Architecture And Design

How much can you do with 410 square feet? Surprisingly, quite a bit. A renovation at this Hell's Kitchen studio, located within the 433 West 54th Street cooperative, has tried to maximize space in any way possible. Case in point: a Murphy bed "cabinet" with the option to tuck your bed away in style, a corner kitchen lined with wood that also holds storage underneath a compact breakfast bar, and a fire escape that makes for a suitable outdoor space. After last selling in 2010 for $340,000, the studio is asking $425,000.
This way for a look inside

August 2, 2017

One-time Long Island mansion of former Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos hits the market for $4.9M

A sprawling 8.2-acre estate in Center Moriches once owned by the deceased Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda has hit the market for $4.99 million. The massive Long Island property, known as the Lindenmere Estate, at 16 Sedgemere Road features 14 bedrooms, 17-and-a-half baths, a glass-enclosed Pagoda pool house, and incredible views of the Moriches Bay. According to the New York Post, after a brokerage switch, the listing’s price dropped from $5.99 million last year.
Find out more

July 31, 2017

Wood slat-covered glass volumes create an elegant interior at this Hamptons guest home

A traditional Hamptons estate, nestled in the hamlet of Wainscott, got this luxurious guesthouse courtesy of Roger Ferris + Partners. The Connecticut-based architecture and design firm sought to create "a luxury reprieve for visitors" and came up with a two-structured, gabled home that looks modest from the outside but feels elegant inside. Each section of the home is dedicated to different uses--public on one side, private on the other--but both structures overlook a pool that faces the oceanfront. With a gorgeous interior and great views, its a guest house worthy of full-time living.
Get a look at the interior

July 31, 2017

INTERVIEW: Architect Rick Cook on the legacy of COOKFOX’s sustainable design in NYC

Since its founding in 1990, COOKFOX Architects has become one of the most recognized names in New York City real estate. In the firm's early days, founding partner Rick Cook found a niche in historically-sensitive building design, looking for opportunities to "[fill] in the missing voids of the streetscape," as he put it. After teaming up with Bob Fox in 2003, the pair worked to establish COOKFOX as an expert in both contextual and sustainable development. They designed the first LEED Platinum skyscraper in New York City with the Durst family, the Bank of America Tower, then took on a number of projects with the goal of designing healthier workplaces. The firm also got attention for its work in landmarks districts, winning AIA-New York State awards for its mixed-use development at 401 West 14th Street (better known as the Apple store) and its revamp of the the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. (The firm also made it the first LEED-certified theater in the city.)
6sqft's conversation with Rick fox here

July 31, 2017

Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house and heart-shaped private island ask $15M upstate

This private island upstate in Putnam County has an incredible backstory and stunning home (it's also located just 15 minutes by plane from Manhattan, via the houses's rooftop helipad), and it's up for grabs at an ask of $14.92 million. Mansion Global shared the tale of how a Frank Lloyd Wright home, designed by the architect to rival his iconic Fallingwater, ended up on the grounds of this 11-acre, heart-shaped property known as Petra Island. Not only does it employ Wright's signature cantilevering and series of outdoor terraces, but inside, there are giant stone boulders jutting into spaces from the living room to the shower stalls.
You must see the end result

July 28, 2017

18th-century farmhouse filled with wood and antiques asks just $379K upstate

You're stepping back in time with this upstate New York property, a colonial farmhouse sitting on three woodsy acres outside the town of Slingerlands (h/t CIRCA). Since its construction way back in the 1780s, it's been lovingly cared for and restored, right down to the Rumford fireplace and wide-plank wood floors. The interior, in fact, is seemingly lined floor-to-ceiling in wood, while the land outside is rife with trees alongside a pond and barn. And of course, it all costs less than a one-bedroom Manhattan condo, asking $379,000.
Explore the property

July 28, 2017

125 Greenwich Street gets new rendering, taller 912-foot height

By Dana Schulz

Earlier this month, developers Bizzi & Partners and New Valley finalized a $450 million loan for their Rafael Viñoly-designed skyscraper at 125 Greenwich Street, and they've now released a finalized rendering of the slender condo tower and filed plans that show it will top out at 912 feet (h/t Yimby). The height is only slightly above the most recent reporting of 898 feet, but the project was originally supposed to rise a whopping 1,400 feet. Though it's no longer in line to be downtown’s tallest residential building, it will still offer impressive views and a wind-resistant design.
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July 27, 2017

CetraRuddy proposes sustainable designs for first office building along the Village’s ‘Silicon Alley’

By Dana Schulz

An "oversized Silicon Alley" is what some are calling Mayor de Blasio's plan to transform Union Square and its southern stretches into the city's next tech hub. The main component so far is the massive Union Square Tech Hub proposed to replace the P.C. Richard & Son building on East 14th Street, but Councilwoman Rosie Mendez and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation are advocating that, in exchange for the building, the city rezone the surrounding blocks to prevent an influx of out-of-scale development. Despite their oppositions, CetraRuddy has revealed on their site two environmentally friendly proposals for the site at 799 Broadway, the former home of the St. Denis Hotel at the southwest corner of East 11th Street. Spotted by CityRealty, the 240-foot, 17-story office building would be the first catering to the Mayor's tech dreams, though the renderings are merely conceptual at this point.
All the renderings and details ahead

July 27, 2017

World’s skinniest skyscraper at 111 West 57th Street stalled at 20 stories by soaring costs

The construction of Property Markets Group and JDS Development’s 1,421-foot-tall tower at 111 West 57th Street has been the subject of much anticipation and excitement, as it's slated to be among the tallest residential skyscrapers anywhere and the world's most slender with a height-to-width ratio of 24:1. But after rising only 20 stories, the SHoP Architects-designed Billionaires' Row addition has stalled, plagued with budget overruns and headed for foreclosure, the New York Post reports.
What could possibly have happened?

REVEALED: Tishman Speyer’s Long Island City office development boasts food hall and rooftop park

Long Island City, New York City’s fastest growing neighborhood, shows no signs of slowing down. Following the completion of Jackson Park, the residential phase of Tishman Speyer Properties’ massive Gotham Center development, renderings have been revealed for their creative office space across the street at 28-01 Jackson Avenue. As CityRealty learned, the development, called the JACX, consists of two identical towers that will include over 40,000 square feet of retail space, with a gourmet market, food hall, dining, and boutique fitness centers, as well as a one-acre rooftop terrace.
See inside

A rejected design for Central Park from 1858 shows colorful, whimsical topiaries

John Rink’s rejected design proposal for Central Park, via NY Historical Society

July 24, 2017

A rejected design for Central Park from 1858 shows colorful, whimsical topiaries

Central Park, which celebrated its 164th anniversary this month, required elaborate planning to make it what it is today: the most visited urban park in the country. New York City launched a design competition in 1857 for the development of the open space between Manhattan’s 59th and 110th Streets. Most New Yorkers know that out of 33 total entrants, the city chose Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's "Greensward Plan." However, just five of the losing designs survived and can be seen at the New York Historical Society. One particularly unique design was submitted by park engineer John Rink, who planned Central Park to be highly decorated with whimsically shaped sections dominated by topiaries (h/t Slate).
Find out more

July 24, 2017

Muslim-backed cultural center would be the first of its kind in NYC

As a way to promote inter-religious coexistence and cultural exchange, the American Society for Muslim Advancement and Buro Koray Duman Architects have collaborated to create a design proposal for an Islamic cultural center, the first Muslim-sponsored multi-faith community center in New York City. According to ArchDaily, the design for the center, called Cordoba House, is based on the historic “Kulliye,” an Ottoman Islamic center, and features a vertical landscape design. It will stretch 100,000 square feet and include recreation, culinary, art, retail and administrative spaces.
More this way

Architecture And Design

New City Council bill would create a comprehensive urban agriculture plan for New York

Image courtesy of Gotham Greens.

July 21, 2017

New City Council bill would create a comprehensive urban agriculture plan for New York

A new bill introduced in New York City Council Thursday addresses the need for an urban agriculture plan that doesn't fall through the cracks of the city's zoning and building regulations, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bill, introduced by Councilman Rafael Espinal and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and assigned to the Land Use Committee, also raises the possibility of an office of urban agriculture. If a New York City farm bill seems surprising, you may also be surprised to know that NYC has the country's largest urban agriculture system, including community gardens, rooftop farms and greenhouses.
Outgrowing the system

East Hampton’s ‘Driftwood House’ employs traditional Japanese charred wood techniques

Image © MB Architecture

July 19, 2017

East Hampton’s ‘Driftwood House’ employs traditional Japanese charred wood techniques

By Dana Schulz

On a half-acre lot perched 18 feet above Gardiner's Bay in East Hampton sits a unique site, shielded by neighboring waterfront homes on its east and west sides, but completely open in front to the bay. With these two extremes as their inspiration, MB Architecture designed the Driftwood House, using both reclaimed wood from the property's previous home and charred cypress prepared using the traditional Japanese Shou-Sugi-Ban technique. The result is a sustainable residence that "[weaves] the line of the horizon through its spaces, slowly unveiling the views, with glimpses through layers and framed transparencies."
See the whole house

July 18, 2017

‘Loop NYC’ proposes driverless auto expressways across Manhattan and a 13-mile pedestrian park

Architecture/engineering firm EDG, noting that New York City faces a unique and complex set of challenges when it comes to navigating highways and byways, has offered an equally unique and innovative proposal: LoopNYC suggests the conversion of one lane of existing cross streets and highways into driverless automobile expressways. The result? A safe, sustainable and efficient "microhighway" automated traffic grid.
So how would it work?

July 17, 2017

A former Wells Fargo horse stable in Jersey City gets converted into a modern plywood loft

Located in the historic 1890 Wells Fargo building, the Wells Fargo Loft was originally used for the company’s horses and city carts. The loft, located at 299 Pavonia Avenue in Jersey City, was redesigned over the last few decades, but most recently by Jeff Jordan Architects in 2016 (h/t Architizer), who took full advantage of the ceiling heights ranging from 14 to 50 feet and amazing NYC views. To create a better live-work balance, the architects removed and reconfigured walls for a clearer separation between art studio and living spaces by using plywood and ample storage space.
See inside the unique loft

July 17, 2017

First closings commence at Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street

The architect’s signature curves and organic indoor and outdoor architecture made the late Pritzker Prize winner Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street 6sqft’s Building of the Year. Now, closings have begun in the stunning Chelsea condo, starting with a pair of two bedroom units. Residences 9, which sold for $6 million, and 14, which sold for $6.2 million, are 2,147-square-foot two-bedroom homes with private balconies.
Find out more

July 15, 2017

This striking Bridgehampton home was designed with reclaimed wood from an old Brooklyn factory

This Bridgehampton estate combines the rustic rural farmhouse with the grittiness of a Williamsburg loft. The Brooklyn-based studio TA Dumbleton Architect designed the entire property, which includes both a guest home--a project 6sqft profiled here--and this main residence. The guest home, dubbed the WE Guest House, boasts an open 3,000-square-foot layout, double-height windows and insulated stucco walls. The main property, called the WE House, utilized reclaimed wood from a Brooklyn factory, board concrete and casement windows to make a strong design statement.
See the blend between farm and loft

July 14, 2017

Nature informs modern design in this $6M upstate retreat with Scandinavian and Korean influences

This unusual property at 156 Duell Hollow Road known as Hammersley Ridge is the culmination of the desires of the current homeowner to find the perfect spot to live, and the vision of the home’s architect, Anik Pearson, of integrating Scandinavian and Korean design principles into its unique surroundings (h/t Mansion Global). In the hamlet of Wingdale, NY about a 90 minute commute from Manhattan, the 5,000 square-foot home sits just below a mountaintop overlooking a nature conservancy, which means your stunning vistas across the valley floor won't be spoiled by any new neighbors.
See more of this amazing mountain retreat

July 13, 2017

Art Nerd NY’s top art, architecture, and design event picks – 7/13-7/19

By Lori Zimmer

Art Nerd New York founder Lori Zimmer shares her top art, design and architecture event picks for 6sqft readers! This week, party it up at PS1 Moma’s Night at the Museum, then get to the roots of the salsa movement in New York with the Museum of the City of New York’s walking tour. The Center for Architecture leads a tour about the space-age architecture of the 1964 World’s Fair, and the Design Trust for Public Space hosts a potluck at the park outside of the Holland Tunnel. Speaking of public space, Madison Square Park’s art installation will be the scene to experience yoiking, a northern Norwegian practice of channeling animal spirits with the voice. Interesting. Then, this weekend is all about outdoor festivals. Head to Governors Island for free kayaking, boating and fun for City of Water Day, or to the Rubin Museum for their annual free block party. Finally, Bar Tabac shuts down Smith Street in Brooklyn to celebrate Bastille Day—a French festival of food, drinks, and petanque!
Details on these events and more this way

July 13, 2017

10 artsy daycation escapes from NYC to visit this summer

By Lori Zimmer

For some of us, the idea of a summer vacation is a fantastical memory from childhood, now seeming a far cry from demanding jobs and lack of PTO. But the same cultural rejuvenation can be yours—if only for a day. Whether by bus, train or if you want to get fancy and rent a car, an art-filled daycation could be just what you need this summer to get that vacation glow. From Jackson Pollock's Hamptons studio and Dia Beacon's minimalist art collection to the Rockefeller family's historic mansion Kykuit and the Gilded Age ruins of Bannerman Castle, we've rounded up 10 artsy day trips that are just a stone's throw from NYC.
All the best escape here

July 13, 2017

Design concept replaces Rikers jail with community-based ‘justice hubs’

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice, along with the Van Alen Institute, released a set of guidelines to decentralize Rikers Island and improve city jails in every borough. The "Justice in Design" report outlines recommendations for healthier jails, including interior and exterior design elements, greater amenities, and ways to better integrate the jail with the surrounding neighborhood. As one of the first steps to permanently closing Rikers, these new justice hubs, or decentralized borough-based jails, would be tailored to the needs of detainees, officers, lawyers, visitors and community members.
See the design concepts

July 13, 2017

One of NYC’s rare rooftop ‘cottages’ is for sale, asking $3.5M in the East Village

The listing calls the two-unit, three-story property that tops the condominium building at 72 East 1st Street "the most unique property in the East Village," and while it may not be the entire city's most interesting, it's definitely among them. The lower unit is a full-floor penthouse duplex, above which is perched a perfect replica of a New England cottage. The property is for sale for $3.5 million; while much has been written about the city's handful of rooftop cabins and cottages, they rarely appear on the market. In this case, the Nantucket-style cottage is an artists' studio, which makes it even cooler.
Check out this little sky cottage

July 11, 2017

Entire 62-acre Connecticut ghost town sells for $1.85M