6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

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

August 5, 2014

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

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 […]

Architecture And Design

August 5, 2014

Studio Modh Transforms Former Servants’ Quarters Into a Modern Light-Filled Space

Back in the day, in even the most luxurious of homes, sleeping quarters reserved for servants weren't much more than cramped, musty spaces that lacked light. Though the top floor of this landmarked Brooklyn Heights mansion probably hasn't seen a feather duster in years (a Dyson, maybe) this newly renovated space is anything but dim and dank. A total revamp undertaken by Studio Modh Archtecture, this modern apartment is the seamless fusion of two formerly disparate spaces that have been reconfigured to create a bright, beautiful and serene home.
Check out how Studio Modh Updated the space

Distinctive Homes

August 5, 2014

Spray-Painted Solar Cells Get One Step Closer to Reality

You may have heard last year that scientists began exploring the idea of spray-paintable solar cells, and now researchers at Sheffield University in England have made a breakthrough that could bring this green energy dream one step closer to reality. The advance comes from the use of organometal halide perkovskite, a mineral/crystal, organic/metal hydra, which offers the potential to combine high-performing, mature solar cell technologies with organic photovoltaics that have a low embedded energy cost.
More on the technology ahead

August 5, 2014

This Unbelievable $11.5 Million Penthouse Offers 3,000 Square Feet… of Rooftop Terrace

No, that wasn’t a typo in the title. This penthouse apartment at 655 Park Avenue is more than just 3,300 square feet of interior space. It also has a 3,000-square-foot rooftop garden so amazing, even the statues are luxuriating on it. But if you’ve been reading this blog you know it’s not our style to go straight to the mind-blowing terrace. Let’s take a tour through the rest of this premier pad first. Trust us. You won’t be disappointed.
Let's take a look inside this magnificent penthouse...

Distinctive Homes

August 5, 2014

CB4 Housing Plan Calls for 11,000 Units of Affordable Housing

Mayor de Blasio called for all 59 New York City community boards to propose ways to increase the number of affordable housing units within their district, and CB4, which covers Chelsea, Clinton, and Hell's Kitchen, is the first to respond. The Manhattan District Board 4 Affordable Housing Plan was voted on internally by the board on July 23, but is expected to be officially presented to the city on August 8th. The 81-page plan, which could influence affordable housing policy throughout the city, focuses on six major themes that will outline how the west side neighborhoods tackle the addition of 11,000 units of affordable housing.
We break down the themes

August 4, 2014

Mythbusters: Shedding Light on 80/20 Affordable Housing and ‘Poor Doors’

By Lauren Price

There’s been lots of chatter on the street and in the media on the subject of “poor doors” in new developments for those who have qualified for affordable housing. And though this subject has created quite a bit of controversy, it's actually not quite what it seems. Rather than being outraged that our city allows real estate developers to “discriminate” against those who could never consider paying for the privilege of residing in their latest and greatest luxury building, naysayers should think about reading up on exactly what affordable housing is and isn’t—“rich” home seekers having an edge over the so-called “poor.”
We look at 80/20 and the 'poor door' controversy here

August 4, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Walker Tower Flipper Eyeing a 75% Profit; The Top 300 US Architecture Firms

The owner of a 3BR/4.5BA duplex with a terrace in the Walker Tower is looking to sell their $14.26M duplex for $25M. [Curbed] Architectural Record has released its annual list of the “Top 300 Architecture Firms” in the United States. Results are based on architectural revenue from 2013. [Architecture Record] Developers are having trouble filling […]

Real Estate Trends

Distinctive Homes

For $825K, a sweet South Slope co-op near Prospect Park

Pre-war warmth meets polished loft lines in this $4.25M Village co-op

This $2.85M Crown Heights townhouse is an unspoiled historic beauty on an extra-long lot

This $599K Ditmas Park co-op has a 'secret' private park

Once a parking garage, this $85M Village penthouse is now in line to break neighborhood sales records

For $1.2M, this Park Slope brownstone co-op gets the top-floor perk of a private roof deck

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

A long-neglected Clinton Hill townhouse gets a total glow-up and a $5.5M ask

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

This $8M Dumbo condo with a private rooftop spa embodies penthouse living

VIEW ALL

August 4, 2014

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

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

August 4, 2014

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

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

Architecture And Design

August 4, 2014

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

By Jason Carpenter

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

August 4, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Stay Active and Keep Your Phone Charged with Cycling Bike; Spray Can Cake Batter (Yes, Really)

Iron Man Suits Make A Debut In South Korean Shipyards: Super strength suits are no longer just for those Marvel films. New Scientist reports that engineers in South Korea have built an exoskeleton that shipyard workers can use to lift up to 66 pounds. Cycle While You Work: Because standing desks are boring and treadmill […]

Architecture And Design

August 4, 2014

Philanthropists Joe and Carol Reich Sell Central Park West Condo for $16M

Philanthropists Joe and Carol Reich have sold their Central Park West condo, according to city records, and when we say this place is fit for a king, we’re not exaggerating. The couple’s $16 million former duplex actually resides in the Prasada, which is one of the most prominent buildings in the city and one of the three buildings that solidified Central Park West as a prestigious avenue. In fact, this Beaux-Arts beauty—designed by architectural duo Charles W. Romeyn and Henry R. Wynne—was one of the first high rises to attract wealthy New Yorkers back around the turn of the century when townhouse living was the norm. But what else would you expect from a place that was commissioned by the King of Spain? See? We told you we weren’t exaggerating.
Take a look inside this royal estate here

August 4, 2014

$20 Million Chelsea Penthouse Has Its Own Garage… in the Sky

Living in a pedestrian town has its perks. Everything is at your feet, and you don’t have to deal with grueling traffic if you don’t want to. But what about those days when you’re out in the elements and the weather is bad? Don’t you just wish you could hop in your car and go about your day? But then there’s parking… Oh wait, that’s not an issue for us because we’re living in the Selldorf Architects-designed Chelsea tower at 200 Eleventh Avenue, which means we have our own en suite sky garage. That’s right. You’re about to take a look inside the impressive 3,598-square-foot penthouse of this unprecedented building. You’re welcome.
You won't believe your eyes when you click here

Distinctive Homes

August 4, 2014

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

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

August 4, 2014

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

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

August 3, 2014

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

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

Franck Bohbot’s “Light On” Photographs Showcase NYC Landmarks After Dark

You haven't truly become a New Yorker until you've learned to love the city in both daylight and darkness, and urban photographer Franck Bohbot has masterfully captured the latter in his series "Light On." Interested in cinematographic iconography and architecture, Bohbot plays with melancholic light and chromatics to highlight the relationship between the individual and his/her surroundings. In "Light On" he produces photos that appear to be stills from a movie, the landmarks warmly aglow against the nighttime background.
More about Bohbot's urban photography

Events & Things To Do

August 1, 2014

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

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

August 1, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Three Towers to Top the East River Plaza; New Yorkers Vying for Homes on Busy Streets

Meadow Partners has released a rendering of its Long Island City conversion project at 42-15 Crescent Street. The project will see an 11-story condominium with ground floor retail. [CO] The three towers planned to top the East River Plaza mall have been uncovered. The project is being developed by Blumenfeld Development Group and Forest City […]

Real Estate Trends

August 1, 2014

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

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

August 1, 2014

Daily Link Fix: The Lost Tree of Ground Zero; LGBT Barbershop Plans To Open in Brooklyn

Summer Streets Is Here!: Time to break out the bike and ride the open roads. Summer Streets closes down streets in Brooklyn and Manhattan for biking, zip-lining, running, yoga and other activities. Find out where to find the annual program at The New York Times. LGBT Barbershop Coming To Crown Heights: DNAinfo reports that hair stylist, […]

Uncategorized

August 1, 2014

$2.2 Million West Village Artists’ Loft with Tin Ceilings Is Quite the Muse

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

The pre-war details of this loft would serve as inspiration to any artist—which is perfect because it just so happens that 799 Greenwich Street is an artist’s co-op. That’s right. Accountants need not apply. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a peek at this beautiful abode, which is apparently home to a budding young musician.
Let's take a look

Distinctive Homes

August 1, 2014

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

By Lori Zimmer

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

August 1, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Matthew Namie of Paris Framemakers on the Art of Framing

By Susan Cohen

Painters, portraitists, and photographers--the visual artists tend to get all the credit. But there is another type of art that goes into making a piece beautiful, and that is the art of framing. Most of us rarely think about this component, but for Matthew Namie, it’s always on his mind. As a salesperson at Paris Framemakers on the Upper West Side, he works with customers to make sure their prized artworks are framed just right. Paris Framemakers, located on 75th and Amsterdam, opened twenty years ago, and also has stores on 81st and Madison and 100th and Broadway. Matthew is a recent addition to Paris, but not to framing. He has seven years of experience under his belt and a keen eye when it comes to frames, mats, and glass. He will soon be heading across town to serve as the manager at the Upper East Side location. While working with Matthew on my own framing needs, I realized that many New Yorkers don't know the intricacies of this craft. So, I recently popped into Paris Framemakers to learn all about the art of framing and Matthew’s expertise.
Read the full interview right this way

August 1, 2014

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram’s 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

By Patty Lee

A whimsical lounge chair by Gufram is giving new meaning to the phrase "In the weeds." The Italian design house's 1972 Pratone chaise resembles a tall sculptural patch of grass, but it's really an outdoor chaise meant for sitting and relaxing.
See the chair in action

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

VIEW ALL

August 1, 2014

$9K/Month Greenwich Village Apartment Available for the First Time in 20 Years

It turns out you don’t have to be an A-lister to live like a star in Greenwich Village… not if you have an extra $8,995 a month lying around. This garden apartment at 19 West 10th Street is prepared for even the pickiest renter, offering original details with modern updates and a flexible layout that can be rearranged to accommodate up to three bedrooms. So, you can put away your list of demands while we take a look at this Gold Coast pad.
Take a look inside this A-list apartment here

Distinctive Homes

August 1, 2014

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

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

July 31, 2014

New Renderings of What Will Replace Graffiti Art Mecca 5Pointz Emerge

If you loved 5Pointz, grab a box of tissues because you aren't going to be happy with what's planned for the soon to be demolished building. NY YIMBY has gotten his hands on new renderings of what will replace the former art mecca, and unsurprisingly, the towers are as ho hum residential as they come. The new design is the work of New York-based HTO Architect, and once complete, will hold 1,000 apartments within two towers of 41 and 47 stories each.
More images this way

New Developments

July 31, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Chelsea Market May Get an Extension; United Charities Building Could Fetch $128M

Chelsea Market may expand with a 330,000-square-foot addition. New renderings see the brick structure topped off with a block of glass and steel. [Curbed] The city’s Economic Development Corporation will begin installing greenery and seating in Downtown Brooklyn’s Fox Square. The project kicks off in August and will take 6 months to complete. [CO] Queens Borough President Melinda Katz […]

Real Estate Trends

July 31, 2014

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

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

July 31, 2014

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

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

July 31, 2014

Daily Link Fix: A Flower Pot That Grows With Your Plant; The Best and Worst NYC Trains

How Does Your Train Stack Up?: Animal New York covers The Straphangers Campaign’s annual ranking “State of the Subway.” Find out which train was considered the best and the worst – hopefully you’re not taking the latter any time soon. Pepper Spray Doubles As A Camera: This innovative design, now asking for funding on Indiegogo, snaps […]

Uncategorized

July 31, 2014

Seasoned Real Estate Couple Grab Eclectic Central Park West Apartment for $5.3 Million

It must have been a nice change of pace for Stephen Yalof to look for residential properties instead of the retail spaces he scoped out for 12 years as Senior Vice President of Real Estate for the Ralph Lauren Corporation and now as CEO of Premium Outlets. Though for his wife Liora Yalof, a broker with Corcoran, it was likely just another day at work. The couple paid $5.3 million for their new three-bedroom home at the St. Urban on Central Park West. Apartment 11E is an eclectic mix of historic details and global-inspired décor, perfect for such a well-rounded real estate pair.
READ MORE

July 31, 2014

A Suburban Enclave in Manhattan: Peeking Into Battery Park City

As New Yorkers, we learn to be resourceful. We can turn a tiny patch of grass into a full-on park, double the space of our 400-square-foot apartment with lofted rooms and suspended shelving, and get all of our reading in on the commute to work. But for some, this sacrificial lifestyle becomes too much, and daydreams of suburbia set in. Not ready to pack your bags for Jersey or Westchester just yet? Look to Battery Park City, a suburban-like enclave that's just a five-minute walk from Wall Street. The 92-acre planned residential community is the largest "green" neighborhood in the world, with more than one third of its total acreage covered in parks and gardens. Additionally, the area boasts spectacular waterfront views, large apartments, slightly more affordable prices than its Financial District neighbors, and an impressive collection of public art.
READ MORE

Uncategorized

July 31, 2014

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

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

Architecture And Design

July 31, 2014

Charming Italianate-Style Townhome in Fort Greene Sells for $3.3 Million

The one-to-two family dwelling at 20 South Oxford Street must have made quite an impression on a few buyers. An apparent bidding war drove the price up from its initial $2.65 million asking to a final sale price of $3.3 million, according to city records. Located on a quiet, tree-lined street in the Fort Greene Historic District, this three-story Italianate-style home has a garden-level apartment with a separate entrance that can serve as an income suite or a fourth level. In addition, the home boasts high ceilings; a large backyard accented by a 123-square-foot deck; and many original details from its 1854 inception, including original marble mantles on each of the home’s six decorative fireplaces.
Take a look inside, here

July 30, 2014

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

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

Architecture And Design

July 30, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Sales Launch at Chetrit’s Midtown Tower; Views from the Top of 432 Park

An Italian family has scooped up the NYC Church Missions House for $50M-plus. Luxury condos and retail are reportedly planned at landmarked 281 Park Avenue South structure. [TRD] LIVWRK has closed on a Red Hook building for $21.5M. The property recently housed a ship engine repair company. [CO] Vornado puts 1740 Broadway up for sale. The real […]

Real Estate Trends

July 30, 2014

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

By Rebecca Paul

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

Architecture And Design

July 30, 2014

$4.6 Million Gallery-esque Upper East Side Apartment Is a Work of Art

Who wouldn’t want a loft-like Upper East Side apartment walking distance from Museum Mile and Central Park and complete with panda paintings? Yes, this 3 bedroom co-op at 65 East 76th Street has enough room on its wall space to showcase the best of your art collection, and it has enough lighting—both natural and tracking—to host a gallery showing. Well, who says the gallery can’t be a work of art in and of itself? We know this unit doesn’t.
Take a look inside this beautiful pad here

Distinctive Homes

July 30, 2014

Paolo Venturella’s Flex Tower Twists to Soak Up Sunlight

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

July 30, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: GIFs Are Art Now?; A Fully Functioning 3D-Printed Loudspeaker

Enjoy the New Yorker’s Best Architecture Articles for Free: The editors at Places have been busy digging through the New Yorker’s now pay-wall free vault and have rounded up some of the best stories on architecture and urbanism, including profiles of David Adjaye and Bjarke Ingels and a slew of interesting critiques and interviews. A Recycling Bin […]

Uncategorized

July 30, 2014

Late “60 Minutes” Anchor Mike Wallace’s Estate Sells for $13 Million

After nearly two years on the market, Mike Wallace’s estate has finally sold, for a significant discount, according to city records. The home was initially placed on the market after the anchor’s death in 2012, asking $20 million dollars, a far cry from its closing $13 million sale price. Occupying the 15th and 16th floors of the distinguished 730 Park Avenue—a white-gloved Jacobean/Tudor style co-op designed by F. Burrall Hoffman, Jr. and Lafayette A. Goldstone--this 4BR/4.5BA duplex, offers plenty of light, gorgeous city views, and original prewar details.
Take a look inside the anchor's former home here

Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

Learn More

July 30, 2014

A 19th Century Candy Store and WWI Fighter Plane Liven Up a Financial District Office Building

Take a step back in time at 77 Water Street, a 26-story office tower designed by Emery Roth & Sons and built by the William Kaufman Organization. The Financial District building features a WWI fighter plane on its roof and a turn-of-the-century penny candy store in its lobby. Thinking that this tower looks too modern for these curiosities? You're right; it was erected in 1970. The William Kaufman Organization wanted to humanize the building and make workers forget they were in an office tower, and to accomplish this they had historic replicas of the plane and candy shop installed. They also added a variety of public art projects throughout the plaza and lobby.
More fun facts about 77 Water Street right this way

July 30, 2014

Tour Tommy Hilfiger’s Lavish Plaza Penthouse

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

July 29, 2014

Blue Chip Buys: 15 Central Park West Is New York City’s Most Expensive Building, Other Contenders

Even with the thousands of new residential units that have hit the market in the last year, there are still a handful of tried-and-true properties in Manhattan that will always be coveted by the rich, the famous, and those who just wish they were rich or famous. So which properties sit at the top of this list? We turn the CityRealty 100 for the low-down on what buildings have outdone all of the rest. Their latest report tracks the performance of Manhattan's top 100 condo buildings through the second quarter of 2014.
The top performers this way

Real Estate Trends

July 29, 2014

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

By Annie Doge

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

Architecture And Design

July 29, 2014

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