Architecture And Design

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

April 28, 2017

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

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The iconic New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is set to undergo a $14.25 million renovation funded by the city. As first reported by the Queens Chronicle, repairs of the monument will begin next spring, which will include some structural conservation work and electrical and architectural improvements. The pavilion, which was originally designed for the 1964 World’s Fair by Philip Johnson and Lev Zetlin, has been ignored for the past few decades, largely in part because of the city’s failure to find the money for repairs.
Find out more
Tiny MUJI Hut offers a stylish and inexpensive option for homeowners who want another room
April 27, 2017

Tiny MUJI Hut offers a stylish and inexpensive option for homeowners who want another room

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It's been about a year and a half since MUJI first announced their MUJI Hut, a modern prefab take on the micro-home. Costing $27,000, it's a well-priced housing option for those with land—and it's finally hit the market. Although the price tag may still be out of reach for most New Yorkers, those blessed with a backyard and some extra cash can easily turn this hut into a stylish extra room or office. That's right, at just 97 square feet this little guy appears to skirt the need for a building permit, keeping well below the 121 square feet that would require plans, approval, and tedious visits to the Department of Buildings.
more details on the design
This $28M Upper East Side multi-townhouse-garden-pool megamansion compound is not like the others
April 27, 2017

This $28M Upper East Side multi-townhouse-garden-pool megamansion compound is not like the others

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6sqft has reported on the townhouse combo mega-mansion phenomenon before, such as when Roman Abramovich clashed with the DOB over a set of Upper East Side townhouses and when Sarah Jessica Parker and the unrelated but also loaded Sean Parker dropped a bundle on their respective two-and three-fers; now another stunning double scoop of insane townhouse living just hit the market at 166 East 81st Street and 179 East 80th Street (just down the street from Madonna's triple Georgian townhouse compound). The two contiguous houses comprise 8,000 square feet of gorgeous 1899 historic details and uptown opulence for the appropriately uptown ask of $28 million. Unlike those other Siamese townhouse siblings, though, these bad boys are adjoined back-to-back through a private 74-foot two-tiered landscaped garden with a swimming pool. Take that, Madonna.
Take the front to back tour, this way
16 spring house tours to check out in and around NYC
April 26, 2017

16 spring house tours to check out in and around NYC

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It's that time of year again—house tour season! Architecture buffs, historic home junkies, and garden lovers revel in the spring lineup of events, and to make planning a bit easier, 6sqft has rounded up 16 tours in and around New York City. From Harlem brownstones and Park Slope townhouses to Hamptons estates and Nyack mansions to Jersey shore beachfront homes and Hoboken's secret gardens, there's a little something for everyone.
The full event roster, right this way
New Jane Jacobs documentary spotlights her achievements in NYC and lessons to be carried forward
April 26, 2017

New Jane Jacobs documentary spotlights her achievements in NYC and lessons to be carried forward

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One of the most iconic battles to decide the fate of New York City was waged, in the 1950s and '60s, by Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses. He, a Parks Commissioner turned power broker, was known for his aggressive urban renewal projects, tearing tenements down to build higher, denser housing. She, often dismissed as a housewife, emerged as his most vocal critic—not to mention a skilled organizer with the ability to stop some of Moses' most ambitious plans. A new documentary, Citizen Jane: Battle for the City, takes a close look at the groundbreaking work of Jane Jacobs and its importance in our urbanizing world today. Matt Tyrnauer, the director behind Valentino: The Last Emperor, compiled footage of both Jacobs and Moses alongside 1950s and '60s New York, which is paired with voiceovers of Marissa Tomei and Vincent D’Onofrio as the battling duo. Experts in urban planning—everyone from Paul Goldberger to Robert A.M. Stern—also discuss Jacobs’ massive influence on housing policy and urban planning, as the film makes a convincing argument that Jacobs' planning philosophies are needed now more than ever.
Read our review of the film
City will spend $100M on a new esplanade to close the gap along Manhattan’s East River greenway
April 26, 2017

City will spend $100M on a new esplanade to close the gap along Manhattan’s East River greenway

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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city would develop the gap in the Manhattan waterfront greenway that runs between 41st and 61st Streets along the East River. The city has pledged to spend $100 million on closing the largest unfinished space in the 32-mile loop, including a new esplanade, with an additional $5 million to be spent on filling smaller gaps in East Harlem and Inwood. “The Hudson River Greenway has vastly improved quality of life on the West Side, and we want families in every corner in the borough to have that same access to bike, walk and play along the water,” said the mayor in a statement. “This is the first of many big investments we’ll make as we bring the full Greenway to reality.”
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Manhattan’s last intact Gilded Age mansion can be yours for $50M
April 26, 2017

Manhattan’s last intact Gilded Age mansion can be yours for $50M

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A few weeks ago the New York Post reported that the six-story Beaux Arts mansion at 854 Fifth Avenue that had belonged to the granddaughter of railroad baron Cornelius Vanderbilt and which most recently housed Serbia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations was about to hit the market for $50 million. Built in 1905 for stockbroker and future governor of Rhode Island R. Livingston Beeckman and designed by the same firm that designed Grand Central Station, the building is virtually unchanged, including hand-carved balustrades of white marble, ceiling frescoes of angels and clouds and an original working stove. The opulent abode includes two elevators, eight bathrooms and 32 rooms in total. Now officially listed for sale, the storied Upper East Side manse reportedly already has six potential buyers.
Find out more about this rare piece of New York City history
+POOL may come to Brooklyn Bridge Park, scores a big-name backer

Renderings by PlayLab, courtesy of +POOL.

April 25, 2017

+POOL may come to Brooklyn Bridge Park, scores a big-name backer

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Seven years ago the team behind +POOL floated the fanciful–but completely fun–sounding idea of building a pool submerged in NYC's East River that would filter the polluted waterway in addition to being a cool-off spot for New Yorkers. Curbed reports that though the official line is that all options are still being looked at, project designers hope the city will allow +POOL to be located off a pier at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
More the floating pool's progress and new renderings this way
The LeGrow modular ‘smart garden’ is a LEGO-like system that makes indoor planting easy
April 24, 2017

The LeGrow modular ‘smart garden’ is a LEGO-like system that makes indoor planting easy

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Spring has us thinking about greenery, with roots and shoots popping everywhere we turn–but most city dwellers don't have a garden to grow. Enter the smart planter from LeGrow. These snappy planters fit together like LEGO blocks for plants, making our design sensibilities happy by adding a cool modular element while allowing us to add living greenery to our indoor surroundings.
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100-year-old New Jersey ‘castle’ with 58 rooms hits the market for $48M
April 21, 2017

100-year-old New Jersey ‘castle’ with 58 rooms hits the market for $48M

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One of the most expensive residential listings in New Jersey recently hit the market at an asking price of $48 million. The 100-year-old, nearly 50,000-square-foot mansion sits on 12.5 acres in Mahwah with views of the Ramapo Mountains (h/t Wall Street Journal). The enormous house, originally built in 1907 by George Crocker, son of railroad tycoon Charles Crocker, was modeled after a Jacobean-style English castle and today boasts a 45-foot-tall organ, 29 bathrooms, 21 bedrooms, and two full kitchens, one equipped to serve an impressive 250 meals at a time.
See photos of the incredible mansion
For one week only, get an up-close view of Staten Island’s proposed aerial gondola
April 21, 2017

For one week only, get an up-close view of Staten Island’s proposed aerial gondola

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While the city continues to develop ways to quicken commutes between Manhattan and the outer boroughs (like the soon-to-be-launched NYC Ferry), the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) has taken matters into their own hands and created an idea for an aerial gondola. Similar to the East River Skyway proposal, which would transport passengers across the East River to ease the inconvenience of the impending L train shutdown, the gondola would take commuters in the sky from the borough to Bayonne, NJ where they'd connect to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and ultimately the PATH. As WYNC learned, starting this week and for seven days only, the gondola will be touring Staten Island on the back of a flatbed truck to boost support from officials to fund the project.
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Midtown’s 1,401-foot One Vanderbilt to begin vertical construction next month
April 20, 2017

Midtown’s 1,401-foot One Vanderbilt to begin vertical construction next month

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One of the city's most pivotal new office towers is approaching its latest milestone. This afternoon, developer SL Green announced that One Vanderbilt, the supertall currently under construction directly adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, will begin its vertical ascent in early May. According to a press release, the 1,401-foot skyscraper's construction manager, AECOM Tishman, has secured the procurement of more than 25,000 tons of domestically-fabricated structural steel, in addition to a New Building Permit from the New York City Department of Buildings.
more details here
First look at Domino Sugar Factory’s 11-acre park and waterfront esplanade
April 20, 2017

First look at Domino Sugar Factory’s 11-acre park and waterfront esplanade

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With building construction well under way at the Domino Sugar Factory site, Two Trees Management has now released details about the 11-acre park that will anchor the three-million-square-foot Williamsburg mega-development. To be known as Domino Park and designed by James Corner Field Operations, the quarter-mile open space will boast a new waterfront esplanade, six acres of parkland, a plethora of preserved artifacts, and easier waterfront access. In addition to sharing several new renderings, Two Trees also announced that the park will open in the summer of 2018.
All the details and renderings ahead
First home designed by Philip Johnson seeks $1M and a preservation savior
April 19, 2017

First home designed by Philip Johnson seeks $1M and a preservation savior

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As any modern architecture aficionado knows, the Glass House is Philip Johnson's best-known residence. However, it's not his first. That title goes to the Booth House, built in 1946 (three years prior to the New Canaan beauty) in rural Bedford, New York. Like the Glass House, it boasts Johnson's iconic floor-to-ceiling glazing, location atop a grass podium, and internal organization around a central fireplace. But unlike the Glass House, now a historic house museum, the Booth House is not protected, and moreover, its title is in litigation which means it could very well face the wrecking ball. Therefore, Archpaper tells us that the long-time owners have listed the home for $1 million in hopes that a preservation-minded buyer will step up.
Find out more
Tour Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry buildings around the globe with the new Google Earth
April 19, 2017

Tour Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry buildings around the globe with the new Google Earth

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As part of its relaunch, Google Earth, a program that allows users to explore the planet virtually, now features guided tours of projects by various architects, like Frank Gehry and the late Zaha Hadid. As ArchDaily learned, the relaunch allows users to orbit the entire globe in 3D, instead of simply exploring isolated cities. It also enhanced the web application’s accessibility, with searches within the app providing snapshots of information about the places. Plus, using the app is free of charge and users do not have to pay or install any software.
Explore the Google Earth relaunch
INTERVIEW: Co-founder of the Brooklyn Home Company, Bill Caleo
April 18, 2017

INTERVIEW: Co-founder of the Brooklyn Home Company, Bill Caleo

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The Brooklyn Home Company (THBCo) is a family-run cooperative of artists and builders that develop unique residential spaces in booming Brooklyn. Best described as white and wood but never cookie cutter, their work is always light and airy, and blend modern style with historic elements. It's this signature style that's made THBCo a favorite amongst both renovators and Pinterest enthusiasts alike. But what inspires their designs and how do they decide where to develop projects? Ahead, 6sqft speaks to THBCo's co-founder and Head of Operations, Bill Caleo, about the business. Find out how this family-run establishment firmly roots itself in working with local makers, how they've grown their business model to include sustainability, and why they always add a custom piece of art to all their homes.
our interview with bill here
Related’s Stephen Ross kicks off construction on Hudson Yards’ 150-foot climbable ‘Vessel’

First Piece of Vessel Installed 04.18.2017 – courtesy of Related-Oxford

April 18, 2017

Related’s Stephen Ross kicks off construction on Hudson Yards’ 150-foot climbable ‘Vessel’

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The standard for public art spaces has officially reached new heights. Today, the installation has begun on Vessel, an innovative landmark designed by Heatherwick Studio at Hudson Yards. As 6sqft previously wrote, the project’s idea stems from Related Companies' chairman Stephen Ross, who chose Heatherwick to design the $200 million (up as of today from the original $150 million estimate) large-scale piece of art. After being fabricated and constructed in Monfalcone, Italy, the first ten pieces of the 150-foot-tall steel structure arrived in January at the Port of Newark via ship and then traveled across the Hudson River. And as of this morning, Ross was on site to mark the first of these massive components (they each weigh close to 100,000 pounds) being put into place by crane.
See photos from Vessel's installation and watch a video of Stephen Ross' remarks
Toolbox Tutorials: Learn to make a simple macramé plant hanger
April 17, 2017

Toolbox Tutorials: Learn to make a simple macramé plant hanger

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6sqft's new series Toolbox Tutorials shares step-by-step guides for simple, affordable DIY projects. This week, Igor Josifovic and Judith de Graaff, founders of Urban Jungle Bloggers and authors of the new book "Urban Jungle: Living and Styling With Plants," teach us how to make an easy macramé plant hanger. Have a project you'd like to share? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. In small apartments, the valuable real estate on shelves and windowsills gets used up fast, but don't let this deter you from bringing in some greenery. Even if your flat surfaces aren't available, there's always room for a hanging plant, which can be suspended from the ceiling, a wall or window, or a doorknob that's not used on a daily basis. To do this, we're showing you how to make macramé hangers for anything from regular terracotta pots to colorful salad bowls that have rounded bottoms.
The illustrated, step-by-step guide ahead
1100 Architect’s Watermill estate uses glass structures to integrate the surrounding landscape
April 14, 2017

1100 Architect’s Watermill estate uses glass structures to integrate the surrounding landscape

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Located in the Hamptons neighborhood of Water Mill , this modern yet surprisingly rustic family retreat includes a main house, pool house, guest house, bunkhouse, and garage. The mini-complex was designed by 1100 Architect and occupies a total of 15 wooded acres. The main house's design is a balanced combination of glass and location, as it's situated on the plot's highest peak, providing the structure with expansive and unobstructed views of the surrounding property and shoreline from the roof terrace.
Take the tour
An upgraded and expanded 1900 schoolhouse is now a charming residence for sale upstate
April 14, 2017

An upgraded and expanded 1900 schoolhouse is now a charming residence for sale upstate

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"A century’s worth of historical appeal" is how the listing describes this unique property upstate, located at 636 Bedford Road in the town of North Castle. Indeed, this structure was built in 1900 and originally served as a school house (h/t CIRCA). In 1980 it was expanded and renovated without taking away any of that century-old character. Details like six-inch oak flooring and exposed beams from a Brooklyn shipyard distinguish the property, and it doesn't hurt that it sits on almost an acre of land. The price, of course, is what you might pay for a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan: $855,000.
Don't miss this property tour
Robert A.M. Stern’s 520 Park Avenue, Upper East Side’s tallest building, hits pinnacle height
April 14, 2017

Robert A.M. Stern’s 520 Park Avenue, Upper East Side’s tallest building, hits pinnacle height

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520 Park Avenue, well on its way to being the tallest skyscraper on the Upper East Side, is putting its final crowning members in place, CityRealty reports. The developer of the 54-story tower just off Park Avenue at East 60th Street is the multi-generational Zeckendorf real estate dynasty who brought us 50 U.N. Plaza, 15 Central Park West and the neighborhood-transforming Worldwide Plaza and Union Square's Zeckendorf Towers.
Find out more
$625K boho duplex is a cave-like East Village hideaway
April 14, 2017

$625K boho duplex is a cave-like East Village hideaway

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The listing for this quirky little bohemian bolthole at 121 East 10th Street, near the iconic St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery, uses words like "special," "handpicked" and "salvaged," and there's a reason beyond salesmanship. Looking at this enchanted mini-loft does, in fact, make us feel "transported to another time and place." Another time, at least: The place is the old East Village of legend. Who knows, this could even be the apartment that invented exposed brick.
Have a look around this creative little pad
Central Park’s Belvedere Castle and two playgrounds to close for renovations this summer
April 12, 2017

Central Park’s Belvedere Castle and two playgrounds to close for renovations this summer

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While the outside of the Belvedere Castle looks strong, the inside of the 146-year-old fortress is actually crumbling. The cracked pavement, leaking roof, and plumbing issues encouraged the Central Park Conservancy to start a 10-year $300 million campaign last summer to renovate its structures, as well as surrounding playgrounds. As DNAInfo reported, beginning at the end of this summer and early fall, the castle, the Bernard Family Playground, and the Billy Johnson Playground will be closed for reconstruction.
Find out more
Burrow’s new modular couch is designed for millennials’ nomadic lifestyle
April 12, 2017

Burrow’s new modular couch is designed for millennials’ nomadic lifestyle

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With moving frequently an assumed part of being a young adult today, furniture startup Burrow has released a new line of modular sofas that are easily assembled, affordable (prices range from $550 for a single chair to $1,150 for a four-seat couch), and can adapt to new spaces with pieces that can be tacked on or removed. The company also mixed the principals of two millennial-loved companies--Ikea's flatpack approach to shipping and Casper matresses' one-week free shipping and 100-day free return policy.
Find out more
Perched on a Staten Island hillside with stunning bay views, this cute country cottage is only $739K
April 12, 2017

Perched on a Staten Island hillside with stunning bay views, this cute country cottage is only $739K

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This single-family home in a storybook hillside setting with some of Staten Island's most attractive property below and Raritan Bay and the Atlantic Highlands beyond is a testament to the island's diversity of places. Built by an artist who made sure the home's windows were positioned to take advantage of the natural light, the crimson cottage at 298 Lighthouse Avenue, whose listing calls it a "Hansel & Gretel gingerbread home," sits on a half-acre lot, sharing Lighthouse Hill with the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art (h/t Curbed). So much uniqueness comes at the relatively surprising price of $739,500.
Check it out
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