Architecture And Design

Park Avenue Historic District Approved with Major Modifications, Extell’s New Tower May Soon Rise as a Result
April 29, 2014

Park Avenue Historic District Approved with Major Modifications, Extell’s New Tower May Soon Rise as a Result

By
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has just approved the creation of the Park Avenue Historic District, but with major modifications that could mean big changes for the neighborhood. The boundaries of the district were proposed to run from 79th to 96th Street, but the final version passed today excludes the blocks north of 94th Street, which encompasses the Morris Ketchum Jr.-designed Hunter College School as well as The Loyola Grammar School at 48 East 84th Street. More importantly, today's ruling would appear to give Extell Development the green light to replace a Park Avenue church rectory with a condominium tower.
Park Ave will soon be afoot with change
Christian de Portzamparc Unveils New Renderings of Riverside Center
April 29, 2014

Christian de Portzamparc Unveils New Renderings of Riverside Center

By
Famed French architect, and Pritzker Prize winner, Christian de Portzamparc is causing quite a stir. Take a glance at his website and you’ll be met with a rendering of the new Riverside Center that would inspire hope in the most pessimistic NIMBY. After a disappointing official rendering of the first building cast some serious doubt on the fate of the much-anticipated development, de Portzamparc has unveiled a new vision, and fingers are crossed that it will be realized.
More on de Portzamparc's design here
Anon Pairot’s Stunning Zatellite Lamp is Handwoven with Steel
April 29, 2014

Anon Pairot’s Stunning Zatellite Lamp is Handwoven with Steel

By
No, that's not a typo, though this futuristic lamp does have a satellite-like design form. A creation of the Anon Pairot Design Studio, it is constructed using spot welding and hundreds of woven 0.5 millimeter steel rods. The copper-colored, geometric orb is one of many Anon Pairot designs that feature a pattern reminiscent of traditional Thai textiles.
More about the design here
Demolition Begins at 43 East 22nd to Make Way for Bruce Eichner’s New Supertall Condo
April 29, 2014

Demolition Begins at 43 East 22nd to Make Way for Bruce Eichner’s New Supertall Condo

By
A new 80-unit condominium tower at 45 East 22nd street will bring the distance between New York’s two preeminent skylines a bit closer. Ian Bruce Eichner’s, Continuum Company has plans to build the loftiest skyscraper between the Empire State Building (1,250 feet) in Midtown and the Woolworth Building (792 feet) in the Financial District. The project designed by the high-rise pros of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, stretches skyward 60 floors — a whopping 778 feet from an unassuming 50-foot wide lot currently occupied by two row-homes. We recently stopped by the site to see how things are coming along, and it looks like demolition has just started. Check out our survey and snaps of the project ahead.
More photos and renderings here
Eyeing the Drake: The Macklowe Construction Brings a “Patriotic” Burst of Color to Park Ave
April 25, 2014

Eyeing the Drake: The Macklowe Construction Brings a “Patriotic” Burst of Color to Park Ave

By
One of the city’s noblest professions is “sidewalk superintendent.” These intrepid pedestrians love to peer through holes in the wall to watch large equipment playing the construction game. The more sophisticated of these curiosity-seekers also look for holes in the city’s facades to glimpse the progress of larger-than-normal, future skyline stars. You can imagine the astonishment, therefore, when I noticed, a couple of days ago, that 432 Park Avenue had adopted a “patriotic” stance, and that its fenestration grid now is highlighted, from top down, in red, blue and white, the colors of the American flag, and also the French flag — a stark divergence from the pristine, streamlined design set out by the building's architect, Rafael Vinoly.
For sidewalk superintendents, the former Drake is startlingly colorful
Everyday Foods Re-Branded as Luxury Products by Tiffany, Gucci and More
April 25, 2014

Everyday Foods Re-Branded as Luxury Products by Tiffany, Gucci and More

By
If Gucci was to start canning pickles, would that make eating them more appetizing? A new series by artist Paddy Mergui is re-imagining everyday foods as luxury products. The collection, titled "Wheat is Wheat is Wheat", wraps over a dozen common foods in designer patterns and well-recognized packagings, playing on our susceptibility to big names and brand recognition. "[Design is] so under the radar that people think it's nice and that it's giving them self esteem," Mergui tells The Verge. "Actually, be aware that you're being manipulated by the visual aspects of packaging." From Apple's iMilk to Burberry ramen to Cartier coffee to a dozen Versace eggs, see all the products ahead.
More Images of the re-branded food ahead
Combine Work Time and Playtime with CATable
April 25, 2014

Combine Work Time and Playtime with CATable

By
Cats are fickle. They need attention only when they want it, and that’s usually when you’re working. Hao Ruan of LYCS Architecture has an answer for those moments when your cat leaps onto your computer while you’re working and one little paw happens to stomp on the ‘Delete’ button. Hand carved for a seamless touch, the CATable allows for fun and play for both you and Kitty. As your cat meanders through the maze-like tunnels and crannies in the desk, you can work happily on the tabletop.
More details on the design here
Condos at the Shigeru Ban-Designed Cast Iron House Now Up for Sale!
April 21, 2014

Condos at the Shigeru Ban-Designed Cast Iron House Now Up for Sale!

By
Want to live in a Pritzker prize winning architect-designed condo? Five units in the Shigeru Ban-designed Cast Iron House were placed on the market today, including the East penthouse. Designs for the 67 Franklin Street structure were approved two years ago, accompanied by plenty of accolades from community members and architecture enthusiasts alike. And now that Ban has added '2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate' to his resume, we expect these beauties to fly off the shelves in the coming months (You have heard of the Pritzker Prize-effect, right?). As it stands, the 2,990-square-foot 3BR/3BA on the second floor has an asking price of $4.975 million, while the 3,809-square-foot 4BR with 1,531-square-foot terrace East penthouse, has been listed for a cool $13 million.
More photos and floor plans ahead
Maya Lin and Daniel Wolf to Turn a Former Yonkers Jail Into a Studio and Gallery
April 18, 2014

Maya Lin and Daniel Wolf to Turn a Former Yonkers Jail Into a Studio and Gallery

By
For nine decades the brick walls at 24-26 Alexander Street in Yonkers were known more for its portfolio of inmates than as a museum-like structure. But soon the classic two-story building will be liberated from its former life as a prison to house a collection of a very different kind. As part of a concentrated effort by the City of Yonkers to continue the transformation of the area all along the Husdon River, Mayor Mike Spano was more than a little excited when art collector and dealer, Daniel Wolf, and his wife, the renowned artist and architect Maya Lin, expressed interest in the property.
pics of the prison here
Construction Begins on Manhattan’s Tallest Condominium Tower
April 18, 2014

Construction Begins on Manhattan’s Tallest Condominium Tower

By
Construction on the SHoP Architects-designed tower at 111 West 57th Street has finally begun! Yesterday evening, one of 6sqft's reporters walked past the site and took a quick snap of the newly arrived construction vehicles and equipment. The Manhattan giant, which will also be the world's slenderest tower, will rise 1,300-feet high, above a floor plate of around 60-feet wide. The building will host three elevators and each floor will be its own 5,000-square-foot apartment with 15-foot ceilings. And for those worried how wind load will affect the 76-story structure, a huge steel weight will be suspended within the top of the building to keep it from swaying (yikes).
More on the tower
Chelsea’s Walker Tower Finally Getting Its Finishing Touches
April 17, 2014

Chelsea’s Walker Tower Finally Getting Its Finishing Touches

By
One of our intrepid reports stopped by the Walker Tower earlier today to check out how things are coming along at the 212 West 18th Street landmark. The tower — which has drawn buyers ranging from Cameron Diaz to Mike Thorne (that guy who discovered the Sex Pistols) — had its scaffolding removed just seven months ago and has already set new sales records for Downtown Manhattan (this includes an impressive $50.9 million deal for the 6,000-square-foot 5BR/5.5BA penthouse). The conversion of the former Verizon building into luxury condos has been underway since 2011, but word is that construction on the interior will be wrapped up in the coming weeks. Let's take a look at what's been completed so far.
More photos here
LOT-EK’s DUNE CO-HABITAT Will Protect Far Rockaway from Future Storm Surges
April 17, 2014

LOT-EK’s DUNE CO-HABITAT Will Protect Far Rockaway from Future Storm Surges

By
Say goodbye to the old wooden bungalows, and hello to a new, much more sustainable community. Ever since Hurricane Sandy devastated Far Rockaway, there have been plans to either rebuild it magnificently or leave it alone. The new design from LOT-EK (famous for their shipping container houses) makes it a beautiful community to rival to those in Manhattan. Aptly dubbed DUNE CO-HABITAT, the 80+ acre plan involves building a community of houses on raised platforms, and using planted dunes as a natural flood defense.
More details on the distaster-proof design here
“Plus Pool” Will Let You Safely Swim in the East River
April 11, 2014

“Plus Pool” Will Let You Safely Swim in the East River

By
Last year, a Kickstarter crowd funding project for an ambitious public pool in the East River passed its $250,000 goal. This month, the project entered its first phase by dropping a miniature version of the pool called Float Lab into the river, testing the water quality and concept of the pool. If all goes according to plan, Gothamites will be splashing in this river pool in 2016!
See more renderings of this amazing design here
Photographers James and Karla Murray Capture New York City’s Rapidly Gentrifying Storefronts
April 9, 2014

Photographers James and Karla Murray Capture New York City’s Rapidly Gentrifying Storefronts

By
If it seems like Starbucks and Duane Reade are colonizing the streets of New York City, there’s now photographic proof. A new series from shutterbugs James and Karla Murray looks at the rapidly changing face of Gotham’s storefronts and — no surprise — they’re getting more corporate. Gone are the colorful mom-and-pop signage the Murrays shot just a decade ago for their book Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York. In their place? Fast food franchises, banks, and high-end boutiques.
A peek inside the book
Barclays Center is Getting a Green Roof!
April 7, 2014

Barclays Center is Getting a Green Roof!

By
There is one more thing to cheer about at Barclays Center. The sports and entertainment venue in Brooklyn is about to get a little greener thanks to a collaboration between Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC) and the Shanghai-based Greenland Group Co. Barclays will soon be topped off with small plants and a soil-like cover to create an expansive 130,000-square-foot green roof!
Going green
Exclusive Photos of the Incredible $80K Towhnouse Rental Where Beyonce Shot ‘Halo’
April 5, 2014

Exclusive Photos of the Incredible $80K Towhnouse Rental Where Beyonce Shot ‘Halo’

By
The Soho home where Beyonce shot the video 'Halo' is still renting for $80K a month — putting it out of reach of just about all of us. Though broker photos are aplenty across the nets, 6sqft got to explore the private home last fall on Dwell magazine's City Modern Tour. The 5-story structure, renovated by Asfour Guzy, is touted as one of New York’s most unique properties, and it's no wonder why: This former Con Ed station boasts everything from a huge verdant terrace to 19-foot ceilings, and even a 007-like indoor pool that we bet B took a dip in.
Take a look inside
Sky High Living: Inside the Penthouses of 10 of Manhattan’s Supertalls
April 5, 2014

Sky High Living: Inside the Penthouses of 10 of Manhattan’s Supertalls

By
Manhattan is known for hosting more than a handful of the world's most luxurious homes — many of which are perched hundreds if not thousands of feet above ground. Though few folks will ever get to see the interior of anything higher than their 5-story walk-up, we're offering up a look into how New York's loftiest live. From the "smallest" to the tallest, take a peek into the penthouses of 10 of Manhattan's supertall condos ahead. And just to give you a little more context, the Empire State Building soars 1,250 feet high.
It's a tall, tall world
NYC EVENT: Cities by Water – Solutions from Copenhagen and New York
April 4, 2014

NYC EVENT: Cities by Water – Solutions from Copenhagen and New York

By
How can we create sustainable and livable cities in the face of climate change? On April 8, 2014, the AIA New York Chapter is joining forces with the Consulate General of Denmark in New York to host a panel discussion on the water-related challenges faced by New York City and Copenhagen, and the wide array of approaches and solutions that have already been deployed or will be implemented.
attend the event
Famous Transforming 420 Sq Ft Apartment Now Selling for $1M
March 25, 2014

Famous Transforming 420 Sq Ft Apartment Now Selling for $1M

By
Back in 2009, Graham Hill purchased two apartments at 150 Sullivan Street with the express purpose of showing that people could have everything they need using less stuff and space. Rather than hiring an architect, the eco-entrepreneur, TED-Talk alum, and founder of Treehugger.com, decided to kickstart a competition to find his unique one-size-fits-all design. What turned up was an innovative transforming apartment filled with brilliant space-efficient features like sliding walls, hidden storage, and multi-tasking furniture. Though Hill's 'Life Edited' apartment measures an ultra tiny 420-square-feet, the elegant, high-tech space still manages to pack in all the amenities of a home of more than twice its size.
How many people can you pack into 420 sq ft?
Santiago Calatrava’s Winged ‘Oculus’ WTC Transportation Hub Takes Shape
March 24, 2014

Santiago Calatrava’s Winged ‘Oculus’ WTC Transportation Hub Takes Shape

By
It's unfortunate that Santiago Calatrava's original design for the WTC Transportation Hub got scrapped for a shrunken, more watered-down version. But the cost saving measures that transformed his beautiful "bird" into what some critics have dubbed as a "rack of lamb" didn't completely destroy the majestic spirit of the original design. Construction images recently released by the Port Authority of NY & NJ reveal that the Oculus is finally taking shape, emerging from its WTC site as something that could very well be quite iconic.
More incredible photos ahead
Shigeru Ban Named the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner!
March 24, 2014

Shigeru Ban Named the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner!

By
Just moments ago, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban was announced at the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. The 56-year old architect, who has offices in Tokyo, Paris, and NYC, is known for his elegant and innovative applications of unconventional materials such as paper and corrugated plastic in his structures, for both private international clients and in disaster relief efforts. Jump ahead to see some of his best works, including the Metal Shutter Houses, located right here in NYC.
More Shigeru here
Pitch a story icon

Pitch a Story

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

Distinctive Post Form

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544
Contact us image

Get in Touch

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a tip image
Delivering New York stories focused on design, lifestyle & real estate.

Send us a Tip

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams. It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo
or Call (212) 755-5544

Thinking about selling your home?

We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert.

CityRealty Logo

Sell a Home (Footer)

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Subscribe for NYC's Lastest Design, Lifestyle,
and Real Estate Trends!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your Daily Dose
of NYC Life!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.