Architecture And Design

Superdave’s Precious Slag Candlesticks Upcycle Pieces of Iron Found Scattered in the Forest
July 21, 2014

Superdave’s Precious Slag Candlesticks Upcycle Pieces of Iron Found Scattered in the Forest

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David Taylor, aka Superdave, is a Scottish-born, Stockholm-based designer who creates precious objects out of ordinary and found materials. His latest work, called Slag, consists of candlesticks made from assorted materials combined with pieces of iron found at the site of an abandoned 1600s iron foundry deep in the forests of Sweden.
Learn more about these precious candlesticks
East Hampton’s Kettle Hole House by Robert Young is an Organic Retreat Nestled in Pine Trees
July 21, 2014

East Hampton’s Kettle Hole House by Robert Young is an Organic Retreat Nestled in Pine Trees

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When we say organic here, we don't just mean the natural materials used throughout the house; we're referring to the fact that the project developed organically in response to the homeowners' seven-acre, East Hamptons lot and existing house. Built around 1982, the original structure was in dire need of a renovation. Robert Young Architecture and Interiors was committed to reusing as much of this house as possible, but wasn't sure if a restoration would be more economical than constructing a new house. Property surveys showed that the house was closer to the lot's picturesque kettle pond than current zoning would allow, so building a new structure would compromise privacy and the water views. From there, the Kettle Hole House was born amidst the lot's abundance of white pine trees.
See how the architects transformed the existing home into a cozy, contemporary retreat
LOT-EK Turns a Humble Shipping Container Into an Ultra Cool Penthouse with Empire State Views
July 21, 2014

LOT-EK Turns a Humble Shipping Container Into an Ultra Cool Penthouse with Empire State Views

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We've seen Manhattanites do all kinds of crazy and creative things to maximize space—from turning their ovens into closets to lofting entire rooms—but the Guzman Penthouse by LOT-EK is one of our favorite transformations. To expand this penthouse residence, LOT-EK revamped an old mechanical room, added a 20-foot shipping container to serve as the master bedroom, and created a spacious rooftop patio, all of which sit on top of the building with jaw-dropping Empire State Building views.
You can't miss the rest of this one-of-a-kind home
MADE Architecture Rethinks the Traditional Townhouse in Boerum Hill
July 21, 2014

MADE Architecture Rethinks the Traditional Townhouse in Boerum Hill

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When MADE Architecture was enlisted to help a young couple renovate their newly purchased Boerum Hill townhouse, they started from a blank slate--literally. The 2,400-square-foot home had been gutted by its previous owners, leaving nothing more than the floor joists and a brick shell. MADE took this opportunity to reimagine the interior layout of the traditional three-bay townhouse. By reorienting the stairway as a switchback, space was freed up on each floor, creating a contemporary, loft-like floorplan. The stairs also sit under a large skylight, which fills all angles of the house with natural light.
See how else the mix of old and new features in this home
The New York Architecture Day Trip: From Colonial to Deconstructivism in Manhattan
July 20, 2014

The New York Architecture Day Trip: From Colonial to Deconstructivism in Manhattan

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New York has a long history of great architecture. From the very beginnings in the colonial period to today, there are more great buildings to see in New York than anywhere else on the planet. Thankfully, with this guide, you can see them all in one simple south-north trip across Manhattan. Many great buildings are too tall or difficult to see up close, so we've chosen an example of each style of New York architecture that can also be appreciated from the ground level, rather than forcing you to gawk straight up at a skyscraper. Check out our New York architecture day trip.
Get your itinerary here
Bookworms Rejoice: Upper East Side Mansion Boasts Palatial, Double-Height Library
July 20, 2014

Bookworms Rejoice: Upper East Side Mansion Boasts Palatial, Double-Height Library

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Most of us in Manhattan are lucky if we can find room to fit one, tiny bookshelf in our homes, so you can imagine our reactions when we saw the opulent, two-story library at 12 East 69th Street. Not only does it make us ashamed of our puny literature collections, but the room is at least three times the size of our apartments. The celestial ceiling mural, massive amount of black walnut built-in shelving, and custom spiral staircase are also making us green with envy.  Non bookworms, have no fear--this house has an equally regal, double-height media room, which comes complete with sound-proof walls, rich wood paneling, a 12-foot screen, and plush velvet seats.
You don't want to miss the rest of the palatial digs
1970s Orient House IV by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Employs Passive House Principles
July 20, 2014

1970s Orient House IV by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Employs Passive House Principles

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Manhattan-based Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects recently renovated a 1970s house into a green escape that strictly follows Passive House standards. Located in Long Island just a few steps away from the sea, the minimal Orient House IV is completely clad in aged timber and features expansive north-facing windows that not only frame the beautiful views of its locale, but pulls in plenty of natural light. Designed to be more than just a vacation home, this stunning getaway is about as eco-friendly as it gets, and is said to be the second most energy-efficient structure on the island.
Learn more about the Orient House IV here
INTERVIEW: NYC Architect Drew Lang Gives Us the Scoop on Hudson Woods, A Private Eco-Community in the Catskills
July 19, 2014

INTERVIEW: NYC Architect Drew Lang Gives Us the Scoop on Hudson Woods, A Private Eco-Community in the Catskills

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Move over Hamptons — there's a new second-home hotbed for New Yorkers: the Catskills. The four-season destination has been growing in popularity over the past several years, but is now reaching new heights thanks to Drew Lang and Lang Architecture's forest getaway community Hudson Woods. Located in Kerhonkson, New York, just two hours from New York City, the 131-acre development will feature 26 sustainably designed, site-specific dwellings, each located on its own spacious lot. Buyers can personalize their homes with curated upgrades including a pool and pool house, outdoor kitchen, vegetable garden, fruit tree grove, treehouse, and solar power energy system, among other things. Hudson Woods' tagline is "where design meets nature," and one look at the site makes this statement ring true. We sat down with Drew Lang to get an inside take on the project, and to learn more about the increasingly sought after Catskills community.
Read our full interview here
Kangaroo Clock by David Raffoul Doubles as a Storage Pouch
July 19, 2014

Kangaroo Clock by David Raffoul Doubles as a Storage Pouch

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Say goodbye to that ugly key holder and boring mail basket. The aptly-named Kangaroo clock by David Raffoul conveniently doubles as a storage pouch that can function as the perfect entryway catchall, while letting you know if you're running late. The clock would also look nice with dried flowers or sparkly jewelry peeking out of its pouch. Really, the possibilities are endless!
More about the design here
MB Architecture’s Energy-Efficient Green Arc House is Mostly Buried Underground
July 18, 2014

MB Architecture’s Energy-Efficient Green Arc House is Mostly Buried Underground

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Architect Maziar Behrooz is a big fan of airplanes hangars and his stunning Green Arc House takes inspiration from the airship shed's curvaceous design. Located in East Hampton, this luscious green home is not only grand and luxurious, but also extremely energy efficient. It measures a whopping 6,400 square feet, but you would never guess it because more than half the home is buried underground!
Learn more about this stunning sustainable home
NYC’s Threat of Earthquakes on the Rise, But Tall Towers Have a Lower Risk of Being Affected
July 18, 2014

NYC’s Threat of Earthquakes on the Rise, But Tall Towers Have a Lower Risk of Being Affected

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You read it right, tall towers in New York City actually have a lower risk of being affected by an earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey, the federal agency responsible for reporting and recording earthquake activity, recently updated their National Seismic Hazard Maps, which "reflect the best and most current understanding of where future earthquakes will occur, how often they will occur, and how hard the ground will likely shake as a result." One change to the maps since they was last updated in 2008 is that the east coast has the potential for larger quakes than previously outlined, but residents of NYC high rises are in a slightly lower risk bracket.
Learn why straight ahead
Another Studio’s Convert Vase Collection is Inspired by Architectural Geometry
July 18, 2014

Another Studio’s Convert Vase Collection is Inspired by Architectural Geometry

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As architecture buffs, we can't help but love that the Convert Vase Collection was inspired by architectural geometry, but even putting that influence aside, Another Studio's design is simply stunning. The trio of multi-faceted vases is made from a flat sheet of steel, folded and converted into shape by hand in the firm's London studio. The steel has a semi-matte finish and geometric patterns etched onto its surface, which creates an appealing aesthetic, a mix of hard and soft.
More about the design here
NYC Events 7/18: MoMA’s Pop Rally; Greenpointers Summer Market; Bohemia and Orthodox Judaism in Art
July 18, 2014

NYC Events 7/18: MoMA’s Pop Rally; Greenpointers Summer Market; Bohemia and Orthodox Judaism in Art

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Another summer weekend with fabulous weather is upon us, and we can't wait to close our laptops and get out into the city. Start your weekend off right by catching a screening of Primal Heritage, a film exploring the world of Joseph Wolf Grazi, an artist juggling the Bushwick dream with his Orthodox Jewish roots. On Sunday, get your retail fix on at Greenpointers Summer Market, which will be chock full of artist- and locally designed goods you'll definitely want in your home. Greenpointers also invites you to sip on Brooklyn Brewery beers and Dandelion Wine sangria while you shop, so if you're looking to unwind with a drink in addition to some retail therapy, this is your best bet. And once you've hit your spending limit, mosey on over to the galleries in the 67 West building for some art... Want more? We've got a full list of events after the break.
All the best events here
Pulltab Design Brightens Up this East Village Duplex with a Living Green Wall
July 17, 2014

Pulltab Design Brightens Up this East Village Duplex with a Living Green Wall

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The green wall at the 7th Street Residence designed by Pulltab Design puts our few measly house plants to shame. The custom-made garden wall was installed as part of an apartment renovation to be a focal point of the home, as well as to give the contemporary space a mysterious quality. A shallow reflecting pool sits under the vertically planted wall and serves as a landing pad for water droplets that fall from the wall's concealed irrigation system. Additionally, the pool, fabricated from folded steel sheets and complete with swimming goldfish, adds a calming water element to the living room.
More about how this sleek apartment comes
Studio Allergutendinge’s Soul Box is a Portable Retreat for ‘Glamping’ in Nature
July 17, 2014

Studio Allergutendinge’s Soul Box is a Portable Retreat for ‘Glamping’ in Nature

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If you feel the need for a summer break away from the city but don't want to rough it in the great outdoors there is always the option of "glamping", or glamorous camping. For those want to keep the comforts of home in reach, this mobile wooden shelter by studio Allergutendinge is the ideal solution. It offers all the conveniences of home and can be transported just about anywhere.
Find out more about Soul Box here
Still Portzamparc-ish: New Images of Extell’s Riverside Center Uncovered
July 17, 2014

Still Portzamparc-ish: New Images of Extell’s Riverside Center Uncovered

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On the website of Extell Development's latest residential tower, One Riverside Park, we uncovered some newer, more realistic renderings of their massive Riverside Center project. The 8-acre superblock between West 59th and 61st Streets lies at the southern end of a string of 11 Riverside South buildings that have been underway since the mid-1990s. Developer Donald Trump had struggled since 1974 to redevelop the 77-acre rail yard, and he developed the first eight buildings as Trump Place before selling a substantial portion of the site to Extell Development in 2005.
See more images of this mega-development here
Live Out Your Childhood Fantasies in This East Village Home with a Metal Slide by Turett Architects
July 16, 2014

Live Out Your Childhood Fantasies in This East Village Home with a Metal Slide by Turett Architects

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It's not uncommon for NYC apartment buyers to snatch up two adjacent units and combine them into one space, but it is a bit unusual to request that your architect connect the spaces with a slide. And that's exactly what Turett Collaborative Architects (TCA) was tasked with in this East Village duplex penthouse. The previous homeowner, professional poker player Phil Galfond, bought two identical one-bedroom units, one on top of the other. They were transformed into a 2,400-square-foot, two-bedroom duplex with a new Italian-made Rintal stair. Clearly calling the bluff of this traditional mode of getting from one floor to another, Galfond worked with TCA to also install a stainless steel helical slide that descends through the double-height atrium.
More about the modern, playground-like feature right this way
See the Winners of the “QueensWay Connection: Elevating the Public Realm” Design Competition
July 16, 2014

See the Winners of the “QueensWay Connection: Elevating the Public Realm” Design Competition

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Earlier this year, AIA New York's ENYA (Emerging New York Architects) Committee held its biennial design ideas competition, focusing on the elevated viaduct portion of the QueensWay, a community-led project that seeks to transform a blighted, 3.5 mile stretch of abandoned railway in Central Queens into a linear park and cultural greenway. The winners of Queensway Connection: Elevating the Public Realm were announced in February, and are now going public tomorrow, July 17th, with an exhibition at AIANY's Center for Architecture. There were 120 entries from 28 countries for Queensway Connection, from which four winning entries and an Honorable Mention were selected. The jury included architecture, landscape architecture, public space, and transportation infrastructure professionals who reviewed the designs based on how well they created an effective and welcoming transition between the street and greenway. Other factors included community involvement, preservation of the existing infrastructure, and use of ecologically sustainable elements.
Your sneak peek before tomorrow's event
Bates Masi + Architects Gives an Incredible Modern Update to a House They Built 35 Years Ago
July 15, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects Gives an Incredible Modern Update to a House They Built 35 Years Ago

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When the new owners of this beautiful woodland home on Long Island decided they needed some extra space, they contacted the same architects that built the property 35 years before: Bates Masi + Architects. The New York-based creatives worked to update and expand the Re-cover House, preserving its original spaces, simplicity and rustic soul. Clad in beautifully aged silver cypress wood, the house's entire renovation re-uses materials from the original design.
See the impeccably designed interior here
From Luggage to Luxury Hotel: Grzywinski + Pons-Designed Mixed-Use Building Rising at 119 Orchard Street
July 15, 2014

From Luggage to Luxury Hotel: Grzywinski + Pons-Designed Mixed-Use Building Rising at 119 Orchard Street

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The times they are a-changin. At least on Orchard Street, which used to be littered with affordable clothing and luggage stores and home to the famous Saturday street vendors peddling their wares. Today, upscale boutiques and trendy restaurants have moved in, along with rising rents, and 119 Orchard Street is the latest convert. For over 40 years, Fine & Klein Handbags operated out of the storefront, but closed their doors in 2007. Shortly thereafter in 2008, SAS Property Management bought the property for $4.22 million, filed plans for a new 40-room hotel, and tore down the building in November 2010. Three years later, the plans were amended for a 10-story mixed use space, containing 16 hotel rooms and four residential units. Interestingly, the building height was the same in both renditions. Construction has already commenced, and we've just spotted a few new renderings on architect Grzywinski + Pons' website.
Take a look at the construction photos as well as building renderings
551W21: Norman Foster’s Champagne-Colored Tower Rising Along Manhattan’s New Gold Coast (New Photos)
July 15, 2014

551W21: Norman Foster’s Champagne-Colored Tower Rising Along Manhattan’s New Gold Coast (New Photos)

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Many architects like to recycle their plans, reusing signature design elements from project to project. However, British architect Lord Norman Foster, with his firm Foster+Partners, enjoys keeping it fresh with designs that are unmistakably modern, yet profoundly contextual to their location. The firm's latest New York development is a 44-unit residential tower named 551W21 that rises in the once industrial—now art-gallery—hub of West Chelsea. The 551W21 team over at Foster+Partners recently sent us some new photos of the building under construction, which has surpassed its 19th-floor mark and will be topped off at the end of this month. And if you're still not convinced that buyers are willing to pay a premium for starchitectured spaces, we're told that the building is already over 50% sold.
See more photos and views after the break
Glass Towers to Go Green? Environmentalists Are Calling for Stricter Regulations for Supertalls
July 14, 2014

Glass Towers to Go Green? Environmentalists Are Calling for Stricter Regulations for Supertalls

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Two of the biggest trends in the current NYC real estate market are tall, glass towers and eco-friendly design. Oftentimes, though, these two architectural movements don't meet, and now environmentalists are calling for stricter regulations that would make this marriage a requirement, by way of decreasing the huge expanses of curtain wall windows that the towers have adopted as their hallmark.
More of the debate this way
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