Architecture And Design

Trapezoidal Pool by Susan Wisniewski Landscape Completes the Greene County Residence
August 18, 2014

Trapezoidal Pool by Susan Wisniewski Landscape Completes the Greene County Residence

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In typical rural esthetic, the grounds of the Greene County Residence are rolling and untamed. To work with this natural terrain, as well as juxtapose it, Susan Wisniewski Landscape created an angular outdoor pool setting that is both traditional and modern. The flat, rustic pavers surrounding the watering hole fit with the conventional barn, but the pool's trapezoidal shape adds a geometric punch to the otherwise organic setting.
More about the outdoor design here
Tower House by Gluck+ is a Stairway to the Treetops in the Catskills
August 17, 2014

Tower House by Gluck+ is a Stairway to the Treetops in the Catskills

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Though you may not be as limber as you once were, there's still hope that you can climb to the top of a tree. Well, sort of. Rising above the Ulster County landscape is a uniquely glazed home that was designed as a stairway to the top of its surrounding landscape. Created by New York-based architecture firm Gluck+, the contemporary Tower House works as both a viewing platform and a functional home, sitting atop a plateau on the 19-acre property. Its unusual, cantilevered shape causes minimal impact on the ground and provides inhabitants with amazing views of virtually the entire Catskill mountain range.
Learn more about the Tower House and peek inside
The Nearly Fatal Design Flaw That Could Have Sent the Citigroup Center Skyscraper Crumbling
August 15, 2014

The Nearly Fatal Design Flaw That Could Have Sent the Citigroup Center Skyscraper Crumbling

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When it comes to skyscrapers, we put a lot of trust in architects. We have to trust that they know what they're doing, and these seemingly impossible buildings are safe to be in and around. It's even harder to trust what used to be known as the Citicorp or Citigroup Center, now 601 Lexington Avenue, whose bottom floors are like four stilts, holding 50 stories of building above them. It looks like a strong wind would blow the whole structure over. And when the building was constructed in 1977, before some emergency repairs, that was true.
The dangerous details after the break
Architecture Day Trip: Visit the Mansions of Gatsby’s “Gold Coast”
August 15, 2014

Architecture Day Trip: Visit the Mansions of Gatsby’s “Gold Coast”

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F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is an immortal novel about Long Island millionaires in the Roaring Twenties, inspired by actual parties Fitzgerald attended at the time. The Jazz Age mansions of Long Island's "Gold Coast" certainly represent a bygone era, but you can still visit several of these Gatsby-esque architectural relics today.
Plan your architecture day trip here
Aureola is an Elegant, Stackable Tea Set Inspired by Russian Nomadic Traditions
August 15, 2014

Aureola is an Elegant, Stackable Tea Set Inspired by Russian Nomadic Traditions

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The beautiful Aureola tea set was born out of a collaborative effort between a Venetian and a Russian designer. Luca Nichetto and Lera Moiseeva created the elegant set from two noble materials, porcelain and wood. The inspiration comes from traditional objects used by ancient Russian nomads and consists of a stackable teapot and cups that can be carried with just one hand.
More about the Russian-inspired tea set here
NYC Events 8/15: Run Free Down Park Avenue; Sip Cocktails with Architects or Party with Artists in Red Hook
August 15, 2014

NYC Events 8/15: Run Free Down Park Avenue; Sip Cocktails with Architects or Party with Artists in Red Hook

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Another summer weekend is upon us and we can't wait to get out the office and into the city. This weekend Manhattan's Summer Streets is back, and New Yorkers are invited to stroll (or bike) up and down Park Avenue, which will not only be closed to moving traffic, but jam packed with countless activities, music and food the whole way through. And if you decide to take this car-free jaunt, be sure to check out Ewerdt Hilgemann's sparkling sculptures along the pedestrian median. Once you've got your fair share if sunshine, head on over to the AIA NY's happy hour and mingle with architects and their fans. If art is more your thing, get to know Newark's public art community and their ideas over drinks at the NeWWalls mixer. And finally, for graffiti art and heady assemblages pay visits to the exhibitions at Tabla Rasa Gallery and Pioneer Works in Red Hook—the latter followed with a wild after party, of course.
More details on all the best events here
The Architecture of Cesar Pelli: How a Sense of Place Left a Lasting Mark on the NYC Skyline
August 14, 2014

The Architecture of Cesar Pelli: How a Sense of Place Left a Lasting Mark on the NYC Skyline

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Growing up just west of the Andes Mountains in the small town of Tucumán in northwest Argentina, Cesar Pelli wasn't exposed to the vibrant cityscapes that he today helps to shape. He got his start designing low-cost, affordable housing for the Argentine government, which helped him develop an appreciation for each project's unique sense of place. Breaking from the traditional mold of many world-famous architects, he designed buildings as a response to their neighborhoods, not as a preconceived signature aesthetic. Now, with a long list of acclaimed international projects to his name, Pelli is lauded for creating structures that honor a city's history and enrich the local landscape. And here in New York City, home to some of his most celebrated works, the Pelli mark has making an indelible impression on the architecture and real estate fields.
We dive deeper into Cesar Pelli's past, present, and future
Morningside Heights: From Revolutionary Battle to Columbia University Campus

Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and 114th Street in 1895

August 14, 2014

Morningside Heights: From Revolutionary Battle to Columbia University Campus

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Today, it's hard to imagine Morningside Heights without the flurry of students hurrying to class at Columbia University. It may be even harder to imagine it without some of its signature architecture: the gothic Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest cathedral in the world, Riverside Church, with its former bowling alley, or Grant's Tomb along the Hudson River. But Morningside Heights got an exciting start in the history of New York City (and America, as it turns out)!
The incredible story of Morningside Heights, from past to present, this way
Jonathan Adler’s Shelter Island Vacation Home is Part Modernist Fantasy Part Rustic Beach Retreat
August 14, 2014

Jonathan Adler’s Shelter Island Vacation Home is Part Modernist Fantasy Part Rustic Beach Retreat

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This beautiful Shelter Island vacation home is the place where two of New York City’s most creative minds take a break from it all. We're  of course talking about interior designer Jonathan Adler and fashion guru Simon Doonan, who with the help of Gray Organschi Architectural Studio created their dream seafront property by mixing rustic and contemporary designs to create a truly stylish aesthetic. Located in a secluded area on Crab Creek, this lush retreat is modernist expression with an explosion of color inside.
Learn more about this celebrity vacation home here
Could You Live on a 9 x 18 NYC Public Parking Space?
August 14, 2014

Could You Live on a 9 x 18 NYC Public Parking Space?

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Earlier this year, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) unveiled new ideas for public housing--in a parking lot on its Atlanta campus. SCADpads, as they're called, reimagined the common public park space as a solution to the growing need for sustainable, efficient housing worldwide. Now, a team of architect-fellows at the Institute for Public Architecture are building on the same idea, proposing ways to turn unused public parking spaces in New York City into housing, co-working spaces, bike-share stations, playgrounds, and farmers markets. The group is called 9 x 18, the size of a typical parking spot, and they have reevaluated the current zoning laws surrounding parking and affordable housing, using the Carver Houses in East Harlem neighborhood as a case study.
More about the new ideas
Curb Appeal: The Psychology of Moving Buyers from Cab to Curb to Contract
August 13, 2014

Curb Appeal: The Psychology of Moving Buyers from Cab to Curb to Contract

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Great neighborhood? Check. Great apartment? Check. Curb appeal? Killer first impressions can be long lasting — and whether it’s a newly advertised flavor of Ben & Jerry’s, an ad for Tory Burch’s latest shoe collection —or finding new digs, “love at first sight” spot-on marketing moments play a sizeable role in how we make our decisions. Industry experts note that a large percentage of a house hunter's decision to explore a property further than the curb is based the project’s “wow” factor. Truth is, it sets the “perception” stage of what’s to come beyond a grand entrance or swanky lobby that was designed to provide a sense of arrival and belonging. Obviously, at the end of the day, a building’s outside will only persuade potential buyers to see more, and first impressions can vary from one individual to the next, but the “I was meant to live here” moment is fairly universal.
How a building's design tugs at your desire to 'be someone'
Live in the Plywood Version of Philip Johnson’s Glass House for $1.6M
August 13, 2014

Live in the Plywood Version of Philip Johnson’s Glass House for $1.6M

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Philip Johnson is best known for his use of glass, and his iconic Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, is without question his most famous work. But did you know that Johnson also dabbled in plywood construction? In fact, the architect designed several wood homes in the forestlands of Connecticut, including the Wiley Speculative House. The home was the first (and ultimately, only) of Johnson's "speculative houses" planned for a large scale residential development headed by the Wiley Development Corporation in 1954. Though built without a hitch, and despite Wiley's willingness to replicate the home for anyone, anywhere in Connecticut's Fairfield County, Wiley's hope for a Johnson-designed development flopped as nobody wanted to pay $45,000 to live in one of the houses. As a result, the Wiley Speculative House saw a somewhat sad fate and remained under the ownership of Wiley's trust until it was sold off a year later. Since then, the home has changed hands at least nine times, and now nearly 60 years later it's for grabs again, this time for $1.575 million.
More on the lesser-known Johnson house here
Colorful Shelter Island Pavilion is a Sustainable Take on Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion
August 13, 2014

Colorful Shelter Island Pavilion is a Sustainable Take on Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion

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Keeping the plan of Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion in mind, New York-based architects Stamberg Aferiat created an eye-catching, colorful home. Built using industrially produced materials and current sustainable principles, the home features seemingly disjointed planes that create the overall geometry of the structure. Located in the island with the same name, the Shelter Island Pavilion is an experiment in color, shape, and sustainability.
Learn more about this striking sustainable home here
Gastro-Architecture Looks at Landmarks Through a Culinary Lense
August 13, 2014

Gastro-Architecture Looks at Landmarks Through a Culinary Lense

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Foodies are rampant in today's urban metropolises, but this time, instead of talking fish tacos and foie gras, we're talking buildings. Nicholas Blechman, art director for the New York Times Book Review, has reimagined some of the world's most famous landmarks as food in his delightful series Gastro-Architecture. From drawing the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica as a lemon juicer to noting the striking resemblance of Kohn Pedersen Fox's Shanghai World Financial Center to a can opener, Blechman has created an entirely new type of architectural review.
Check out our favorite NYC illustrations from Gastro-Architecture
Jeffrey S. Poss’ Double-Gable Woodland Dwelling Shelters Guests and a Sculpture Studio Inside
August 12, 2014

Jeffrey S. Poss’ Double-Gable Woodland Dwelling Shelters Guests and a Sculpture Studio Inside

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No, you are not seeing double, at least not quite. This sweet woodland shelter was created for two different functions, hence its unique double-gable design. Called the Polygon Sculpture Studio, this shelter in Hague, New York, doubles as a guesthouse and small work studio. It was designed by architect Jeffrey S. Poss and offers a comfortable, light-filled space for guests, as well as a great environment for artistic creation.
Learn more about this woodland shelter here
Sunbreak Shades Could Control Skyscraper Temperatures Right From an iPhone
August 12, 2014

Sunbreak Shades Could Control Skyscraper Temperatures Right From an iPhone

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You know the drill, wear a wool sweater to work in the summer and layer with a thin t-shirt in the winter. It's the curse of working in a tall, glassy, climate-controlled building. But a new shading prototype called Sunbreak, created by the architects at NBBJ, acts as a skyscraper skin that adjusts on a window-by-window basis depending on the angle of the sun, conserving energy and allowing workers to control office temperatures. Sounds like just what we've been waiting for, huh?
More about the proposed product
Live in the Penthouse of Starchitect Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue for $45K/Month
August 12, 2014

Live in the Penthouse of Starchitect Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue for $45K/Month

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Starchitect Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue may have received mixed reviews—which is made even more evident when you look at its rocky listing history—but that doesn’t change the fact that this pad is a clear showstopper. Not only does the stunning full-floor penthouse offer 360 degrees of stellar views through 150 linear feet of floor-to-ceiling windows; have a sprawling layout and two terraces; and reside on one of New York’s most recognizable blocks, surrounded by buildings designed by Pritzker Prize winners like Frank Gehry and Shigeru Ban; but this unit also has recently renovated interiors courtesy of Jennifer Post, one of Architectural Digest’s top 100 designers. Bottom line, if you’re a big name-dropper, this $45,000/month rental has your name written all over it.
Check out the views from this incredible home here
Billionaire Peter Brant Buys an Incredible Converted Con-Ed Substation for $27M
August 12, 2014

Billionaire Peter Brant Buys an Incredible Converted Con-Ed Substation for $27M

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It's a common saying that money can't buy good taste, but Peter Brant proves that old adage doesn't apply to billionaires. According to city records, the American industrialist and businessman just closed on a former Con-Ed substation located at 421 East 6th Street for $27 million—$2 million above asking. Constructed in 1920 to serve the city's power needs, the building was altered in the 60s and again in the 80s to accommodate a live-work space for a famed sculptor Walter de Maria. Even with more than a century of history behind it, today the structure still keeps many of its original relics and the overall gritty aesthetic of its industrial past. As a lover of art himself, we're curious to know how Brant will go about redesigning the space—if he does. Brant, who also happens to be married to supermodel Stephanie Seymour, is the publisher of both Interview and Art in America magazines and has been previously been called a "Donald Trump with taste" by the New York Times.
learn more about the building here
Ocean Guest House by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects Uses Shifted Volumes to Shield from the Elements
August 11, 2014

Ocean Guest House by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects Uses Shifted Volumes to Shield from the Elements

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The allure of living ocean side can come with its own set of challenges, including intense direct sunlight, heavy rains, and strong sea breezes. Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects built their Ocean Guest House with these weather-related qualms in mind, utilizing geometric, shifted volumes to create a functional and visually stunning structure. Situated on the street side of this ocean-front property, the guest house is a simple, two-story, two-bedroom structure. The apartment resides on the second floor, while a garage and storage/laundry space occupy the ground floor.
Find out all the guest house's tricks here
Fishers Island House’s Modern Extension by Ryall Porter Sheridan is Built With Recycled Newspaper
August 9, 2014

Fishers Island House’s Modern Extension by Ryall Porter Sheridan is Built With Recycled Newspaper

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Here at 6sqft we are big fans of Manhattan-based Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects. We love the way they often use reclaimed and recycled materials for the creation of simple but beautiful eco-homes. To build their very unique Fishers Island House extension, the firm used a surprising, environmentally friendly and very affordable material: recycled newsprint.
Learn more about the recycled newspaper extension here
#sofa4manhattan was Crowd-Crafted for a New Yorker’s Lifestyle
August 8, 2014

#sofa4manhattan was Crowd-Crafted for a New Yorker’s Lifestyle

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Couch shopping in New York is not as simple as one may think. The furniture has to be petite enough not to overpower a small space, fit through the doorway, and make it around the sharp walk-up turns (remember the "pivot" scene from Friends?). And with those challenges in mind, Berto and Design-Apart brought together 11 New York-based designers and Italian designer Luca Nichetto to crowd-craft the ideal sofa for Manhattanites. Design-Apart produced one of the three designs from the workshop. Called #sofa4manhattan, the selected concept is a contemporary work that unites a number of different pieces.
More about the project and sofa
Lego Architecture Studio is a Grown-Up Version of the Famous Building Blocks
August 8, 2014

Lego Architecture Studio is a Grown-Up Version of the Famous Building Blocks

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We'll now have an excuse to relive one of our favorite childhood pastimes. Danish toy company Lego has taken its world-famous building blocks to the next level, giving the children's toy a sophisticated update geared toward architects and designers. Lego Architecture Studio is the first set of the plastic, snap-together blocks to come without instructions. Comprised of more than 1,200 pieces of 76 different unique shapes, options range from standard bricks to chamfered wedge-shaped blocks.
More about how Lego Architecture Studio will “allow you to explore the ideas and principles of architecture”
NYC Events 8/8: Tour a Post-Disaster Housing Prototype; NYC’s First Art Deco Scavenger Hunt
August 8, 2014

NYC Events 8/8: Tour a Post-Disaster Housing Prototype; NYC’s First Art Deco Scavenger Hunt

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Most gallery owners have closed up shop for the season, likely heading to the Hamptons for some well-deserved R&R. But New Yorkers staying in town can still enjoy fine art (beyond one of our lovely air conditioned museums). Head to Brooklyn's Metrotech campus to enjoy the Public Art Fund's newest project—a mirage of color and shape by Sam Falls that will change over time as the sun and rain beat down on it (so check it out while it is brand-spanking-new!)—or to a nature-inspired opening at Ouchi Gallery. If architecture is more your thing, join the AIA NY for a private tour of the OEM Disaster Housing Prototype, or gather a group of arch-nerd friends for the first ever Art Deco Society of New York Scavenger Hunt. If you can't stand the heat, tuck into the theaters at MoMA to catch a classic silent film, or enjoy the shade of the High Line over head at the Abington House's weekly Wednesday parties.
All the best events here
The Wilson Hunt House: The History of a Rare 19th Century House Towed to Tribeca by Truck
August 7, 2014

The Wilson Hunt House: The History of a Rare 19th Century House Towed to Tribeca by Truck

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In the 1970s, after obtaining landmark status in 1969, three 19th century houses were actually towed by truck from a no-longer-existing stretch of Washington Street to avoid demolition in the Washington Market Urban Renewal area (a 38-acre site planned by the city’s Housing and Development Administration during the 1960s and 1970s, 10 blocks north of what would become the World Trade Center). Their final destination? Next to three already existing townhouses on Harrison Street, a quiet site that was once the well-known farm of alleged skirt lifter, and one of NYC's first settlers, Annetje Jans. In 1976, New York City put them up for sale (from $35,000 to $75,000) following a restoration by Oppenheimer, Brady & Vogelstein the year before. And more recently, nearly four decades after the sale, CORE brokers Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon exclusively listed 37 Harrison Street with surprising results.
Fast forward to present day to find out what happened to The Wilson Hunt House
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