Architecture And Design

This sidewalk ‘front porch’ was designed to help students return to school in COVID times

Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools/SITU/WXY

August 5, 2020

This sidewalk ‘front porch’ was designed to help students return to school in COVID times

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The list of anxieties surrounding a return to school for students and their parents is seemingly endless, but the architects at SITU and WXY have designed an outdoor lobby that they hope can help alleviate some of this stress. Built upon the work of design-forward scaffolding firm Urban Umbrella, the "Front Porch" concept has been installed at the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School to "allow students and faculty to be protected from the elements while queuing to enter, while hand sanitizing and having their temperatures taken," according to a press release.
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Chinatown’s historic Mott Street is transformed into an outdoor dining oasis

All photos courtesy of Emily Andrews for Rockwell Group

July 30, 2020

Chinatown’s historic Mott Street is transformed into an outdoor dining oasis

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Chinatown's Mott Street got a colorful upgrade on Wednesday with a block-long outdoor installation designed by architect David Rockwell. His firm, Rockwell Group, launched DineOut NYC earlier this summer to help New York City restaurants safely open outside by providing design templates for creative ways to use sidewalk and street space. Mott Street, now closed to cars between Mosco and Worth Streets, serves as the program's first community-wide dining area, with multiple restaurants on the strip using the facilities.
More here
Famous ‘haunted house’ in Clinton Hill reduces its price to $3.4M

Photos courtesy of Compass

July 27, 2020

Famous ‘haunted house’ in Clinton Hill reduces its price to $3.4M

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This Greek Revival home looks like something one might find in New Orleans or Savannah, but it's actually right in Clinton Hill. Its southern charm, however, has not seemed to help the home at 136 Clinton Avenue find a buyer; it's been on and off the market for four years, originally asking $4.8 million. One year ago, the price dropped to $3.6 million, and it's just been lowered again to $3,420,000. Perhaps its "haunted" past is scaring off potential buyers. The historic home is known to be one of the most haunted in Brooklyn.
Lots more ahead
Open-air cafe proposed along the East River in historic South Street Seaport

View from John Street Rendering courtesy of Woods Bagot/ NYC Parks

July 15, 2020

Open-air cafe proposed along the East River in historic South Street Seaport

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An open-air waterfront restaurant and bar could be coming to the South Street Seaport Historic District. The Howard Hughes Corporation and the city's Parks Department on Tuesday presented a proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a new concession along the East River Esplanade under the FDR Drive overpass. Designed by Woods Bagot, the "Blockhouse Bar" would be a year-round establishment, with plans to add decking over the pavement, planters, and vinyl coverings during the winter months.
Get the details
Funky $1.2M upstate home is Jetsons on the outside, Flintstones on the inside

Photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

July 15, 2020

Funky $1.2M upstate home is Jetsons on the outside, Flintstones on the inside

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The visuals speak for themselves at this super funky upstate home in Rhinebeck. From the outside, its semi-circular shape and odd window placement read very futuristic. But inside, the home is positively prehistoric-looking, with cave-like vaulted ceilings, stone floors, and tree-branch railings. Listed for $1,195,000, the 11-acre property includes the two-bedroom home, a guest house, animal shelters, fruit orchard, and vegetable garden.
Lots more to see
High Line Nine galleries transform into socially-distanced ‘living storefronts’

Image by Vicky Barranguet

July 14, 2020

High Line Nine galleries transform into socially-distanced ‘living storefronts’

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As New York City slowly reopens with some semblance of normalcy, art galleries are also returning. Earlier this month, the High Line Nine introduced a new initiative that transforms five of its galleries into "living storefronts." The High Line Nine Artist Residency, titled "Dare to Reimagine," allows visitors to walk through the corridor in Chelsea and view artists at work through glass-walled studios. And all works on display will be available for purchase through scannable QR-codes on-site.
More here
INTERVIEW: Architect John Cetra on the Upper West Side’s Dahlia and the changing concept of home

Images courtesy of CetraRuddy

July 13, 2020

INTERVIEW: Architect John Cetra on the Upper West Side’s Dahlia and the changing concept of home

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Designed by CetraRuddy and RKTB Architects, Dahlia at 212 West 95th Street celebrates the Upper West Side's classic residential blocks of pre-war architecture while adding innovative design elements. The condo’s 38 homes and common areas are designed to be more spacious than the average Manhattan apartment, and perks unheard of in New York City include a huge 5,100-square-foot private elevated park, a fitness center with a yoga room, and a private parking garage. Plus, each apartment is situated on a corner of the building, so there’s no shortage of views and natural light. 6sqft recently offered a peek at the 20-story building's interiors, and we've now chatted with architect John Cetra about this new addition to the Upper West Side, the neighborhood, and how apartment building design must be sensitive to changing times and the idea of home in the city.
An interview with John Cetra of CetraRuddy, this way
Here’s what a car-free, pedestrian-friendly NYC could look like

If parking was removed and private cars banned on West 45th Street; courtesy of PAU

July 10, 2020

Here’s what a car-free, pedestrian-friendly NYC could look like

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In a city that currently has the most streets closed to cars in the country, with plans in store to add more designated busways and charge vehicles entering its busiest streets, is New York ready to be car-free? Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti and his firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism think so. The New York Times took a look at PAU's plan, "N.Y.C. (Not Your Car)," which calls for a ban of private motor vehicles in Manhattan and an expansion of sidewalks and pedestrian-only space.
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$5.75M Upper East Side townhouse has connections to the Astors and Roosevelts

Photo credit: David Paler for The Corcoran Group

July 10, 2020

$5.75M Upper East Side townhouse has connections to the Astors and Roosevelts

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How's that for bragging rights? This incredible townhouse at 530 East 87th Street in Yorkville was built in the 1870s by the Astor family, and it later was owned by one of Theodore Roosevelt's granddaughters. In more recent years, it underwent a designer renovation (it was even featured in Architectural Digest) that includes four wood-burning fireplaces with original mantles, lacquered walls, and a whimsical garden with climbing vines and lanterns.
Lots more to see
See the design proposals that would make the Brooklyn Bridge a pedestrian oasis

“Back to the Future,” Bjarke Ingles Group and Arup

July 9, 2020

See the design proposals that would make the Brooklyn Bridge a pedestrian oasis

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The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of public space, especially in a city like New York, where residents lack private backyards and most common spaces are too narrow for proper social distancing. A design contest launched earlier this year looking for ideas on how to improve the overcrowded pedestrian promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge, where thousands of walkers and cyclists fight for space daily. The Van Alen Institute and the New York City Council on Thursday announced the six finalists for the "Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge" design contest, with selected proposals calling for less space for cars and more for people.
See the designs
The 14 best apartments near the High Line
July 9, 2020

The 14 best apartments near the High Line

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In the decade since the High Line opening, the surrounding area of West Chelsea has exploded into one of Manhattan’s most desirable areas for developers building luxury real estate. (It didn't hurt that the opening of the now-famous elevated park coincided with a neighborhood rezoning.) These days, any walk along the park reveals a variety of development in different stages of construction right alongside buildings that have welcomed new, typically wealthy residents over the past several years. 6sqft has rounded up the 14 defining buildings now open around the High Line. There are the early trailblazers, like the energy-efficient condo HL23, as well as the starchitect standouts, like Zaha Hadid's 520 West 28th, and of course, the new kids on the block, including Bjarke Ingels' twisting towers The XI and Thomas Heatherwick's bubbled Lantern House condo.
See the full list here
Historic 1797 manor house in Westchester hits the market for $4.7M

Listing photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

June 30, 2020

Historic 1797 manor house in Westchester hits the market for $4.7M

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Known as the Manor House, this 18th-century Federal-style Colonial in Westchester county has just hit the market for $4,699,000. Set on 1.44 acres, it's one of the largest parcels of land in Larchmont, and at nearly 7,000 square feet, the home is just as spacious as its perfectly manicured grounds. It has a romantic double front porch and a large rear porch, as well as eight fireplaces, six bedrooms, and tons of historic details.
Take the full tour
13 things you didn’t know about the Woolworth Building

The Woolworth Building, then and now. L: Image courtesy of Library of Congress via Wiki cc; r: Image Norbert Nagel via Wiki cc.

June 29, 2020

13 things you didn’t know about the Woolworth Building

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When the neo-Gothic Woolworth Building at 233 Broadway was erected in 1913 as the world’s tallest building, it cost a total of $13.5 million to construct. Though many have surpassed it in height, the instantly-recognizable Lower Manhattan landmark has remained one of the world’s most iconic buildings, admired for its terra cotta facade and detailed ornamentation–and its representation of the ambitious era in which it arose. Developer and five-and-dime store entrepreneur Frank Winfield Woolworth dreamed of an unforgettable skyscraper; the building’s architect, Cass Gilbert, designed and delivered just that, even as Woolworth's vision grew progressively loftier. The Woolworth Building has remained an anchor of New York City life with its storied past and still-impressive 792-foot height.
Find the city's history in the Woolworth Building
Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

A prototype of D-Tec 1 clinic courtesy of SG Blocks

June 26, 2020

Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

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As the country enters the fourth month of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts and officials say the best way to keep the virus under control is expansive diagnostic testing. Harvard research group Global Health Institute says states should greatly ramp up testing to contain the spread of COVID-19, to at least 900,000 tests per day; currently, the U.S. is testing about 500,000 people per day. Paul Galvin realized his company, SG Blocks, which repurposes shipping containers for a variety of uses, could meet this crisis head-on. The Brooklyn-based construction organization has designed a new product line of medical pop-up clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities that are affordable, eco-friendly, and can be constructed just about anywhere.
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See inside the enviable amenity spaces of Dahlia, a new condo on the Upper West Side
June 23, 2020

See inside the enviable amenity spaces of Dahlia, a new condo on the Upper West Side

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As the construction of new condo tower Dahlia wraps up on the Upper West Side, we're taking a look at the 20-story building's impressive amenity package. Designed by CetraRuddy and RKTB Architects, the building at 212 West 95th Street manages to mix the pre-war aesthetic of its neighbors with modern design elements. In addition to its sleek look, Dahlia also offers perks unheard of in New York City, including a huge 5,100-square-foot private elevated park with recreation space for both adults and kids and private parking garage.
See inside
Funky North Fork loft with a greenhouse roof and attached cottage asks $1.3M

Photos by Tyler Sands/Sand Media House for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

June 23, 2020

Funky North Fork loft with a greenhouse roof and attached cottage asks $1.3M

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First spotted by Curbed, this funky home in Greenport, Long Island was built in 1930 as the town's laundry and has since been converted into this very cool live-work loft. Listed for $1.3 million, the 4,400-square-foot building has an exposed greenhouse-inspired roof and big, open rooms full of original woodwork and pops of lime green. Also included in the sale is an adjacent cottage that could be used as a guest house or additional workspace.
Take the tour
Landscape architects West 8 created NYC’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

Rendering courtesy of Extell

June 22, 2020

Landscape architects West 8 created NYC’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

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The coronavirus pandemic--which forced New Yorkers to shelter in place and adhere to social distancing rules--has many apartment dwellers longing for private outdoor space. While a lot of us would be content with a balcony or rooftop access, Extell, the developer behind One Manhattan Square, has taken the idea of residential outdoor space to the next level. At the Lower East Side condo tower, residents have access to 45,000 square feet of green space designed by landscape architecture firm West 8. Considered to be one of the largest private gardens in the city, the East River-facing green space is uniquely located on an incline and contains several distinct areas designed for active and passive use. Ahead, hear from the team at West 8 on creating an urban oasis in one of the city's busiest neighborhoods as well as the many perks of the space, including an adult treehouse, tea pavilion, star-gazing observatory, and more.
Hear from the architects
In Bushwick, this 1885 former Brewery can be your personal mansion for $4M

Photo credit: DDReps, courtesy of Compass

June 19, 2020

In Bushwick, this 1885 former Brewery can be your personal mansion for $4M

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Every so often a truly unique listing comes our way, and this is one of those times. This stately building at 31 Belvidere Street in Bushwick was originally the office for the adjacent William Ulmer Brewery when it was built in 1885. Today, it's been converted to an incredible two-family mansion, complete with massive arched windows, giant windows, a cobblestone courtyard, and that beautiful mansard roof.
Look around inside
Plan for mini beach and waterfront esplanade at Bushwick Inlet Park moves forward

Rendering courtesy of Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP.

June 18, 2020

Plan for mini beach and waterfront esplanade at Bushwick Inlet Park moves forward

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The city's plan to bring a waterfront park and small beach to Greenpoint is moving forward. The Parks and Waterfront Committee of Brooklyn's Community Board 1 earlier this month approved a revised design from New York City Parks and architect firm Abel Bainnson Butz for a 1.9-acre passive park at Bushwick Inlet Park. The nearly $10 million project redevelops and remediates a section of land known a the Motiva parcel, which is bounded by Kent Avenue and Quay Street and North 14th Streets.
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INTERVIEW: Architect Morris Adjmi on how Nomad’s 30 East 31st Street helps define a changing city

Renderings by The Neighbourhood, courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects

June 16, 2020

INTERVIEW: Architect Morris Adjmi on how Nomad’s 30 East 31st Street helps define a changing city

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Among the recent architectural contributions to New York City designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, a tall, slender tower at 30 East 31st Street from developers EDG and The Pinnacle Group is quietly turning heads in the northern part of the Manhattan neighborhood known as Nomad. The 479-foot-high, 42-unit condominium tower, officially named 30E31, is now ready for occupancy. 6sqft caught up with architect and designer Morris Adjmi to get the creator's viewpoint on the notable new Manhattan residence, from his thoughts on the relatively new neighborhood to his contextual exterior design and custom interiors.
The full interview with Morris Adjmi, this way
Tour the striking residences of Morris Adjmi’s condo tower in Nomad

Renderings by The Neighbourhood, courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects

June 11, 2020

Tour the striking residences of Morris Adjmi’s condo tower in Nomad

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As the architecturally stunning residential tower at 30 East 31st Street nears completion, we're getting a look inside the 479-foot-tall skyscraper. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the high-rise mixes Neo-Gothic and Art Deco styles present in the historic Nomad neighborhood to create one of the most distinctive new buildings in the city. The sleek design continues to the interiors of 30 E 31, where its 42 apartments boast custom woodwork and floor-to-ceiling windows.
See inside
$1.6M Tudor feels like a storybook castle in Westchester

Photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

June 9, 2020

$1.6M Tudor feels like a storybook castle in Westchester

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Photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence This enchanting Tudor home in the Westchester town of Larchmont looks like something straight out of a fairytale, from its storybook facade to incredible architectural details like beamed and vaulted ceilings, arched stained-glass windows, and tons of moody work. Located at 1 Beechtree Drive on a quiet cul-de-sac, the six-bedroom home is asking $1,599,000 (h/t CIRCA).
Go inside
My 3,000sqft: Architect Wid Chapman renovated his Upper East Side home using color and openness

All apartment photos by Ashok Sinha

June 5, 2020

My 3,000sqft: Architect Wid Chapman renovated his Upper East Side home using color and openness

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Wid Chapman's parents were profound modernists, his father an architect who worked for Marcel Breuer, and his mother an artist who studied with Josef Albers. The career that Wid has built for himself as an architect and interior designer who specializes in hospitality design is uniquely his own but showcases the influences of his parents. When it came time to design his personal apartment on the Upper East Side, it was his own family who influenced the renovation. "Providing space intimate enough for our small immediate family but room for an extended one, the project reconfigures and reshapes extant spaces to defer to the apartment’s sweeping Central Park views," said Wid, adding that "color and materiality" were also central to the project. Ahead, take a full tour of this one-of-a-kind apartment and hear from Wid about his background and career and the specifics of the renovation.
Take the tour here
New photos show ‘Little Island’ offshore park making progress at Pier 55

Little Island in May 2020 © CityRealty

May 27, 2020

New photos show ‘Little Island’ offshore park making progress at Pier 55

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The much-anticipated offshore public park in the Hudson River is coming together, with its concrete tulip-shaped pots in place and the first trees planted. New photos of "Little Island" at Pier 55 show construction progressing ahead of its scheduled spring 2021 opening. The two-acre park, designed by Heatherwick Studio and MNLA, is meant to resemble a leaf floating on water, with its concrete base sitting above the river.
See it here
This summer, rent an upstate hideaway designed by Ai Weiwei for $125K
May 21, 2020

This summer, rent an upstate hideaway designed by Ai Weiwei for $125K

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The only private residence designed by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is available to rent this summer for $125,000. Located in the quiet upstate town of Ancram, the three-bedroom home is described as "liveable art" in the listing, which was first spotted by the New York Post. The modern home, designed in collaboration between the artist and Swiss firm HHF Architects, is also for sale for $5.25 million.
More here
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