Architecture And Design

Plans Filed for the SOM-designed Apartment Tower at 401 West 31st Street
May 21, 2014

Plans Filed for the SOM-designed Apartment Tower at 401 West 31st Street

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Brookfield Office Properties filed its first plans yesterday for their SOM-designed residential tower located at 401 West 31st Street, adjacent to all the Hudson Yards hoopla. The 756,674-square-foot, 702-foot-tall tower will host 790 apartments with 3,438 square feet of retail on its ground level. The design sits within a grouping of glass towers and a low slung, tapering structure. The […]

Five Opulent and Ornate Spaces Looking for an Occupant
May 21, 2014

Five Opulent and Ornate Spaces Looking for an Occupant

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Anyone who's gone apartment hunting in Manhattan knows it can get a little monotonous — the bone-white walls, standard hardwood floors, and typical layouts. Sometimes the blank canvas just isn't enough; sometimes you need a little oomph. For those of you who enjoy ogling beautiful homes that have been carefully designed and expertly decorated, we've rounded up five opulent and ornate spaces currently looking for an occupant.
See all the stunning spaces this way!
Camp Rockaway: Queens Designer Kent Johnson Wants to Bring Luxury Camping to Far Rockaway
May 20, 2014

Camp Rockaway: Queens Designer Kent Johnson Wants to Bring Luxury Camping to Far Rockaway

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And the glamping trend continues... Designer Kent Johnson has just launched a Kickstarter campaign that aims to bring a "luxurious" tent campsite to the Rockaways. From fully furnished tents with crisp white linens, to private fire pits and hot tubs overlooking Jamaica Bay, this is not your everyday man's campsite. And if you think the idea sounds crazy, think again. It's actually an initiative inspired by the area's past, which once found incredible success!
More on Camp Rockaway this way
Clever Kangaroo Light Bends and Flexes to Brighten Up Any Type of Space
May 19, 2014

Clever Kangaroo Light Bends and Flexes to Brighten Up Any Type of Space

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The inventors of the viral Ostrich Pillow are at it again, promoting another cool new product on Kickstarter. Only this time, instead of an item that's meant to block out light, the team at kawamura-ganjavian are making it easier to see. Dubbed the Kangaroo Light, this flexible, glowing pad is meant to be a playful and practical solution to flashlights, which all too often get lost in the deep abyss of purses, bookbags and cabinets.
See the light in action
Observations: Sherpas Not Needed
May 19, 2014

Observations: Sherpas Not Needed

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Some people have great hair that never goes astray. That made me think about buildings with their new-fangled window-washer rigs. They’re not new but the recent “gold rush” of high-end residential condominiums have led some developers to design curious new building forms that would appear to be major obstacle courses for those marvelous skywalkers who brave the elements and have never experienced a tinge of acrophobia. The faint-hearted, of course, prefer sheer city cliffs, but only the bravest descend from the heights over the new often bumpy terrain.
Sherpas not needed
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, No… It’s Sebastian Errazuriz’s Giant Golden Cow Piñata!
May 19, 2014

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, No… It’s Sebastian Errazuriz’s Giant Golden Cow Piñata!

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Undeniably, there is much symbolism attached to artist designer Sebastian Errazuriz’s giant golden cow piñata on display in Industry City in conjunction with NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s official citywide celebration of – you guessed it – design. One look at the suspended shimmering beast and you’re likely to be reminded of the infamous golden calf Bible story about idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6, if you’re interested) or notice its uncanny resemblance to Wall Street’s iconic charging bull.
See more of this oversized golden pinata
Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 19, 2014
May 19, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 19, 2014

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We’re all looking forward to a long weekend this week, so why not get amped for Memorial Day by boning up on some of the knowledge this city has to offer? School yourself on Russia’s Modern Masters, learn about the genius of the Scandinavian design approach, or go one on one with a Whitney Museum artist. As Memorial Day looms, so does the opening of the city’s greatest isle of relaxation: Governors Island. You know summer is almost here when the ferries start running over to Manhattan getaway, so head to the ferry terminal this weekend!
All the best events here
UM Project Gives the Maypole a Modern-Day Makeover for Reclaim NYC
May 15, 2014

UM Project Gives the Maypole a Modern-Day Makeover for Reclaim NYC

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After an impossibly long and cold winter, it's fitting that one of the pieces on display at the upcoming Reclaim 3 exhibit is an ode to spring and renewal. But the Maypole created by whimsical furniture designer UM Project is no ordinary ribbon around a stick. Inspired by the charitable spirit that drives Reclaim NYC — which started out in 2012 as a way for the design community to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims — UM Project founder Francois Chambard teamed up with the High School of Art & Design to create an interactive installation that combines folk custom with modern-day technology.
Details on the high-tech Maypole ahead
Snøhetta’s Light-Filled 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at Ground Zero Dedicated Today
May 15, 2014

Snøhetta’s Light-Filled 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at Ground Zero Dedicated Today

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It’s amazing when you think about it, the number of people personally touched by the tragedy of 9/11. It seems in the days after the attacks, especially as a New Yorker, you found you had a connection to someone who had perished, either directly or indirectly. It was almost uncanny. And the phrase “Never Forget” became ubiquitous. As if you ever could. To ensure we never do, and that those too young to remember will continue to honor the day that changed the world, the 9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero was dedicated today, in advance of its May 21st opening to the general public. Attendees included President Obama and Governor Chris Christie.
Snøhetta's Light Filled Pavilion greets museum visitors
This Breathtaking Nolita Penthouse Takes Going Green to Another Level
May 15, 2014

This Breathtaking Nolita Penthouse Takes Going Green to Another Level

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Not all rooftop gardens are created equal, especially when it's an award-winning green space perched high above Little Italy. A collaboration between Andrew Berman Architect and the sustainable roof designers of Goode Green, the blooming penthouse abode is a serious urban oasis complete with chickens and a bee colony.
More photos of the beautiful garden home ahead
Plans to Convert the Jehovah Witness Watchtower Complex Into a High Tech Incubator Revealed!
May 14, 2014

Plans to Convert the Jehovah Witness Watchtower Complex Into a High Tech Incubator Revealed!

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Leeser Architects, designer of the Museum of the Moving Image expansion in Astoria, seems to be single-handedly upping the architecture ante in the outer-boroughs. Fresh off the heels of demolition commencing on the site of their multi-faceted 30-story Marriott Autograph Collection tower in the BAM Cultural District, Leeser may also be busy in the conversion of DUMBO's five-building Jehovah Witness Watchtower complex into a high tech incubator and residential tower.
See the renderings we've uncovered after the jump
Bonsai-Inspired Solar Charger Also Lights Up at Night
May 14, 2014

Bonsai-Inspired Solar Charger Also Lights Up at Night

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The design of this compact solar charging lantern, called Electree Mini, was influenced by bonsai trees and fractal patterns found in nature. Created by French designer Vivien Muller, it "provides solar-derived power to environments typically void of renewable energy." On the movable branches are small solar panels which capture sunlight — a play on photosynthesis. The solar energy is then stored in small batteries that can directly power up your gadgets. Electree Mini has the capability to charge AA and AAA batteries and comes with a USB port that will charge smartphones. At dusk, the tree automatically lights up, and when rotated the LED light sensors change colors.
More design details this way
Studio Gang’s Razor-Edged Glass Tower for the High Line Gets the Green Light
May 14, 2014

Studio Gang’s Razor-Edged Glass Tower for the High Line Gets the Green Light

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Studio Gang's bold move to open an office in NYC couldn't have come at a better time. The much admired studio led by Jeanne Gang just got the green light for their stunning angular glass structure, which will be sited right along the High Line on 10th Avenue between 13th and 14th streets. Dubbed the 'Solar Carve', the new construction will be designated for office and retail use, housing 10 stories behind a glassy serrated edge and asymmetrical curves. The design, in true Studio Gang fashion, keeps sustainability in mind, and the building's geometric form does follow function. The unique shape mitigates solar gain while taking advantage of the views between the High Line and the Hudson. A planted roof will also help cool the Solar Carve on hot days.
More renderings of Gang's first NYC project here
5 Architecture Firms Envision an Ideal Atlantic Yards
May 13, 2014

5 Architecture Firms Envision an Ideal Atlantic Yards

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The creative mind is so spectacular. There’s nothing more fun for designers than to be given a project where they can allow their imaginations to run rampant. Never was this more evident than with The Warehouse Gallery’s new exhibit opening next month. Five architecture firms were asked to design an idealistic plan of Atlantic Yards, conforming to the same dimensions as the actual project headed up by developer Forest City Ratner. These proportions include 4,278,000 square feet of housing and 156,00 square feet of retail space.
Find out more about the project here
Observations: Changes at the Center of the City (And World)
May 13, 2014

Observations: Changes at the Center of the City (And World)

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The city’s most famous plazas straddle Fifth Avenue at 59th Street, and there’s a lot going on. One of the city’s great entrances is the large marquee facing Fifth Avenue at the Plaza Hotel between 58th Street and Central Park South surmounted by five large ”outrigger” flags, at least one of which is the American flag. This past Sunday, there were two American flags, one Canadian flag, the Fairmount Hotels & Resorts flag, and the Plaza Hotel flag. The two American flags, however, were not standard and the “canton” of white stars against a blue background. These had too much blue background at the edge. While pointing this out to the two doorman, Jarret Lazar, the manager of bell services, wandered by and expressed surprise at my observation. He said that the flags need to be changed every two or three weeks because they get ripped apart.
Taking in the changes of our great city
Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 12, 2014
May 13, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 12, 2014

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Spring is in full swing, so how about venturing around the city this week to experience some of the arts and culture New York has to offer? Hob knob with donors and creatives at the annual Party in the Garden at the Museum of Modern Art, check out a secret bar behind an art opening, indulge in all things design at ICFF this weekend, or experience an art installation that encourages sleep. Another great week is yours for the taking!
All the best events here
Works Commence on the BAM North and South Towers in Fort Greene
May 13, 2014

Works Commence on the BAM North and South Towers in Fort Greene

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It's going to be a noisy summer for those living in the BAM Cultural District. Works have started on not one, but two of the glassy towers planned for the area. The two towers will be located at 286 Ashland Place and 590 Fulton Street, and are designed by Ten Arquitectos and FXFOWLE, respectively. Heavy machinery was recently delivered to the sites and excavation has begun. The two projects are part of a major re-haul of the area around BAM into a new cultural hub for Brooklyn.
More on the two towers here
A Jean Nouvel Chelsea Stunner Sells for $3.8 Million
May 12, 2014

A Jean Nouvel Chelsea Stunner Sells for $3.8 Million

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When Jean Nouvel won the esteemed Pritzker Prize in 2008, the judges cited his "insatiable urge for creative experimentation."  His design of residential building 100 Eleventh Avenue is no exception to the boundary-pushing modern architecture for which he is celebrated. Completed in 2010, the shimmering masterpiece has the most technologically advanced and highly engineered curtain wall systems in the city. Mr. Nouvel describes it as a "vision machine," and considering its nearly 1,700 panes of glass — some up to 37-feet wide — each a different size and set a different angle, he is justified in doing so. The 21-story LEED-certified condo building, has 72 units each with south- and west-facing views, floor-to-ceiling window walls, and mechanized shade systems. Every apartment has a unique arrangement of powder-coated steel window mullions, which form specific views related to the space's location. Unit 5D, which recently sold for $3.8 million through a listing held by Douglas Elliman, looks west onto the High Line and has a spacious, elegant layout.
See the stunning interior this way
Take a Peek at Three Cool, New Products from Italian Designer Giorgio Bonaguro
May 11, 2014

Take a Peek at Three Cool, New Products from Italian Designer Giorgio Bonaguro

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Architects, get ready to swoon — an Italian designer has created a desk that'll make working through the night feel downright fashionable. Designed by Giorgio Bonaguro, the Oscar desk was first shown off during Milan Design Week 2014. It features a solid ash wood tabletop and soft leather pockets that hold drawings and notes, creating a sophisticated, yet functional look.
Details on how you can try it out in person
May Design Agenda: Events to Check Out in Manhattan and Brooklyn
May 10, 2014

May Design Agenda: Events to Check Out in Manhattan and Brooklyn

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It's May, which means that NYC's most exciting month for design is here! We've rounded up a few must-see shows that will feature furniture and products by local creatives, and designers from across the globe. Find out the best places to get your furni fix ahead — we promise plenty of Instagram-worthy design-stuffs will abound!
Our top picks ahead
May 9, 2014

A Look Inside Demi Moore’s Much Talked About San Remo Triplex

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Demi Moore made news this week when word got out that she would be putting her San Remo triplex up for sale for a whopping $75 million. While no listing or photos of the 7,000-square-foot 145 Central Park West space have surfaced (apparently Moore is quietly showing it), one of 6sqft's reporters did some sleuthing and found these old black and whites from the Museum of the City of New York which pretty much meet the specs: of the two triplexes in San Remo today, one was made combining the only two-story unit in the building and the mechanical space above it. Moore and then hubby Bruce combined a two-story unit with the space above it... Though we're sure the decor has changed since the Spring of 1937 when it was occupied by Theodore C. Wiehe, with a little bit of imagination we bet you can fill in the gaps. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this blast from the past. And if you've got some money to spend, make Ms. Moore an offer. You'll also be granted the record of "the person to have spent the most money on a co-op ever". A win?
Inside the historic apartment
Rockefeller University Takes Next Step Towards New Research and Conference Space Above FDR Drive
May 9, 2014

Rockefeller University Takes Next Step Towards New Research and Conference Space Above FDR Drive

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The City Council’s Committee on Land Use gave approval to Rockefeller University’s plan to construct two new buildings over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on Manhattan’s east side. In exchange, the school, which controls air rights over the 4-block stretch starting at East 64th, has agreed to invest $8 million to develop and maintain a portion of the East River Esplanade.
More on the development here
Gateways: Filling in the Architectural Gaps Along Cobblestoned Bond Street
May 8, 2014

Gateways: Filling in the Architectural Gaps Along Cobblestoned Bond Street

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If you've spent time in the NoHo Historic District and Extension, then you've probably notice that there are two highly visible voids in the short stretch between Broadway and the Bowery — a destination that has become one of the city’s most interesting and admired architecture ensembles. The city is about to get a new architectural gateway in this locale, situated at the intersection of Lafayette and Bond Streets. The new gateway will consist of two quite similar, small, new residential buildings designed by different architects on the north side of Bond Street.
More on the new buildings and our city's gateways here
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