Architecture And Design

September 22, 2023

Archtober 2023: 10 best architecture tours to check out

Archtober, the annual festival dedicated to architecture and design in New York City, is just around the corner and it's time to start planning the events, exhibitions, and talks you want to attend. The very popular "Building of the Day" series is back with 31 architect-led behind-the-scenes tours of projects across the city every day in October. Ahead, find 10 public spaces, parks, and museums that made our must-see list for this year, from the eco-friendly pier at Hudson River Park to the newly opened Louis Armstrong Center in Corona, Queens. All of the tours on this list are free or cost $10 to attend and require advanced registration.
our picks here
September 20, 2023

High Line-style pedestrian bridge to link Newark Penn Station and Prudential Center

Work began this week on a High Line-esque pedestrian bridge in Newark a decade in the making. Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor J. Baraka on Tuesday broke ground on the Mulberry Commons Pedestrian Bridge, a walkable pathway above McCarter Highway that will link Newark Penn Station and the Prudential Center. The bridge is the second phase of the Mulberry Commons development, a 22-acre project aimed at revitalizing the area between downtown Newark and the Ironbound neighborhood, with Mulberry Commons Park at the center. Officials say the bridge will support economic growth, make Newark more walkable, and enhance the pedestrian experience in and around Newark Penn Station.
see it here
September 15, 2023

Archtober 2023: Your guide to this year’s architecture and design events

New York City's annual Archtober festival returns October 1 through October 31 for its 13th year. The monthlong celebration of architecture and design unfolds thanks to the collaboration of over 100 partners and sponsors across the city. This year's festival offers events, exhibitions, talks, and neighborhood tours across the five boroughs to raise awareness of the importance of the city's infinite tableau of architecture and design. The 2023 theme, "Bridging Divides," serves to better organize select programming with shared goals and conceptual connections.
Archtober events, this way
September 14, 2023

Plan to revitalize Staten Island’s North Shore includes 2,400 homes and waterfront esplanade

After several failed projects, Staten Island's North Shore could finally see a long-promised revitalization. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a $400 million investment and released a new roadmap to redevelop a stretch of the borough's waterfront with 20 acres of continuous open space, 2,400 units of housing, and new commercial space. Construction will resume this fall on a two-mile waterfront esplanade that will be "on par with Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hudson River Park," according to Adams.
More on the north shore plan, herE
September 13, 2023

Robert Indiana’s ‘LOVE’ sculpture installed at Rockefeller Center

Robert Indiana's iconic "Love" sculpture has returned to New York City with a fresh paint job. Starting Wednesday, the 12-foot-high sculpture with its distinct slanted "O" will sit at the head of the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center for six weeks. The sculpture is one part of a larger installation featuring Indiana's work now on view, including his "One Through Zero" sculpture series on Center Plaza and images from his Peace Painting series on the 193 flags surrounding the Rink. The works will be on display through October 23.
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September 12, 2023

The history of New York’s railroad apartment

Apartments comprised of a series of directly connected rooms—without a hallway—are a common feature of the New York City housing market. Generally, this layout is described as a “railroad apartment.” With origins in the city's turn-of-the-century tenement lifestyle, the layout today comes with its share of pros and cons. At its best, this apartment layout offers considerably more space at a lower cost than a conventional layout and desirable pre-war details. At its worst, this layout offers nothing but a dark and dank space that can be especially awkward when shared by roommates rather than couples.
find out more here
September 12, 2023

You can buy the 2023 Real Simple designer showcase home in Brooklyn’s Quay Tower for $8M

The Real Simple Home 2023 has officially been unveiled in Brooklyn. And it's available for purchase. Newly-minted Brooklyn Heights condo Quay Tower at 50 Bridge Park Drive has just listed a duplex penthouse asking $7,995,000. Crowned the magazine's sixth Real Simple Home, the 2,789-square-foot duplex has been transformed by top designers and influencers, who have put a one-of-a-kind, personalized touch on the sleek space–including Bobby Berk, host of Netflix's "Queer Eye," who designed the living room.
TOUR THE DESIGNER-ENHANCED PENTHOUSE
August 30, 2023

$92M condo at 432 Park enters contract, priciest deal of 2023 so far

A $92 million condo at 432 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan has entered contract, the biggest deal of the year in New York City so far. The five-bedroom apartment on the skyscraper's 79th floor first hit the market in September 2021 for $135 million but underwent a significant price cut this spring, according to CityRealty.
DETAILS THIS WAY
August 30, 2023

Manhattan’s first-ever film and TV studio coming to Pier 94

Vornado Realty Trust is joining forces with industry giants Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties to transform Manhattan's Pier 94 into the borough's first-ever major TV and film studio production complex. Work is expected to begin later this year on the 266,000-square-foot campus, known as Sunset Pier 94 Studios, which will include six soundstages, offices, a writers' room, and public amenities along Manhattan's West Side, according to the Wall Street Journal. The $350 million project could be completed by the end of 2025.
Learn more about Manhattan's first film studio
August 29, 2023

New Downtown Brooklyn condo tower 9 Chapel has terraces that act like front porches

New renderings were released this week of 9 Chapel Street, a unique luxury condo tower under construction in Downtown Brooklyn. Developed by design-driven firm Tankhouse and designed by SO-IL, the 14-story building makes outdoor space a central feature, with open-air terraces that act as front porches, a mix of covered and uncovered private outdoor space, and weather-protected loggias. The goal of the design is to create a feeling that is "more house than high rise," as a press release describes.
Take a look
August 24, 2023

NYC unveils ‘home for retired playground animals’ in Queens

Six treasured playground animal sculptures have retired to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. Located next to the park's iconic Unisphere, the "Home for Retired Playground Animals," will now house the past-their-prime statues that have been enjoyed by kids in city parks for decades. Currently on display in the space are one aardvark, one camel, one frog, one elephant, and two dolphin sculptures.
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August 21, 2023

Pre-Civil War church in Bed-Stuy to be demolished

A historic church in Bed-Stuy constructed in 1856 is set to be razed and will likely be replaced with apartments, according to Brownstoner. Last week an application was filed for the full demolition of the St. Lucy-St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church at 295 Willoughby Avenue and 920 Kent Avenue. The church agreed to sell the property in July for $12.25 million to developer Water Capital Group. Due to the size of the lot and zoning in the area, investment firm JLL marketed the site as a "rare opportunity to develop a sizable luxury residential building in a burgeoning Brooklyn neighborhood."
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August 17, 2023

Plan to bring Van Cortlandt Park’s Tibbetts Brook above ground moves forward

A plan to unearth parts of a body of water in the Bronx that has been covered for more than a century is moving forward. The New York City Public Design Commission on Monday unanimously approved the preliminary design plan for the Tibbetts Brook Daylight and Greenway Project in Van Cortlandt Park, a project that will help remove the brook's clean water from the sewer system and ultimately reduce flooding and sewage overflow into the Harlem River. The $133 million project could face delays due to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the land that is part of the construction project, according to the City.
Get the details
August 3, 2023

Dumbo’s most photographed block gets ‘BIG’ upgrade

One of New York City's most photographed blocks got a makeover this week. The Dumbo Improvement District on Thursday unveiled new streetscape furnishings for Washington Street, the iconic stretch of street that perfectly frames the Manhattan Bridge and is a popular spot among tourists. Bjarke Ingels Group designed new modular benches for the street, which is closed to cars during certain hours as part of the city's Open Street program.
See it here
July 20, 2023

NYC announces major public space and transit improvements for Downtown Brooklyn

New York City is investing over $40 million in street safety improvements and new public spaces in Downtown Brooklyn. On Thursday Mayor Eric Adams said the investment will be put towards transformative improvements along Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, with plans for improved pedestrian space, bus service, new public art, and safety upgrades to the streetscape.
More here
July 13, 2023

Fort Greene’s historic Paramount Theatre to reopen as live music venue next year

The gilded Brooklyn Paramount Theatre is being restored to its original glory and will reopen as a world-class entertainment venue next year. Entertainment giant Live Nation, which will revive and operate the nearly 100-year-old theater, revealed plans and new renderings during a community board meeting last month. According to the company, the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre will be able to accommodate 2,600 people. Located at 385 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the theater is scheduled to open in the first or second quarter of 2024, as first reported by Brownstoner.
See more here
July 3, 2023

Asking $19.5M, a penthouse in Richard Rogers’ first U.S. residential project in FiDi

This newly finished penthouse is located within award-winning architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' No. 33 Park Row, the firm's first and only residential project in New York City. The park-front landmark joins RSHP's roster of celebrated projects, such as One Hyde Park in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Asking $19,500,000, the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom duplex Penthouse 3 offers residents dramatic 21-foot-tall ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a stunning loggia terrace with sweeping views of City Hall Park and Tribeca.
Find out more
June 29, 2023

Private firm unveils Penn Station redesign plan, claims it’s $1B cheaper than MTA’s

A private development firm unveiled a proposal for rebuilding Penn Station that is $1 billion cheaper than what is proposed by the MTA. ASTM North America on Wednesday revealed details of their $6 billion renovation of the transit station, which involves keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location, wrapping it in a massive stone facade, and creating a more unified train hall. The firm's unveiling of the comprehensive plan comes days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Penn Station's renovation will move forward with the preliminary design process without the development of several office towers.
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June 27, 2023

Hochul drops office towers from Penn Station renovation plan

The renovation of Penn Station will move forward without the construction of several skyscrapers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The governor's plan to overhaul the busy transit hub originally called on the developer Vornado to redevelop 18 million square feet of the Midtown West neighborhood, including 10 new high-rise office towers, with the tax revenue generated helping fund the station overhaul. Now, Hochul says funding from the state and federal government makes it possible to move forward with the renovation without any development proceeds.
See the plan
June 26, 2023

$52M penthouse at One High Line in Chelsea among downtown’s most expensive sales

A penthouse at a new luxury condominium in Chelsea has gone into contract for $52 million, joining an exclusive list of downtown Manhattan's priciest homes. Designed by Bjarke Ingels, One High Line consists of two twisting towers with views of the Hudson River, the High Line, and beyond. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the full-floor penthouse measures roughly 7,000 square feet, in addition to a nearly 5,000-square-foot private terrace.
More this way
June 22, 2023

Three modern penthouses added to Upper West Side’s historic Astor building

Three new modern penthouses are being added atop The Astor, a landmarked residential building on the Upper West Side built over 100 years ago. The brand-new apartments top one of New York City's most iconic condominiums, which consists of three interconnected towers on Broadway between West 75th and West 76th Streets. All three penthouses come with private outdoor areas, gas fireplaces, and interiors designed by Pembrooke & Ives. Before being listed publicly, one of the penthouses already found a buyer, who purchased a 3,400 square foot four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom, and a three-bedroom unit below it, in a combo deal last listed for $15.495 million.
See more here
June 21, 2023

Elevated pathway connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall opens

A new elevated pedestrian path connecting the High Line to Moynihan Tran Hall opens to the public this week. The 600-foot-long High Line-Moynihan Connector consists of two bridges, one full of lush landscape that runs along West 30th Street and another made of Alaskan yellow cedar wood that is suspended over Dyer Avenue. Officially opening on June 22, the $50 million project connects Manhattan West's public plaza to a pedestrian pathway at West 31st Street, allowing commuters to easily and safely access the train station and the rest of Midtown West.
See it here
June 21, 2023

Lot of demolished landmark on Gay Street in Greenwich Village lists for $4.5M

The Greenwich Village lot where a rowhouse stood for 200 years until being demolished this year is for sale. One in a row of six 19th-century buildings, the property at 14 Gay Street was the oldest, constructed in 1827. The city late last year ordered 14 Gay Street to be razed after determining unpermitted work had left it at risk of collapse. Now, the vacant lot where the Federal-style home once stood is available for $4,500,000, providing a unique opportunity to build new in one of the city's oldest historic districts.
Details here
June 15, 2023

World Trade Center’s new cube-shaped arts center reveals inaugural season ahead of opening

A new arts center at the World Trade Center was included in the 2003 master plan for Lower Manhattan after September 11. Two decades later, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) is opening this fall. On Wednesday, the center announced the lineup for its augural season, including wide-ranging programs across theater, dance, music, film, and more. Located at 251 Fulton Street, PAC is a unique, cube-shaped building with a glowing marble facade and flexible performance spaces within. The center kicks off its season on September 19 with a five-night pay-what-you-wish event, "Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World," which will include performances from musicians from around the world.
Find out more
June 13, 2023

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated two Bronx buildings associated with New York City's fire department as individual landmarks. Not only are the Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 firehouse in Belmont and the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office in West Farms architecturally significant, but they represent a period of evolution and growth for the city's fire department. The new landmarks also recognize a piece of Bronx history that has largely gone underappreciated.
Details here