phones, emails, and the myriad of other interruptions that modern life creates. But Cooper Joseph Studio created a place to escape and be one with the keyboard. Nestled in a serene setting in Ghent, New York, the Writer's Studio is the perfect one-person getaway for meditation, writing, or any type of creation expression one might fancy. The single-room studio is a rectangular volume that overlooks ponds and fields on one side and the deep woods on the other. Each façade is specifically designed to highlight its views, and the minimalist interior is accented by walnut and black slate detailing.
More about this writer's dream home straight ahead
A Boardwalk Connects Historic Buildings at Bates Masi + Architects’ Mothersill Home
August 1, 2014

A Boardwalk Connects Historic Buildings at Bates Masi + Architects’ Mothersill Home

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Elevated, wooden boardwalks are a common site along the beaches and dunes of Eastern Long Island. Their simple, resilient construction carefully negotiates the changing terrain, allowing accessibility to the sandy shores and deep blue sea. Bates Masi + Architects takes this vernacular design esthetic to a new level in their beautiful Mothersill home, which uses a boardwalk to connect the main property with sunbathing terraces, a pool, and two historic wooden shelters by renowned architect Andrew Geller.
More about the Mothersill home here
Soo Chan’s Soori High Line Will Offer 16 Private, Heated Swimming Pools
August 1, 2014

Soo Chan’s Soori High Line Will Offer 16 Private, Heated Swimming Pools

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Forget public pools and health clubs, the Soori High Line will offer private, heated swimming pools in 16 of its ultra-posh residences. Soo Chan, principal of Singapore-based SCDA Architects, has already made a name for himself in Asia as the pool master, designing towers with up to 120 private swimming holes. Now Chan's water-inspired interiors have also come to the surface in New York. The 11-story, 27-unit building at 522 West 19th Street will feature 16 pools ranging in size from 23 to 26 feet long, 7 to 9 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.
More about the Soori's pools this way
NYC Events 8/1: Neon in Chinatown; A Convergence of Art, Music and Technology
August 1, 2014

NYC Events 8/1: Neon in Chinatown; A Convergence of Art, Music and Technology

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Happy August! Celebrate the new month with all the fine art that New York has to offer. Tonight you can hit up a historic artist residence in the West Village, immerse yourself in edgy urban art in Williamsburg, and then party in a wild world of neon in Chinatown for a full-on New York art experience. Once you recover from all your Friday folly, start your weekend by taking pictures around the new Arles del Rio sculptures in Times Square. After that, head to Brooklyn for the opening reception and party for Justice, a new project by a roster of incredible women. Then wrap up next week with Clouds in a Cloudless Sky, an installation event where art, music and technology converge.
All the best events here
Rogers Marvel Architects Separate Public and Family Spaces in Their East Fifth Street Penthouse
August 1, 2014

Rogers Marvel Architects Separate Public and Family Spaces in Their East Fifth Street Penthouse

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When Rogers Marvel Architects set out to combine and design this East Fifth Street top-floor renovation/penthouse addition, they wanted to create two separately functioning spaces. The entrance was moved to the penthouse, which houses the public zone--the kitchen, dining room, and formal living room. Downstairs is the family zone, with two bedroom/bathroom wings, one for the adults and the other for children, located off a central family and play room. The public spaces are outfitted with sleek, modern décor, while the private, family rooms are decidedly more playful.
Tour the rest of this East Village duplex
Sharif El-Gamal Commissions Jean Nouvel to Design Islam Museum Next to WTC
July 31, 2014

Sharif El-Gamal Commissions Jean Nouvel to Design Islam Museum Next to WTC

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Sharif El-Gamal, CEO of real estate developer Soho Properties, announced today that his company acquired 49-51 Park Place from Consolidated Edison for $10.7 million. He also confirmed that none other than Pritzker Prize-winning starchitect Jean Nouvel will be designing the site's three-story Islam museum and prayer space.
More on the breaking development
New St. Mark’s Bookshop is a “Twist” on an Old Favorite
July 31, 2014

New St. Mark’s Bookshop is a “Twist” on an Old Favorite

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When the neighborhood institution St. Mark's Bookshop was struggling to pay its sky-high rent back in 2011, it asked landlord Cooper Union for a break to prevent having to relocate from its iconic 3rd Avenue and East 9th Street location. The institution wouldn't budge, so the East Village and book-loving communities banded together in an attempt to save the store. Though after petitions, cash mobs, and celebrity visits, the owners announced in March that they'd be moving their shop to 136 East 3rd Street at Avenue A. Longtime patrons were nervous about the new outpost, which recently opened its doors in the historic First Houses complex, but the contemporary design by Clouds Architecture Office does not disappoint. The undulating bookshelves snake through the shop, encouraging customers to peruse the eclectic collection of literature and freeing up interior space for neighborhood events. Through the storefront windows, the colorful books pop against the stark-white shelves, a true feast for the eyes.
More on the clever design ahead
The Bariseur: A Hybrid Coffee Brewer-Alarm Clock That Wakes You Up with a Fresh Cup of Joe
July 31, 2014

The Bariseur: A Hybrid Coffee Brewer-Alarm Clock That Wakes You Up with a Fresh Cup of Joe

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If you dread waking up to the painful buzz of an alarm clock, this new design might be the way make your morning hustle a slower, more delightful experience. Envisioned by British designer Joshua Renouf, The Bariseur is a coffee brewer and an alarm clock all in one. This unique hybrid machine will wake you up with a freshly brewed cup, letting you enjoy a few more minutes in bed.
Learn more about The Bariseur
Starchitects Aren’t to Blame for “Ruining” the Skyline
July 30, 2014

Starchitects Aren’t to Blame for “Ruining” the Skyline

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So often it's the starchitects who get a bad name--for ruining city skylines with their larger-than-life towers, for obscuring park views, or for neglecting to take into account their surroundings. But a new opinion piece in the New York Times by Allison Arieff argues that the blame can't be solely placed on these so-called starchitects, but rather on the architecture community at large.
Read more about Arieff's case here
PARA-Project’s Haffenden House is a Tranquil Writers Studio and Modern Day Ice House
July 30, 2014

PARA-Project’s Haffenden House is a Tranquil Writers Studio and Modern Day Ice House

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The Haffenden House by PARA-Project, a tranquil writers studio in Syracuse, New York, was designed as a place for two poets to find respite and inspiration. Located on a typical suburban street, the modern, white rectangular structure stands out against the more traditional homes to its left and right. The architect has stated that "The project finds itself within the suburban realm, referencing Gianni Pettena’s Ice House from 1972, as a blank spot within the repetitive image of 'house.'"
Tour the rest of the contemporary abode
Paolo Venturella’s Flex Tower Twists to Soak Up Sunlight
July 30, 2014

Paolo Venturella’s Flex Tower Twists to Soak Up Sunlight

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It's 2040 in New York City, and the metropolis' population has doubled over, thereby drastically increasing energy consumption. How do architects alter their designs to deal with this new landscape? Italian architect Paolo Venturella thinks he's come up with the answer to this (currently hypothetical) conundrum. The Flex Tower concept combines the need for housing with a sustainable energy system that uses a new typology for photovoltaic panels. At ground level the structure is in keeping with the traditional street grid, but as it rises it rotates toward the sun to position the panels correctly.
More about the curving creation this way
Tour Tommy Hilfiger’s Lavish Plaza Penthouse
July 30, 2014

Tour Tommy Hilfiger’s Lavish Plaza Penthouse

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When we think of Tommy Hilfiger we might imagine him in an all-American, red-white-and-blue outfit, standing in a nautical seashore cottage, but his penthouse at the Plaza couldn't be any more the opposite than this vision. Instead of paintings of beach scenes there are Basquiats and Warhols (20 of the latter, to be exact); rather than white-washed walls there are entire rooms clad in marble; and instead of simple, shabby chic bedrooms there are opulent personal retreats that could fit entire NYC apartments within their footprint. In short, Mr. Hilfiger's city residence is nothing short of regal. He and his wife Dee Ocleppo purchased and combined three separate units in 2008, and they then embarked on a massive renovation of the duplex to emulate the old-world style of the landmarked building.
Take a tour through this magnificent home and see if the couple lived up to goal
You Can Design Next Year’s City of Dreams Pavilion on Governors Island
July 29, 2014

You Can Design Next Year’s City of Dreams Pavilion on Governors Island

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Calling all designers and architects! The AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) is now accepting entries for The City of Dreams 2015 Pavilion Design Competition. This year, FIGMENT has teamed up with ENYA and SEAofNY to host a contest that invites creatives to design and construct an architectural pavilion for next year's City of Dreams. The winning designer will be the 5th to create a project for annual event, following in the footsteps of other notables such as StudioKCA with their 2013 work, 'Head in the Clouds', which also won a Best of Year award from Interior Design Magazine in the installation category. Don't miss out on a chance to create an unforgettable space for this incredible playground of art and culture.
Submission details here
First Look Inside Zaha Hadid’s Futuristic Condos Planned for the High Line
July 29, 2014

First Look Inside Zaha Hadid’s Futuristic Condos Planned for the High Line

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Whether or not you're a fan of Zaha Hadid, or Neo-Futurism for that matter, if you're believer that a building's interior should be a seamless extension of its exterior (read: not New York by Gehry), you'll appreciate Zaha's efforts to turn her High Line project into a work worthy of architecture history books. One of the most (if not the most) talked about starchitect projects planned for the elevated park, plenty of full view renderings have surfaced since it was announced just over a year ago. But it looks like we're finally getting a taste of what the inside could look like, courtesy of Curbed. Like its ultra-futuristic exteriors, Zaha's luxurious condos will be just as sleek and spaceship-like as the outside, with undulating surfaces all throughout, and featuring many of the mind-boggling forms we've come to appreciate Ms. Hadid for.
More views inside
Specht Harpman’s Eiche Residence Uses Simple Lines to Create a Calming East Village Hideaway
July 29, 2014

Specht Harpman’s Eiche Residence Uses Simple Lines to Create a Calming East Village Hideaway

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It's no secret that the East Village is the go-to neighborhood for NYU students and recent grads looking to mix, mingle, and party, and that can get a little rowdy at times. But the Eiche Residence by Specht Harpman is a peaceful retreat within this buzzing neighborhood. Simple horizontal and vertical lines mixed with clean volumes and planar surfaces help to maximize space and organize movement through this unusually laid out triplex unit. And with neutral furniture and an abundance of warm, natural wood, the calming feel achieved inside will make you forget that you're even in New York.
See why else we're swooning over this East Village pad
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