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If there were ever a case to hire an architect and not skimp on design, a new study revealing that certain styles of architecture can have a measurable effect on one's mental state might be a good foundation. The new research, conducted by a team of architects and neuroscientists, uses a fMRI to capture the effects of architecture on the brains of a set of subjects as they thumb through images of "contemplative architecture" such as churches and temples. The fact that architecture can have an impact on well-being may be a "duh" conclusion to you, but for most it is not. And this architectural neuroscience team is making it their goal to turn the way in which individuals experience slight nuances in our built environment into scientific observations that can be applied to the design of buildings and urban planning.
More on the study here

November 12, 2014

Mediterranean-Style CarRem Trolley Lets Restaurant Guests Pick Fresh Herbs at the Table

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Andreu Carulla runs his own multidisciplinary design studio in a natural setting just an hour away from Barcelona. And that organic location serves as inspiration for his amazing designs, including the ingenious CarRem, a mobile herb garden designed to hold food, drinks, and plants, allowing guests at the table to choose and enjoy the taste of freshly plucked herbs. An innovative idea with a minimal aesthetic, this stylish trolley reflects the designer's Mediterranean lifestyle.
Learn more about the herb trolley

November 12, 2014

Zen Tribeca Loft Complete With Neon Signs and Beatles-Inspired Bed Can Be Yours for $10.5M

Tribeca is filled with well-designed lofts, but this space boasts a symmetrical zen-like elegance that is definitely worth checking out. The one-bedroom unit is located at 158 Franklin Street on one of the neighborhood's most desirable cobblestone blocks and is currently listed for $10.5 million. The interior space features low furnishings and eastern-inspired details–most notably a bed inset into the floor, reminiscent of the Beatles' bed in their famous movie, "Help" (we can't be the only ones who've dreamed of having that bed). The loft recently underwent a complete renovation, and we like what we're seeing.
Tour the rest of the home here

Distinctive Homes

November 12, 2014

Live in Tom Brady and Gisele’s One Madison Pied-a-Terre for $40K/Month

By Annie Doge

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her NFL star hubby Tom Brady have just put their 3,300-square-foot apartment at One Madison on the rental market. The couple, who also own a mansion in Los Angeles and have built another in Brookline, MA, are offering up their modern Manhattan pad for $40,000 a month—or $42,500 if you want the space to come fully furnished. Either way, the home boasts some pretty spectacular 360-degree views of the city all throughout.
Have a look inside

November 12, 2014

Daily Link Fix: A Tour of NYC Subway Art; See the World’s Largest Gingerbread Village

Mashable has a guide to NYC subway art. We particularly love the Roy Lichtenstein in Times Square. A 5,000-pound gingerbread village is coming to the New York Hall of Science. It will be even bigger than last year’s, which set the world record for largest gingerbread village. More details on DNAinfo. Hyperallergic takes a look back at […]

Uncategorized

November 12, 2014

Don Corleone’s ‘Godfather’ House Lists for $3M in Staten Island’s Todt Hill

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." It worked for the Corleones, so it might work for you. That is, if you want to own the Staten Island home that stood in as the exterior of Don Corleone's residence in "The Godfather." The Todt Hill mini-mansion at 110 Longfellow Avenue hit the market last week for $2,895,000. Film buffs will clearly recall the house from the famous opening wedding scene, and thankfully not much has changed on the exterior since.
Check out the entire house

November 12, 2014

Lavish Former Home of Socialite Marietta Tree Asks $10 Million

A charming maisonette apartment at 1 Sutton Place South just popped up on the market, asking $9.995 million. This 4,700-square-foot pad was formerly the home of Marietta Tree, a 1940s and ‘50s socialite, U.S Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and companion to powerful men like John Huston and Adlai Stevenson. The home underwent a complete renovation in 2004 by designer Albert Hadley and architect Basil Walter. The end result channels a lavish Georgian townhouse in London.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 11, 2014

$14M Greene Street Penthouse Features Fun Furniture and Fantastic Views

Don’t be fooled by this penthouse’s carefree appearance. The 3,510-square-foot duplex is one of the last units standing in the meticulous conversion at 53 Greene Street, and it’s commanding quite a premium at $14.05 million, a whopping $4,000 per square foot.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

An artist's Upper East Side condo is a palace-sized riot of joyful color for $8.75M

For $1.45M, this barrel-fronted Bay Ridge home offers three floors for living and lots of outdoor space

Color, texture, and pre-war details define this decorator's dream of a $4.85M Village co-op

For $5.5M, this Flatiron condo with four-bedroom potential is a prize for loft-lovers

For $32.5K/month, rent a five-story designer townhouse in Gramercy

From rental income to solar panels, this $3.5M Bed-Stuy brownstone checks all the boxes

Watch the seasons of Central Park change from this $3.4M top-floor Upper West Side co-op

For $3M, this two-family Crown Heights townhouse fills every available inch of space with great style

For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

$4.5M Central Park West duplex in Hotel des Artistes gets color just right

VIEW ALL

November 11, 2014

QUIZ: Which Starchitect Are You?

By Alyssa Alimurung

Are you an OG architect that doesn’t care what other people think? Or a rising star who cares deeply about design? Or would you rather build structures than design them? This architecture-nerd turned the hallmarks of your favorite starchitects into a fun BuzzFeed quiz. Take it now and find out which starchitect you are. TAKE THE […]

Architecture And Design

November 11, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Thousands of New Apartments Coming to LIC; Bryant Park’s Mallification

A map of all the new residential towers going up in Long Island City around Queens Plaza and Court Square. [DNA Info] The mallification of Bryant Park. [NYO] The tiniest development lot in the city will house a five-story building. [TRD] The site of a Mobil station in Downtown Brooklyn has hit the market for […]

Real Estate Trends

November 11, 2014

Stamberg Aferiat Update a 200-Year-Old Farmhouse Using Japanese Palace Architecture

Stamberg Aferiat + Associates was given quite the challenge–to bring together their client's love of Japanese palace architecture, their large-scale modern art collection and the existing architecture of a 200-year-old farmhouse, all while respecting and enhancing the property's 32 acres with two ponds and wooded islands. The resulting Sycamore Creek house maintains the feel and scale of the farmhouse from its primary vantage point, but incorporates Japanese palace architecture to create dynamic spaces among the original structure and a new addition.
More details on the house ahead

Architecture And Design

November 11, 2014

Beautiful Upper East Side Fairytale Mansion Now $2M Less

The fairy tale of New York City is constantly unfolding, and this one-of-a-kind Upper East Side townhouse will surely set the scene for a romantic urban happily ever after. This home, originally built in 1893 by A. B. Ogden and Son, is located at 5 East 93rd Street, a stone's throw away from 5th Avenue and Central Park. Within the last few years the entire property was completely restored, and the elaborate detailing that went into the design of this home is immaculate. The listing price for this property is $17.95 million—and yep, if you’ve been following, it's dropped almost $2 million from its February listing price.
READ MORE

November 11, 2014

Nomadic Designer Stephanie Hornig’s Camp Daybed Is a Sleeping Bag on Legs

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Product designer Stephanie Hornig takes inspiration from her own nomadic lifestyle when creating beautifully simple objects. A "citizen of the world," she was born in Austria, studied in Berlin, was trained in Milan–where she worked for renowned Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola–and is now based in London. Hornig's fantastic Camp Daybed is a cozy sleeping bag on legs that pays tribute to hyper-functional camping elements and her own adventurous life on the road.
Learn more about this camping-inspired design

November 11, 2014

Where I Work: Check out Chip Brian’s design empire (and coffee shop) in Long Island City

Chip Brian may look like he's all business, but he's a builder and a Californian with an inclination for all things sustainable. The founder of Design Development NYC (DD), Best & Co. and a new and experimental venture called Neue Atelier, Chip has managed to build a creative empire that, luckily for his busy clients, is a one-stop design/build shop that brings architecture, renovation and furnishings under one roof. We recently stopped by his Long Island City space where he gave us the grand tour of the studio.
Inside the studio here

November 11, 2014

POLL: Is Ridgewood, Queens the New Williamsburg, Brooklyn?

You’ve probably heard of “Quooklyn” by now, the term recently coined by the New York Times to refer to the “next big thing” neighborhood of Ridgewood, Queens, which has also been referred to as Ridgewick. Back in August, 6sqft profiled the ‘hood, noting that it’s “a smart alternative to its headline-stealing North Brooklyn neighbors, Bushwick and Williamsburg, for anyone looking […]

Uncategorized

November 11, 2014

2,000 More Bioswales Will Help NYC Absorb Stormwater

What's a bioswale? (We know that's what you're saying to yourself.) It's a curbside garden built to absorb stormwater. The city currently has about 255 of them, but will be installing an additional 2,000 throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to prepare for the possibility of more intense storms in the future. Not only will the bioswales absorb an estimated 200 million gallons of stormwater each year, but they'll therefore mitigate pollution in the Bronx River, Flushing Bay, Gowanus Canal, Jamaica Bay and Newtown Creek.
READ MORE

<b>Home and Away: Is Airbnb a Threat to the Affordable Housing Market?</b>

Photo courtesy of Airbnb via Facebook.

November 10, 2014

Home and Away: Is Airbnb a Threat to the Affordable Housing Market?

By Michelle Cohen

Controversial room-sharing startup Airbnb, one of the most visible players in what is being called the “sharing economy,” has recently awakened the innovation vs. regulation argument in all the usual ways–and a few new ones, including the accusation that these short-term rentals are depleting the already-scarce affordable housing stock in pricey metro areas like San Francisco and New York City.
What the latest data reveals–and what's being done about it

Urban Reviewer: A New Map Tool Reveals NYC’s Vacant Lots Ready for Revitalization

New York City is home to some of the world's most spectacular parks, and though we may pride ourselves on these well-tended green spaces, more than a handful of neighborhoods don't see more than a single tree for every 60-foot stretch of concrete. Enter 596 Acres, a grassroots land access nonprofit looking to change all of this with the Urban Reviewer. Developed with the help of a team of volunteer researchers, urban planners and designers, this new online tool allows anyone to view the staggering amount of publicly-owned lots that once had an urban renewal plan in the pipeline but were scrapped due to bureaucracy. By mapping out all of the vacant spaces across the city, 596 hopes that we as a community can take a top-down approach to turning these urban blights into public gardens, play lots, and spaces where people can “co-create.”
Find out more here

Policy

November 10, 2014

Real Estate Wire: What Will Manhattan’s Skyline Look Like in 2018?

A fantastic projection of what Manhattan’s skyline could look like in 2018. Things are getting very tall and crowded, to say the least. [CityRealty] A month after launching sales, a quarter of the Beekman Residence’s 68 condos are under contract for an average price of $2,200 per square foot. [TRD] Research who your future neighbors will be. [NYT] The Coney Island […]

Real Estate Trends

<b>Quooklyn: The Rise of Ridgewood and Why Your Friends Will be Moving There</b>

Photo © Cameron Baylock

November 10, 2014

Quooklyn: The Rise of Ridgewood and Why Your Friends Will be Moving There

By Michelle Cohen

Among neighborhoods primed to be the next untapped frontier, Ridgewood isn’t a newcomer. This low-key community on the western border of Queens has seen a steady migration of L-train riders, including the young and restless fleeing Williamsburg and professionals looking for a safe, accessible, quiet ‘hood to call home. In New York City, where every square foot vies for “next big thing” status, Ridgewood is a smart alternative to its headline-stealing North Brooklyn neighbors, Bushwick and Williamsburg, for anyone looking to invest in an up-and-coming residential area.
More on the rise of Ridgewood this way

November 10, 2014

Architect Steven Harris Builds a Floating Staircase to Heaven in This Tribeca Loft Renovation

Made possible by handiwork from the firm Steven Harris Architects, the design and luxury of this Tribeca loft renovation are magnificent. The entirety of the project included the renovation of a huge penthouse located in a converted 1930s office building into a dream home for one family with three teenagers and no budget constraints. What emerged was this multi-level unit that occupies the 27th and 28th floors with nearly 8,000 square feet of living space. The property features a self-contained guest house, a new glass and teak beam rooftop (which also doubles as a recreation room), and fabulous views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. However, within all of this architectural glory our favorite detail is the elegant floating staircase that climbs up the living room wall and almost into the clouds.
READ MORE

November 10, 2014

Ingenious Vello Bike Folds Up for Easy Commuting

Admit it; we've all rolled our eyes at the person taking up four spots on a rush hour subway car with their bulky bicycle. And while we applaud their eco-friendly commuting habits, we admit it can be a little frustrating when we're running late for work. Enter the Vello Bike to save the day. The lightweight, handmade folding bike’s 20-inch wheels (as opposed to traditional 26- or 28-inch wheels) are perfect for gaining speed, but also save space on crowded public transportation or when packed away in luggage. The bicycle features high-performance, top-end features not typically found in folding bikes, and it’s built to sustain various terrains (think cobblestone streets in the Meatpacking District or rocky hills during an upstate weekend camping adventure). Another detail that has us smitten with Vello? The bikes come equipped with unique QR codes that link to riders’ online profiles and help locate them if stolen.
READ MORE

November 10, 2014

Warby Parker Creates Upper East Side Literary Map

You might have noticed that hipster eyeglass emporium Warby Parker took over the former Lascoff Drugs store on Lexington Avenue and East 82nd Street. The community is quite satisfied with their thoughtful reuse of the historic pharmacy, and in return, the company seems to be very in tune with the neighborhood of their latest outpost. Warby's latest foray into the world of the Upper East Side is a map of famous literary locations, from the Barbizon Hotel, fictionalized as the Amazon in Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, to Eloise's home at the Plaza Hotel.
More on the map here

Celebrities

November 10, 2014

‘Orange is the New Black’ Actress Alysia Reiner Renovates Historic Harlem Townhouse

By Alyssa Alimurung

This Harlem townhouse on 128th Street may look like a sunny respite now, but back in 2007 when actress Alysia Reiner and her husband David Alan Basche bought it, the building was nothing but an abandoned space with some dusty (but beautiful) brick walls. Armed with MontesBuild Green Street Construction and their vision to turn it into […]

November 10, 2014

Actor Tate Donovan Buys $1.8M Chelsea Condo

By Annie Doge

You probably recognize actor and director Tate Donovan from The O.C., 24: Live Another Day, and the short-lived Hostages (and as the former fiancé of both Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock). And now you might be running into him in Chelsea. According to city records published today, Donovan purchased a $1,775,000 condo at 428 West […]

November 10, 2014

Luxury Hudson Square Loft with Multiple Decks Asks $11 Million

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

It’s hard to believe this customizable penthouse at 481 Greenwich Street has been having a rough time on the market since January 2013. The striking duplex, asking $10.75 million, is the definition of luxury loft living in one of downtown Manhattan’s hottest new neighborhoods, no less. There are quite a few details that set this loft apart from the rest, but we’ll start with the sheer enormity of its size. We’re talking 4,500 square feet of interior space and an additional 3,000 square feet of multi-level rooftop terrace. Add to that floor-to ceiling windows and Hudson River views and you just might find yourself experiencing love at first sight.
More photos inside

Distinctive Homes

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10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

VIEW ALL

November 9, 2014

Tsao & McKown’s Half-Buried Home Tackles the Human Desire for Open and Private Living Space

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown, partners of Tsao & McKown, designed a stunning minimalist home in Wainscott, New York–a community planned by Richard Meier. The Sagaponac House was created for a hypothetical client, and due to an alteration to the terrain the home is partially underground. This roots it in the landscape while offering both privacy and openness toward the young forest around it.
Learn more about this half-buried home

Architecture And Design

November 8, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

We bring you our second installment of ‘Living in the Sky’, a round up of all the residential skyscrapers, supertalls, and highrises set to change our skyline. From the 1930s to ’50s Automats were a New York City dining staple for a hard-working lunch crowd, a modernist icon for a boundless machine-age future. We take a look back at the […]

Uncategorized

Neighborhood Revival: Brooklyn’s Columbia Street on a Comeback

Image: rutlo cc

November 8, 2014

Neighborhood Revival: Brooklyn’s Columbia Street on a Comeback

By Bonnie Clark

It’s not a shocker that some Brooklyn neighborhoods are outselling their Manhattan counterparts. What’s a bit of a surprise is that the Columbia Street Waterfront District, a quirky 22-block enclave wedged between Red Hook and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is one of them. Until recently, Columbia Street was known as a far-flung and largely forgotten strip that fell victim to Robert Moses’s highway expansion project—the BQE—which, when built on a below-ground slice of Hicks Street in 1957, severed the area from the rest of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, breaking up what was then “South Brooklyn” into distinct neighborhoods.
More on Columbia Street's Comeback

November 7, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Takes Us Inside His Architectural World

By Susan Cohen

From an early age, architect Mark Stumer was practicing skills needed for his future craft. He engaged with the world of design through drawing, admiring buildings in Manhattan, and even studying lobbies and courtyards. It's fair to say that Mark wanted to be an architect before he even knew what one was, or what the job entailed. Genetics likely played a role as his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all in construction. For almost 35 years, Mark and his partner Thomas Mojo have served as principals of Mojo Stumer & Associates, an architectural firm known for their modern designs and incorporation of architecture and interior design. The firm has received numerous accolades, and recently added another AIA Award to their collection. We recently spoke with Mark about his life-long architectural passion.
Read our interview with Mark here

November 7, 2014

Debra Messing Buys $5.5M Upper East Side Apartment

By Annie Doge

Her famous Will & Grace character may have lived on the Upper West Side, but Debra Messing is crossing the park for a new home at 3 East 84th Street. According to city records filed today, the actress purchased a $5.45 million co-op at the building. The four-bedroom unit is just a half block from Central Park and boasts 10-foot ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, Juliette balcony, and charming country kitchen.
Check out Messing's new digs here

November 7, 2014

Songpa Micro-Housing: An Apartment That Adjusts to Your Relationship Status

Breaking up is hard to do, especially in New York where shacking up saves you big bucks. And other than mending a broken heart, the worst part is finding a new apartment in a pinch and the dreaded division of belongings. But what if you could just throw a wall in between you and your ex and call it a day? A new design for small-scale housing communities does just that. Songpa Micro-Housing, named for the district of Seoul in which it's located, is a mixed-use building designed by SsD Architecture, a firm based in New York and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has 14 units that can be combined and rearranged to fit lifestyle changes. So, two lovebirds can rent a place together and if it doesn't work out, they can simply separate the units.
Find out more about the adjustable housing

November 7, 2014

Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look

By Ondel Hylton

An updated rendering of a ground-up, mixed-use tower along the south side of Bryant Park has been revealed on HFZ Capital Group's website. The storied site at 20 West 40th Street was acquired by HFZ after Fortieth St. Partners defaulted on a $44 million loan back in 2010. According to HFZ's project page, the development will include a 5-star hotel, restaurant and bar, and residential condominiums. Construction permits filed last month specify that the hotel-design experts Stonehill & Taylor are the architects of record.
Additional details on the project

November 7, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Printhouse Lofts Development Sells Again; Downsizing Luxury Units

Luxury condo developers are turning to smaller sized units in the face of record high land values and limited large sites. [WSJ] Is it real or is it a rendering? For those who think they have the eye, take this quiz. [WSJ] Clarion Partners has acquired the Printhouse Lofts development in Williamsburg from Greystone for […]

Real Estate Trends

November 7, 2014

Cleverly Designed Noho Loft Is Inspired by the Japanese Bento Box

Making space for all of your things is a constant challenge when living in New York City, and efficient storage is a valuable commodity (any seasoned New Yorker would agree). That's why this cleverly designed Noho loft, inspired by the neatly-packed Japanese bento box, has caught our attention. Koko, the architecture firm responsible for the delicious design, was approached by friends (and now clients) to revamp their 1,400 square foot loft into a space capable providing for the needs of a growing family.
See how everything fits into place

Distinctive Homes

November 7, 2014

Tenement Talks: Learn About Lowline’s Past and the Underground Park That May One Day Fill It

Ever since architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch announced their plan to turn a forgotten trolley terminal below Delancey Street into an underground park, design enthusiasts, urban planners, locals, celebs, and, well, just about everyone who’s caught wind of it has been waiting in anticipation for what’s to come. The push to make this cool concept […]

November 7, 2014

Daily Link Fix: A Mini High Line May Arrive at JFK; How Fast the Elevators Go in the World’s Tallest Buildings

Jet Blue terminal at JFK wants to replicate a small-scale version of the High Line atop its new extension for international arrivals. More at the New York Times. The John’s of 12th Street documentary provides a peek into the historic East Village restaurant that was once a favorite of Lucky Luciano and now is often a […]

Uncategorized

November 7, 2014

Award-Winning Playwright Bathsheba Doran Buys a Skylit Clinton Hill Loft for $1.3M

It looks like British playwright Bathsheba Doran is firmly planting roots in Brooklyn with the purchase of a beautiful new loft in Clinton Hill. According to city records, the critically-acclaimed writer (who also penned season three of Boardwalk Empire) has just purchased a home at 334 Grand Avenue for $1.3 million. The lovely two-bedroom loft sits within a classic carriage house and could easily be the setting of one of Doran's riveting works. The home is naturally lit with numerous skylights punctuating almost every room, and for those peaceful moments spent contemplating life and work, this charming abode comes with its own private deck hugged by lush trees—led to, of course, by a spiral staircase. Could this loft get any cuter?
Tour this bright and beautiful apartment here

November 7, 2014

Bush Terminal Piers Park Opens on the Sunset Park Waterfront

Sunset Park has gotten people's attention in recent months–ours included–thanks to an influx of creative and commercial opportunities, as well as the major Industry City development. Located in the former Bush Terminal, the 16-building, 6.5 million-square-foot complex is being remodeled with the intent of creating “a dynamic 21st century innovation and manufacturing community that balances existing manufacturing tenants with those centered on creative and innovation economy fields.” And adjacent to the site is Liberty View Industrial Plaza, an eight-story, 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse that will offer work space. These waterfront developments are touting Sunset Park as a walk-to-work neighborhood, and now residents will have a new park to stroll through on their way in to the office. Bush Terminal Piers Park opened this week after being in the works since the '90s. Extending from 45th to 50th Streets along the waterfront, Brooklyn's newest park sits atop a former toxic waste site, but was cleaned up over the past decade and now offers an esplanade overlooking tide ponds and restored wetlands.
More on the park and its surrounding neighborhood

Architecture And Design

November 7, 2014

Masterful Oliver Cope Renovation in Lenox Hill Asks $10 Million

There’s an exquisite new listing at 314 East 69th Street, asking $9.75 million. This remarkable townhome’s owners clearly spared no expense renovating the space, commissioning award-winning architect Oliver Cope for the job. His signature classic style suits this Lenox Hill house beautifully, and the final result is a spectacular home that is likely to impress even the most discerning prospective buyer.
Take a closer look, here

Distinctive Homes

November 6, 2014

New York City’s Residential Skyscraper Boom: Living in the Sky Part II

By Ondel Hylton

You've probably realized that New York is in the midst of a skyscraper boom, but if the ubiquitous scaffolding and sidewalk detours haven't given it away, we bring you further proof — with part two of our series detailing the tallest residential towers set to rise high above the city, forever changing New York's skyline. Compared to the previous 26 projects — the tallest of the tall that included ultra-luxury and super-tall towers such as 432 Park Avenue and 125 Greenwich Street — this second batch is composed of smaller buildings ranging from 500 to 700 feet tall and features greater geographical diversity and lots more rentals. With developers scouring the city for less expensive areas to assemble properties, these often-controversial projects are slated to rise in some of our more human-scaled 'hoods such as East Harlem, South Street Seaport, and Williamsburg.
Will they all get built? Unlikely, but in any case here's our list

November 6, 2014

Lenox Hill Townhouse Near Andy Warhol’s Last Residence Asks $14.5M

Superstar broker Ryan Serhant has just listed a five-story townhouse at 56 East 66th Street, asking $14.49 million. This multi-family home has a lot going for it with a prime gold coast location, beautiful original details, and the potential to become a colossal 8,032-square-foot single-family conversion. So grab your architect and a little imagination because this prewar pad is just waiting to become somebody’s dream home.
See what else this mega-home has to offer

Distinctive Homes

November 6, 2014

Artist Transforms Decrepit Woodstock Property into a Psychedelic Playground and Home

We know Woodstock, New York is an upstate haven for creative types, but we still had to look twice when we saw this rainbow-colored house gracing its woodsy landscape. Artist Kat O'Sulllivan, also know as Katwise, is the mastermind behind the psychedelic transformation of this barn-home. When she first purchased the property it was a decrepit looking house from the 1840s, far from the graphic masterpiece that it is today. The exterior of her home boasts a vibrant spectrum of colors and patterns, and the interior is equally spectacular and whimsical.
Take a look around the colorful abode

Architecture And Design

November 6, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Four Floors of a Brooklyn Office Building Up for $100M; Effort to Storm-Proof 70K NYC Buildings

The top four floors of a six-story Downtown Brooklyn building have hit the market for $100M. The property, located at 180 Livingston Street, comes with 165,000 square feet of fully leased office space and the potential to add another 140,000 square feet, possibly for residential use. [Crain’s] The Federal Emergency Management Agency will look into storm-proofing 70,000 NYC buildings. […]

Real Estate Trends

The 74

201 East 74th Street

Lenox Hill

Gracious Upper East Side condos with Central Park and skyline views

2 beds starting at $3,380,000
3 beds starting at $4,850,000
5 beds starting at $11,950,000

Learn More

Fulton Center via Grimshaw Architects

November 6, 2014

Fulton Center Subway Station to Open This Monday with Its Impressive Oculus

It's a busy couple of weeks for the Financial District. On Monday, Condé Nast moved in to One World Trade Center, and this coming Monday, November 10th, at 5:00pm, the Fulton Center subway station will finally open. The new station, which connects ten subway lines, was first conceived in 2002 as part of downtown revitalization efforts following 9/11, but also because the station had needed improvements for decades. It was initially supposed to open in 2007, but funding hurdles and escalating costs delayed the progress. More recently, Hurricane Sandy and systems testing problems pushed back the opening further. But the $1.4 billion transit hub is now ready to welcome commuters and dazzle them with its giant 120-foot-tall oculus.
Take an advance look inside Fulton Center

November 6, 2014

KAPOW! A Punching-Bag Keyboard for the Disgruntled Cubicle Worker

We've made it past hump day but now here we are counting down the seconds until the clock strikes six. For those who find themselves grumbling over long days and irksome coworkers, this amazing punching-bag keyboard by German design studio Bless is exactly what you need to relieve some of that work-induced stress.
We've got a video of the keyboard being used here

November 6, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Makes Journey to NYC; Light-Up Loaves of Bread Run on Batteries, Aren’t Edible

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an 85-foot Norway Spruce, is on its way to Midtown. The Daily News has great photos of the tree being cut down in Hemlock Township, Pennsylvania. Who doesn’t love a good loaf of bread? Even if it’s not edible. Japanese designer Yukiko Morita created Pampshades so we can all light […]

Uncategorized

November 6, 2014

BKSK Proposes an Undulating Glass Topper for the Landmarked Tammany Hall

The landmarked Tammany Hall at 44 Union Square East could be getting a modern makeover in the form of a restored facade, brand new storefront, 27,000 square feet of office space, and, most notably, a two-story glass dome topper that would bring the height of the building up to 85 feet. BKSK Architects presented their plans to gut and revamp the historic building this week to the Community Board 5’s Landmarks Committee. And though no one could argue with the design's glassy allure, board members were otherwise not all that thrilled.
Find out more here

History

November 6, 2014

Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Will Go for a Jaw-Dropping $26 Million