By Stephanie Hoina, Thu, May 8, 2014 Though the famous marble lions that stand guard over the iconic Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street aren’t talking, the patience and fortitude of scholars and professors all over the tri-state area may have played some role in the shelving of a $300 million renovation plan for the New York Public Library’s flagship location.
In the midst of three lawsuits and regular protests on the library steps, the library reversed course on revamping the midtown Manhattan building (which celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2011) and moving 1.5 million books to New Jersey, a move that brought a sigh of relief to researchers worried about delays in gaining access to essential publications.
What shelved this $300 million renovation?
By Stephanie Hoina, Tue, May 6, 2014 Whether a reference to the Latin word meaning “star” or the lesser-known rare gold coin of the late 19th century, Stella Tower is aptly named.
JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group (the trio behind Chelsea’s Walker Tower) officially opened sales at Ralph Walker’s iconic Art Deco building, although a few sales have already moved forward quietly over the last few weeks.
See what all the fuss is about
By Aisha Carter, Tue, May 6, 2014 Oh, architects and their creativity. One such inventive architect Bill Peterson had a flash of “ahead of our time” genius when he decided to convert the front wall of his East Village apartment into a garage-style retractable facade after purchasing the pad in 2008. We suppose some people actually have too much privacy in New York City and would prefer to connect with the outside world (and terrify people with acrophobia simultaneously?).
Check out the inside of this unique beauty here
By Carter B. Horsley, Mon, May 5, 2014 East Chelsea’s stunning new landmark, the 35XV, is almost complete!
We recently stopped by the site to survey the work that’s been done over the past few months, and by the looks of things, 35 West 15th Street is just waiting for an outer-skin for its podium. Given the rapid progress that’s been made so far, we think it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing the transformation very soon.
More photos of the progress that’s been made
By Dana Schulz, Mon, May 5, 2014 For some longtime Williamsburg residents, the neighborhood already exhibits twilight-zone-like traits—the massive gentrification, glass waterfront towers, and skyrocketing rents—but the new Level Hotel planned for 55 Wythe Avenue is a literal translation of these possible feelings with its space-ship-looking design.
More photos this way
By Stephanie Hoina, Mon, May 5, 2014 Rising 720 feet tall from the corner of 11th Avenue and 38th Street, Archilier Architecture’s new, unconventional mixed-use tower from developer Black House will bring 51 luxury apartments and 419 hotel rooms across the street from the newly-renovated Jacob K. Javits Center.
While the ultra high-end skyscraper is one of many new construction projects in the city, it promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen before on the streets of Manhattan.
-See more of Archilier’s beautiful design
By Stephanie Hoina, Mon, May 5, 2014 One look and you may never want to leave this exquisite sun-drenched and spacious home, part of The Residences, a gorgeous new Gwathmey Siegel designed masterpiece developed by Bizzi & Partners.
Sitting 60 stories above one of the most desired streets in Manhattan, this 2BR/2.5 bath residence at 400 Fifth Avenue bestows breathtaking panoramic views from just about every room. Every detail, from the hardwood black oak flooring throughout to the ample closet space, ensures no matter where you are in this gracious home, life is better simply by being there. In fact, the residences at 500 Fifth are so beautiful the building even has its own coffee table book, 500 Fifth Avenue: A New Gwathmey Siegel Landmark, coming out this fall!
Take a peek inside this gorgeous residence
By Aisha Carter, Fri, May 2, 2014 After years of failed attempts by developers, GFI Capital Resources Group is accomplishing what some thought was impossible: They are converting 5 Beekman Street – along with its empty next-door neighbor 115 Nassau Street – into a hotel and condo.
The landmark building was one of New York’s original skyscrapers, once towering nine stories. Its distinctive architecture boasts the famous Temple Court, an interior atrium punctuated by a skylight in the shape of a pyramid. It is surrounding this very feature that 287 hotel rooms will be constructed.
Read on for more details here
By Diane Pham, Thu, May 1, 2014 The Pritzker Architecture Prize is architecture’s most acclaimed honor. Since 1979, the award has been given away annually to honor one living architect whose built work demonstrates consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment. New York City is home to structures built by 12 of the 36 past winners — ranging from Philip Johnson to I.M. Pei to this year’s winner, Shigeru Ban — and currently holds 14 residential examples of their work. One other fascinating tidbit is that condos designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects are selling on average a whopping 44% higher (price/square foot) than those their respective neighborhoods, and 47.5% higher than the Manhattan market average. But are they worth the money? Learn more about them all ahead.
Are these Pritzker Laureate-designed condos worth their markup?
By Aisha Carter, Tue, April 29, 2014 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
