Architecture And Design

6sqft Gift Guide: Insane Big Rig Exer-Desk Generates 100 Watts of Electricity
December 12, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Insane Big Rig Exer-Desk Generates 100 Watts of Electricity

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Do you have a friend who, year after year, promises that they'll work harder and exercise more? Pedal Power's kick-ass Big Rig exer-desk might be exactly what they need to stick with those new year's resolutions. This cool desk is totally "off-grid" and has the potential to generate up to 100 watts of electricity for one motivated user. And because it's modeled off an actual high-performance bike, it features an ergonomic seat for comfort, quick adjustments for different riders, a flywheel to smooth pedaling, and a wide range of gearing—meaning your giftee could easily go from tubby to Tour de France cyclist before the new year's close.
Find out more about the bike here
This Suspended Tent Gives New Meaning to “Sleeping Among the Trees”
December 12, 2014

This Suspended Tent Gives New Meaning to “Sleeping Among the Trees”

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What happens when you combine an idea for a multi-story camping tent with the childlike love for treehouses? You get this fanciful creation known as Vista, a suspended "tree tent" or "portable treehouse" that allows campers to sleep among the trees (literally). Designed by British tent makers Tentsile, the suspended tent hangs between trees with a series of straps and ratchets. The basic unit has a roof and insect mesh, but isn't fully sealed on the sides to give the true experience of being one with nature. To add more stories to the tent structure, additional units can be attached underneath.
Learn more about the Vista tent
Ridgewood Gets Its Fourth Historic District with 990 Buildings

Photo © Cameron Baylock

December 12, 2014

Ridgewood Gets Its Fourth Historic District with 990 Buildings

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On the heels of the recent landmarks controversy, Queens' hottest new neighborhood just got its fourth landmarked historic district, the Central Ridgewood Historic District. The 40-block, 990-building area joins Ridgewood's three existing historic districts, Ridgewood North, Ridgewood South, and Stockholm Street. The district includes buildings along Madison Street and Catalpa Avenue, as well as others, which were recognized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for exemplifying working class housing. Most of the Renaissance Revival brick row houses were built by German immigrants between 1906 and World War I.
More on Ridgewood's newest historic district
Biographer Couple Lists Artsy Central Park Duplex at Gainsborough Studios for $6M
December 11, 2014

Biographer Couple Lists Artsy Central Park Duplex at Gainsborough Studios for $6M

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Biographers Edmund and Sylvia Jukes Morris have just listed their duplex apartment at the exclusive Gainsborough Studios for $6 million. The stunning space promises to be a treat for all seasons with gigantic windows offering indescribable views of Central Park that will take your breath away. Yes, a place like this is so inspiring it would turn anyone into an artist.
Take a look inside, here
Telecom Mogul Michael Hirtenstein Combines Three Apartments into One Elegant Tribeca Triplex
December 11, 2014

Telecom Mogul Michael Hirtenstein Combines Three Apartments into One Elegant Tribeca Triplex

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Designer Amy Lau recently completed an impressive mid-century triplex in NYC's downtown neighborhood of Tribeca. The apartment belongs to Michael Hirtenstein, a high-rolling telecom mogul, who, upon seeing it, knew he had to make the massive space his own. The apartment was originally purchased by Mr. Hirtenstein for $16.5 million dollars as three separate units before he combined them into one massive apartment for an unknown amount of money. This gorgeously designed home spells luxury in every detail and features exquisite furnishings throughout. Combining pieces from bespoke, mid-century modern and contemporary designers, this space tells a unique story represented by many points of view.
Get a closer look inside
Bates Masi + Architects Renovated the Far Pond Residence with Hurricane-Proof Prefabricated Panels
December 11, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects Renovated the Far Pond Residence with Hurricane-Proof Prefabricated Panels

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The stunning Far Pond Residence has a naturally weathered wood skin and large windows overlooking layers of wetlands, an estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. Located on a half-acre site on the east end of Long Island in Southampton, this modern family dwelling is actually a renovated 1970s kit house. Its extension and tasteful modernization was designed by Bates Masi + Architects, who used prefabricated materials and new technologies that minimized waste and elevated the experience of inhabiting the space.
Learn more about the prefab home extension
REVEALED: Interior Renderings for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed 520 Park Avenue
December 11, 2014

REVEALED: Interior Renderings for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed 520 Park Avenue

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Robert A.M. Stern's 520 Park Avenue has already been called "the next 15 Central Park West," and like its Stern predecessor, 520 is an ultra-luxury development with a stately façade wrapped in stone. Set to be completed in 2016, it will rise 51 stories high, but contain just 31 units, one of which is the $130 million penthouse, the city's most expensive apartment. And though most of the attention has been on "the greatest apartment on the Upper East Side," the fanfare has now shifted to the first batch of interior renderings for the building. 520 Park's full website is now live, and not surprisingly, the residences have classic layouts, impressive Central Park views, and a host of high-end amenities.
Take the tour here
Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street
December 10, 2014

Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street

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For New Yorkers addicted to their smart phones, standing still at traffic lights must be quite painful (unless they're texting of course), but a fun new invention would help pass those 13 seconds in no time. Known as the ActiWait project, this street light installation allows pedestrians on either side of a street to play pong (or "street pong," if you will) with each other while waiting to cross. There are currently two sets of the touch-screen devices installed in Hildesheim, Germany, so it shouldn't be long before New Yorkers are running late to work due to an intense game of pong on Park Avenue.
More on the ActiWait street pong project here
In.Site-Architecture’s Southern Tier BARNagain Is Built from Old Barns
December 10, 2014

In.Site-Architecture’s Southern Tier BARNagain Is Built from Old Barns

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Instead of building a new home from scratch, a resourceful family decided to put all of the wood they salvaged from a few local barns to good use. They called up In.Site-Architecture to help them on their journey, and what they got was a reclaimed wood dwelling with a stunning modern meets rustic look.
Learn more about the recycled BARNagain
6sqft Gift Guide: Wacaco’s On-the-Go Espresso Maker Can Fit Inside a Purse
December 9, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Wacaco’s On-the-Go Espresso Maker Can Fit Inside a Purse

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If you've got someone on your gift list that's overworked, under-caffeinated and looking for a better way to get their fix (this is New York, after all), look no further than Wacaco's Minipresso as the perfect present. This portable hand-held device is a godsend for those who frequently need a boost but don't have the time to wait in long coffee shop lines—or simply for those with a more discerning taste for the finer grounds in life.
More on this cool high-caf design here
Greenpoint Townhouse by WeDesign WeBuild Has a Unique Point of View
December 9, 2014

Greenpoint Townhouse by WeDesign WeBuild Has a Unique Point of View

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We love Greenpoint. We also love great design, and this beautiful townhouse brings those two fabulous things together. From the design team at WeDesign WeBuild, the interior of this home is a fresh approach to color, texture and light. With subtle Scandinavian-style touches, warm natural elements, and crisp white walls, this home could easily turn any self-professed Manhattanite into a happy Brooklyn dweller.
Take a look around
Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D in the All-Glass Photon Space
December 9, 2014

Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D in the All-Glass Photon Space

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It's raining, it's pouring, and all we can think of are sunnier days. Before people knew the health risks of tanning beds, they were a welcome cure for the winter blues, and a new, first-of-its-kind, all-glass modular structure could be just the safe replacement we've been looking for. The Photon Space was recently launched on Crowdcube, a British crowdfunding platform, by the Photon Project, a group of innovators in the fields of architecture, technology, engineering and design, along with scientists at Oxford University. It is a 147-foot compact living space that takes into account the health benefits of exposure to natural light. The distinguishing element of the Photon Space is its intelligent glass architecture, which can change in an instant from transparent to opaque.
More on the structure ahead
Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America
December 9, 2014

Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America

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Since the opening of One World Trade Center just a few weeks ago, the world has been in an uproar over the design and the incredible cost of making New York's tallest tower a reality. But one feature that we all seemed to have forgotten was the promise that the tower would be the greenest building in America. A recent City Lab article looks at what went wrong, and why, in a race to meet contractual obligations to its anchor tenant, Condé Nast, the development dumped a major part of its plans to go green, currently leaving the building in a state of noncompliance.
Find out more here
Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn
December 8, 2014

Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn

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Architect Ben Hansen’s State Street townhouse is a contemporary masterpiece located in one of Brooklyn’s most charming neighborhoods. Originally a dated townhome with a dysfunctional floor plan, Hansen used this project as a chance to reinterpret the classic brownstone typology as a modern home suited for a young couple and their three small children. Hansen gutted the interior and joined the parlor floor rooms to create a space that both allows the home's inhabitants to move easily between spaces and enjoy their verdant surroundings from within.
Take the tour here
This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M
December 8, 2014

This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M

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This massive house, located at 4547 Livingston Avenue in the Bronx's beautiful historic Fieldston neighborhood, is 17 rooms deep, boasts 10,450 square feet, and is now available for $7,950,000 (h/t Curbed). Built in 1911 with fieldstone quarried from the property, the home was last sold in 1984 for $451,000 to philanthropists Harvey and Jayne Beker. Over the past 30 years they meticulously renovated and expanded the property with no detail left behind. The mansion now boasts an indoor lap pool with Jacuzzi, a heated driveway, a paved terrace that can accommodate a 100-person dinner party, and an "au pair suite."
Tour the massive Bronx home here
The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat
December 7, 2014

The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat

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BarlisWedlick Architects LLC joined forces with Bill Stratton Building Company to create this sweet, high-performance and very quick-to-build home. The stunning glazed dwelling sits within the Hudson Valley just two hours north of the city. Dubbed the Hudson Passive Project, this cutting-edge dream home is not only beautiful, it's proudly New York State's first-ever certified passive house.
Learn more about the stunning Hudson Passive Project
New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free
December 6, 2014

New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free

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One of the city's most mysterious buildings has become a whole lot less intriguing with this newly released rendering from Massey Knakal. The image, which was pulled from the marketing materials of the broker by Bowery Boogie, shows a very pristine 190 Bowery totally free of graffiti and all lit up. Formerly the Germania Bank Building—and formerly the home of photographer Jay Maisel—the massive 72-room building was reportedly recently purchased by Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for an undisclosed amount (the sale has yet to hit city records) and, to much surprise, was put back on the market just a couple of weeks ago as a flip.
Find out more here
REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

L to R: Building 1, Building 2 (21 West End Avenue), Building 3, Building 4, Building 5 (1 West End Avenue)

December 5, 2014

REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

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The final appearance of Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center master plan is coming into full view. A bevy of images depicting three never-before-seen crystalline towers have been released by Goldstein Hill & West Architects, giving us a more complete look at what the two-block site will ultimately look like circa 2018. The city-approved plan will ultimately hold three acres of open space and five mixed-use buildings containing approximately 2,500 condo and rental units, a public school, a hotel, a movie theater and an auto showroom.
More details ahead
Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract
December 5, 2014

Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract

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The Naftali Group's 12-story condominium dubbed The Seymour has topped out just six months after breaking ground. Though we've yet to see the traditional topping-out tree, a flag can be seen pitched atop the concrete frame of the building's bulkhead–a sure sign of the completion. Sales have been just as speedy with more than half of the building's 67 units in contract. According to CityRealty, there are currently nine units available on the market with an average price of $1,882 per square foot, ranging from $1.3 million for a one-bedroom unit to $3.95 million for a three-bedroom home on the 10th floor.
More details here (plus learn the origins of
Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

Green-Wood Cemetery via wallyg via photopin cc

December 5, 2014

Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

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Major controversy ensued earlier this week between preservationists and city officials when the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) released a proposal to de-calendar 94 historic sites and two historic districts. The plan would have left these locations, including Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, completely unprotected and ripe for alterations […]

Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M
December 5, 2014

Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M

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One of Lamb & Rich’s original townhouses in the West End-Collegiate Historic District is resolving to find a new owner in the New Year. The flexible 6,875-square-foot layout can either be a sprawling 6-8 bedroom single-family mansion, or a spacious quadruplex with a separate garden duplex rental. Add to that late 19th century original details and modern updates, and this could be the perfect home for anybody...with $10.9 million in their pocket.
Take a look inside here
Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan
December 5, 2014

Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan

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The tallest residential building in the outer boroughs is underway, and no, it's not going to be in boomtown Brooklyn, but rather along the rapidly evolving corridor of Queens Plaza in Long Island City. 42-12 28th Street will soar 57 stories from an 18,000-square-foot lot and will contain 447 luxury rental units. At its 635-foot projected height, it will be just 20 feet shy of the current outer borough tallest, One Court Square (the "Citi" building). Recently posted images on Goldstein Hill & West's revamped website reveal some new aspects of the project, including its ground-level street frontage and an "extensive" amenity package to include a swimming pool directly linked to an outdoor roof deck.
More details on the record-setting project
Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat
December 4, 2014

Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat

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Plenty of New Yorkers have already begun weekend trips up to their second homes in the Berkshires, but once the snow starts falling all the winter-loving urbanites will really start making an exodus. And this estate in Red Rock, New York couldn't be any more perfect for a festive getaway. The work of Anmahian Winton Architects, the Red Rock House is a property made up of the main one-bedroom house and a combined guest house/garage. It's situated on a densely wooded, 16-acre site and was designed to work with the existing topography, taking advantage of the landscape, views, and daylight.
Tour the entire property
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