October 30, 2014

Construction Halted on Karim Rashid’s Harlem Condo After Buddha Statue Gets Decapitated

Karim Rashid's condo at 329 Pleasant Avenue just can't seem to win. Weeks ago, the designer was forced to scrap the building's cyan and magenta color scheme for a more subdued palette, and now DNA Info reports that the city has issued a partial stop-work order on the building. The halting of construction comes after the city received complaints from neighbors that their foundations were being damaged by digging and careless workers. But the greatest victim in all of this? How about this Buddha statue which was decapitated by a construction worker.
More on the drama
October 30, 2014

POLL: Would You Live Next to a Cemetery?

In the spirit of Halloween, yesterday we took a look at whether or not living near a cemetery affects real estate prices in New York. Apparently, on average, homes close to cemeteries were slightly smaller, but sold for more due to a higher cost per square foot. And though this is what the research suggests, […]

October 30, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Floating Pool Could Happen Soon; Toxic Gowanus Canal Is Quite Photogenic

Slate sits down with Jake Dell, the 27-year-old heir to Katz’s Delicatessen, to talk about how the world-famous establishment has stayed in business against the odds. The floating +Pool proposed for the East River is closer to realty than you think. More on Dwell. Should we call it pollution photography? Business Insider showcases strikingly beautiful […]

October 30, 2014

Tour the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead and Cemetery, Queens’ Oldest Private Residence

In a world where you can virtually tour real estate listings, it's nice to know that the good, old-fashioned house tour hasn't gone out of style. And this Saturday, one of the oldest homes in Queens is opening its doors for a tour of its refurbished interior, exceptional gardens, and historic cemetery. The Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead in East Elmhurst was built circa 1656 by Abraham Riker, an early settler of New Amsterdam. Its current owner Marion Duckworth Smith still lives in the home, which makes the property the oldest private residence in the borough. She and her late husband Michael Smith began restoring the home in 1980, and since then Smith has offered the occasional tour, giving guests a glimpse into the Riker burial ground, which holds the remains of 132 descendants, the interior living areas, and the picturesque gardens, which include a gazebo and workshop designed to look like a gingerbread house.
More on the house's history and the upcoming tour
October 30, 2014

Bruce Willis Buys $12 Million, 22-Acre Site in Bedford, NY

Lots of Hollywood celebrities are making waves in Bedford, New York this week. Just after it was reported that Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones sold their home in the woodsy Westchester town for $7.5 million, in turn closing on a nearby property for $11 million, it's now making headlines that Bruce Willis has dropped $12 million on two Bedford parcels totaling 22.32 acres. The actor has been very busy with real estate lately. He recently listed his Sun Valley ski house and Beverly Hills estate and bought a Central Park West apartment. Willis and his wife Emma Heming will now get to enjoy the 8,000-square-foot, shingle-style home, as well as the adjoining property's antique house and two renovated guest cottages.
Take a look at Bruce's Bedford digs here
October 29, 2014

Forget Showrooms, Developers Turn to Oculus Rift to Virtually Immerse Buyers in Pricey Properties

Though more and more house hunters are back to buying off of blueprint in this hot real estate market, that hasn't stopped developers from tricking out their sales offices with hopes of trumping the competition. Ultra-detailed scaled models line spaces, and the priciest of couches and countertops fill life-sized mockups blocks away from the actual address. More recently, buildings like 50 West have built out entire theaters wrapped with screens intent on showing buyers the panoramic city views their shelling out millions for. Clearly, cost is not a concern. But watch out, there's a new group on the scene ready to really shake things up. Architecture visualization firm ArX Solutions has turned to a piece of virtual reality tech that everyone seems to be talking about: Oculus Rift. With their specially designed virtual reality tours, clients can see exactly what its like to walk through a home with all their sensations engaged. Cool? Absolutely. But this tour doesn't come cheap. Like the lofty homes it features, a trip with Oculus Rift rings in at a jaw-dropping $95,000.
Find out more about taking an Oculus Rift real estate tour
October 29, 2014

Bike Activists Demonstrate the Absurd Size of Cars for Single Drivers

In New York, where a parking spot can cost up to $1 million, it's important to realize just how much space one single car really takes up. As part of the 2014 edition of European Mobility Week, a group of Latvian activists got this message across with some truly out-of-the-box methods. The activists are part of the advocacy group Let's Bike It, and the goal for their recent project was to create a visual commentary about the space taken up by cars on a typical road. In doing so, the group fabricated bamboo structures that resembled the shape of a car and mounted them to their bicycle frames. They then road their cycle-monstrosities through the streets to demonstrate the absurdity of operating large cars to transport a single person.
More on the activism here
October 29, 2014

Crowdfunded MAID Microwave Suggests Meals Based on Your Eating and Fitness Habits

That line about New Yorkers using their ovens as shoe storage is getting pretty old (thanks Sex and the City), but a new smart microwave may just make it viable to ditch the stove for good. Called MAID (Make All Incredible Dishes), the product is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter by creator SectorQube, and not only can it perfectly nuke your meals, but it can suggest what dishes you'll like based on your cooking habits and fitness. MAID is 1.3 cubic feet and provides access to a crowdsourced recipe store, gesture and voice commands, and a smartphone app that will alert you when dinner's up. The recommendation feature, definitely the highlight of the product, will offer meal options to complement your diet as well as suggest a run if you just indulged in a 2,000-calorie, carb-loaded pizza.
More details on the smart microwave
October 29, 2014

Greenwich Village Townhouse Boasts Cool Rooftop Office and Personal Secret Garden

Simply put, this historic Greenwich Village property, designed by BW Architects, is amazing. A sophisticated balance of design elements that blend the old with the new are incorporated throughout the 4000-square-foot home. And not only is it beautiful, but the 1840s townhome underwent an extensive reconstruction project, completed in 2012, that made it the first townhouse in downtown Manhattan to earn a LEED for Homes Gold rating. And have we mentioned its incredible rooftop office?
Check out the home
October 29, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Memorial Events for the Second Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy; A Modest Proposal for NYC Ambassador Taylor Swift

Pix11 has rounded up memorial events in New York and New Jersey to mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. It’s National Cat Day! And in honor of the occasion Uber’s UberKITTENS will deliver an ASPCA cat to your office for 15 minutes. More on Business Insider. In today’s Daily News, Jeremiah Moss, of Jeremiah’s […]

October 29, 2014

It Will Cost $32 to Visit One World Trade Center’s Observatory

On Monday we learned that tourism is predicted to bring in one quarter, roughly $53 million, of the One World Trade Center's annual revenue by 2019. And now the much-talked-about ticket price to visit the three-floor observation deck of the tower, known as One World Observatory, has been revealed. It will cost $32 for an adult to visit the observatory when it opens in the spring of 2015.
More details and renderings of the observatory ahead
October 29, 2014

Unique Historic Penthouse with Intriguing Past Asks $7 Million

The penthouse of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious and unique landmark apartment houses has just hit the market, asking $7.25 million. The one-of-a-kind pad was formerly the squash-tennis court of Kingdon Gould, grandson of the infamous multimillionaire financier Jay Gould, who notably fell from grace for manipulating gold and railroad stocks. Kingdon’s custom-built quarters consisted of a triplex penthouse with a fourth-level painting studio for his mother, and 20 rooms, including a double-height music room.
Take a look inside, here
October 28, 2014

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty! She Turns 128 Today

Every day Lady Liberty stands tall holding high her torch in celebration of our nation's freedom. Since today is Miss Liberty's 128th birthday, we thought it would only be appropriate to take some time out of our busy schedules to return the favor. Join us for a brief look back at some of Miss Liberty's most notable moments throughout history. Happy birthday Lady Liberty, and here we go!
Fun facts on Miss Liberty here
October 28, 2014

Will Bill Ackman Be Able to Pull off a $90M Condo Flip at One57?

It's true that One57′s first flip saw a $3.5 million profit in just five months, but that unit sold for $34 million the second time around. A selling price of more than $90 million is a different story--and that's exactly what hedge fund manager William (Bill) Ackman is hoping to achieve. In a profile in the Times on Sunday, Ackman was revealed as the buyer of the $90 million penthouse at the luxury building, which is sure to see its share of flips. But he also shared that he has no intention of ever living in the apartment. He'll stay with his wife and daughters at their current home in the Beresford and use the penthouse as a "fun" investment opportunity for himself and some good friends, perhaps hosting a few parties there in the meantime.
More on the planned flip here
October 28, 2014

The Iconic Black Moleskine Notebook Is Turning Red to Raise Awareness for AIDS

The black Moleskine notebook is one of the most recognizable products in the stationary world, but the iconic pad is getting a brightly colored update for a good cause. The special edition #oneREDday collection is a partnership between Moleskine and (RED) to raise awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS. The collection includes a hard cover notebook, 2015 planner, red click pen, and luggage tag, all of which feature the iconic elastic Moleskine band in red. Five percent of every purchase goes to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Additionally, the #oneREDday campaign asks people to use their notebooks to answer the question: If you had just one day to raise awareness around the fight against AIDS, what would you do and how would you do it? Selected illustrations and photos tagged with the #oneREDday hashtag are featured on the official campaign site.
More details on #oneREDday
October 28, 2014

Elegant Chelsea Loft Features Storybook Detailing and Peaceful Garden

New to the market is this beautifully designed two-bedroom loft located at 161 West 15th Street in Chelsea. The property is nestled in the corner of the Jensen Lewis Building, one of Chelsea's best prewar loft buildings, and boasts a slew of luxury features. Huge windows, 12-foot vaulted ceilings and a peaceful garden make this home the perfect escape from the hustle of the New York City's streets.
READ MORE
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
October 28, 2014

I-Beam Design’s Pixelated Chelsea Renovation is Made From 20,000 LEGO Bricks

We all love and played with LEGO when we were kids, and this New York loft apartment is just another great example of how versatile the colorful Danish bricks are. The story begins when the son of Melissa Marks and Vicente Caride got too old not to have a door on his bedroom, so his parents decided to renovate their Chelsea loft in an innovative and playful way. I-Beam Design was called to do the job, and together with LEGO artist Sean Kenney they created an amazing pixelated new stair railing and wall using 20,000 LEGO bricks.
Learn more about this pixelated home
October 28, 2014

Daily Link Fix: How to Put Midtown’s Empty Pied-a-Terres to Good Use; 3D-Printed Photos for People without Vision

Brick Underground suggests nine ways to put Midtown’s empty pied-a-terres to good use. An 85-year-old artist has painted more than 85 NYC streetscapes, documenting history by chronicling buildings and blocks that are facing the wrecking ball. More on the Times. Taylor Swift is the “Ambassador” of New York City. Business Insider has info on the, shall we […]

October 28, 2014

Sportscaster Marv Albert Gets $15M for His Lincoln Square Apartment

Famed sportscaster Marv Albert has found a buyer for his sprawling penthouse located at 150 Columbus Avenue. The NYDN reports the "Voice of Basketball" and his wife, former ESPN producer Heather Albert, just inked a contract that points to a $14.9 million deal. The couple originally purchased the 3,553-square-foot penthouse back in 1996 for just $2.39 million, calling it their home for years before heading down to Tribeca—and turning this pretty sweet profit. The penthouse was listed just five months ago.
Inside the home
October 28, 2014

Cindy Gallop Puts Her Stefan Boublil-Designed “Black Apartment” Back on the Market for $6M

New York City’s most famous bachelor pad—ironically owned by a woman—is back after being taken off the market earlier this year. The distinctive $5.995 million loft at 213 23rd Street, formerly the men’s locker room of the first YMCA in the U.S., was purchased by businesswoman Cindy Gallop in 2006 for $1.5 million. With an additional million, and the help of Stefan Boublil of interior design firm The Apartment, she gave the space a dramatic makeover, stating she wanted to feel like she was in a Shanghai nightclub. Its resulting “lacquered Chinese box” vibe has earned the Black Apartment a featuring role in Law & Order SVU, Notorious B.I.G’s “Nasty Girl” video, and many photo shoots. The notable home has undergone quite a transformation, rendering it practically unrecognizable as it prepares for a new owner, but let’s take a moment to admire its former interior in all its glitzy splendor.
See more of this unique pad, here
October 27, 2014

Lights, Camera, Annoyance: Why NYC Is the New Hollywood and Not Everyone’s Happy About It

Film crews on your block: Yet another thing New Yorkers love to hate, whether it’s a case of grumble-brag or a genuine inconvenience. Some people love the opportunity to watch their favorite shows being made (and maybe get a peek at their favorite stars) and argue that it boosts the local economy. Others give the whole gig a big two thumbs down.
Find out who’s filming, where and when–and how you can make the most of it.
October 27, 2014

Gramercy Park Hotel Hits the Market and Could Fetch $260M

Get ready for another blockbuster sale. Following in the footsteps of Hilton who just sold off the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to Chinese Insurance Company Anbang for $1.95 billion, Aby Rosen and Michael Fuchs have put their prized Gramercy Park Hotel on the market. Crain‘s reports that the 186-room, 18-story hotel located at 2 Lexington Avenue […]

October 27, 2014

Has the Failed B2 Tower Ruined Large-Scale Prefab Housing for the City?

Prefab housing has taken the world by storm in the last years, lauded for its low cost and flexibility, with buildings ranging from single-family homes to art schools popping up across the globe. But not until Forest City Ratner's plan for B2 BKLYN have we seen an attempt to build a large-scale module tower topping out at 32-stories—the world's tallest prefab tower. It's well known that the project has been a big flop; construction was far slower than originally projected and was halted in August amidst disputes between the builder, Skansa USA, and the developer, Forest City Ratner. In September lawsuits went flying, both pointing fingers as to why the whole thing failed. Forest City blamed the execution of the plan, while Skanska said the design was flawed. Fast-forward to today, and the work on the tower has been shut down with only 10 stories erected. A recent WSJ article looks at where the whole thing went awry, and more importantly: Is pre-fab construction even feasible at such a scale?
READ MORE
October 27, 2014

Steven H​oll’s ‘Writing With Light House’ Plays with the Light That Filters through Its Wooden Skin

American architect and watercolorist Steven H​oll was inspired by Jackson Pollock's 1949 'Seven in Eight' paintings when designing this stunning property. Called the 'Writing With Light House', it stands near the former abstract expressionist painter's studio on Long Island and features wide-open interiors brightened with natural light. Boasting a striking linear wooden skin that lets the elements filter through, the power of this design can be best appreciated when the light lines inside play with the spaces throughout the day.
Learn more about this playful wooden house
October 27, 2014

Philippe Is a Skeletal Lamp by Zia Priven Sure to Be the Backbone of Any Room

No, it's not a Halloween decoration. Philippe is a year-round floor lamp that's sure to spice up any room with its eerily glamorous appeal. Created by the lighting designers at Zia Priven, this lamp resembles a skeleton you might find at the doctor's office. The only difference is it's topped with lamp shade and comes finished in silver, bronze, or a natural-looking bone white.
More details on Philippe here
October 27, 2014

West Chelsea Loft Delivers Modern Elegance with Historic Charm

This beautiful three-bedroom, three-bath loft located in Chelsea at 325 West 16th Street is the perfect combination of modern design and classic charm of old New York. The unit was recently renovated and its rich character is highlighted with elegant architectural details including wood beams, wood columns and exposed brick. Its expansive dreamlike floor plan and state-of-the-art chef's kitchen are just the beginning for this home currently listed for $4.25 million.
Inside the Chelsea home here
October 27, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Photos from the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade; Ride a Vintage Train on the 110th Birthday of the Subway

AM New York has plenty of cute pup pics from Saturday’s Halloween dog parade at Tompkins Square Park. The Post unearths five hidden cemeteries across the city. Happy 110th birthday to the NYC subway system! To mark the event, the MTA has commissioned a vintage low-voltage train to ride on the 2/3 line today from 11am […]

October 27, 2014

Renée Zellweger Lists Her Historic East Hampton Home for $4.45M

Believe it or not, this is a story about Renée Zellweger that has nothing to do with her new appearance. The actress has listed her historic East Hampton home for $4.45 million, quite a big increase from the $2.15 million she paid for it in 2003. Located at 30 Egypt Lane, a pretty prestigious street, the circa 1900, 2,000-square-foot farmhouse sits on almost a full acre of land with beautifully landscaped "mature gardens."
Take a look inside and around the grounds here
October 27, 2014

It’s Expected That Tourism Will Bring in 25% of One World Trade Center’s Revenue

On Friday, news broke that anchor tenant Condé Nast will begin its big move in to One World Trade Center on November 3rd. And now we've learned that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, along with the Durst Organization, is predicting that one quarter, roughly $53 million, of the tower's annual revenue will be generated from tourism by 2019. The three-floor observation deck of the tower, known as One World Observatory, is expected to be visited by about 3.5 million people per year. Legends Hospitality LLC, the developer of the observatory, has not yet revealed what it will cost to visit the site, but it's expected to be on par with the Empire State Building, which received $101 million in 2013 from visits to its observatory (it costs $29 per person), 40% of its annual revenue.
Learn more about this prediction and the state-of-the-art observation deck here
October 26, 2014

Watermill Residence is Topped With Wildflowers and Powered by Geothermal Energy

Andrew Berman Architect PLLC is a New York-based practice focused on the realization of unique and finely executed spaces, and the stunning Watermill Residence is not an exception. Created for a family of three generations, it features lovely, light-filled interiors and plenty of outdoors space for enjoying nature. It's made from an elegant combination of wood and polished concrete, is topped by a green roof made from local wildflowers and grasses, and is powered by geothermal energy.
Learn more about this stunning green-roofed residence
October 25, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

If we’re ever going to get a new Penn Station Madison Square Garden will have to move, so a group of urban planners has proposed relocating the arena to a nearby post office. Ghislaine Viñas’ colorful and eclectic loft design seamlessly blends together in Tribeca. Ever wonder about those strange faces on the Woolworth Building? We’ve […]

October 24, 2014

Terra Cotta in New York City: Beautiful Buildings Adorned in Ceramic

Glazed terra cotta (a clay-based ceramic) became a popular architectural material in the United States between the late 1800's and 1930's thanks to being sturdy, relatively inexpensive, fireproof, and easily molded into ornamented detail. Plus, it was easy to make it look like granite or limestone, much more expensive materials. Terra cotta really took off when some of Chicago and New York's great architects, Cass Gilbert, Louis Sullivan, and Daniel H. Burnham, incorporated the material in to their most famous works such as the Woolworth Building, Bayard-Condict Building, and Flatiron Building, respectively. Additionally, Rafael Guastavino adorned many of the great Beaux-Arts masterpieces with his famous terra cotta tiled vaults. There are countless buildings in New York City that owe their elegance to glazed terra cotta, and we've put together a list of some of our favorites.
Explore terra cotta in NYC
October 24, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Scott Liroff Sheds Light on His Century-Old Family-Run Business, City Knickerbocker

Tucked away on the second floor of a building on 11th Avenue and 48th street is City Knickerbocker, Inc., a small lighting business with a long history. Founded in 1906 founded by Adolph Liroff, a Russian immigrant whose trade was converting gasoliers and sconces to electric lamps, this business has lasted for four generations. Today, Scott Liroff, Adolph's great-grandson, proudly carries on the family tradition serving as City Knickerbocker's Vice President. To appreciate Scott's role in both his family and the business, one needs to go back over one hundred years to Brooklyn in the early 20th century. When Adolph's Brooklyn-based business took off, he headed to the city and rented a space on 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. After the Metropolitan Opera rented his light fixtures, Broadway started calling to rent lights too. As early as 1912-1913 City Knickerbocker's primary source of business was rentals. When Adolph's son, Seymour, took over the business in the 1950s, the store provided lighting for shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Milton Berle Show. 6sqft recently spoke with Scott to learn about City Knickerbocker and what it means to carry on a legacy in New York.
Read the en-light-ening interview here
October 24, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Brooklyn Lyceum Sells at Auction; Kiefer Sutherland’s Former Village Townhouse Lists Again for $20M

A new type of post-recession real estate fraud is wreaking havoc on Brooklyn neighborhoods like Canarsie, East New York, and Cypress Hills. [Brooklyn Brief] Landmarked Brooklyn Lyceum sells at auction for $7.6 million. [Brownstoner] Appraiser Jonathan Miller looks at what would happen if we eliminated rent regulation. [Bloomberg] Kiefer Sutherland’s former Steven Gambrel-designed Greenwich Village […]

October 24, 2014

Blaze Makoid’s Elegant Residence is Inspired by Long Island’s 70s Rustic Modernism

This quiet and elegant residence by Blaze Makoid Architecture was created for a father with three children who wanted a house that wasn’t 'extraneous or busy’. Located in Sagaponack, this stylish oceanfront dwelling takes inspiration from two iconic 70s buildings: Tod Williams’ Tarlo House (1979) and architect Norman Jaffe’s Perlbinder House (1970)—the latter credited for bringing 'rustic Modernism' to Eastern Long Island. Named Daniels Lane, this home's simple clean lines are a modern reflection of its client's wishes.
Learn more about this stunning 70s inspired home
October 24, 2014

Karim Rashid Tones Down His Signature Style in the Bedroom with ‘Kosy’

Karim Rashid is well-known for his uninhibited use of color, but his latest design destined for the bedroom takes on a much more muted palette. Although there are no pops of pinks and blues, Rashid's love for the unexpected does show in this striking collection through sensuous curves and a sleek finish that creates for a cozy yet upscale escape for sleep. Called Kosy, this bedroom collection is a combination of wood, leather and glass, in—of all things— grayscale!
More on Rashid's new design here
October 24, 2014

Gorgeous Ditmas Park Craftsman Brings Romance Home for $1.75M

Ditmas Park is like the love song of Brooklyn. Okay well maybe not, but this Craftsman is a seriously romantic piece of property to say the least. The single-family home was built in 1907 and is located at 633 East 19th Street in the recently designated Fisk Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District. The property is currently listed for $1.75 million, and everything from the tiger oak mahogany staircase to the extra large backyard is a beautiful example of what makes Craftsmans so desirable.
See more of the historic home here
October 24, 2014

Billionaire Real Estate Developer Leonard Stern Sells Soho Penthouse for $15M

Leonard Stern, billionaire businessman and real estate developer and namesake of NYU's Stern School of Business, has sold his "ultimate Soho penthouse" for $14,650,000 according to city records released today. In April 2014, a year after Stern originally listed the apartment, New York Magazine released a video tour of the 4,315-square-foot, four-bedroom duplex, revealing everything from a zen solarium to a restaurant-caliber kitchen. Stern bought the penthouse of 459 West Broadway in 2010 for $14,250,000, but the small profit likely won't affect him too much since his net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion.
Check out the billionaire digs and watch the video tour
October 23, 2014

Urban Planners Propose Moving Madison Square Garden to Nearby Post Office

If there's one thing that all New Yorkers can agree on it's that Penn Station is pretty awful. And if we're ever going to get a new home for NJ Transit, Amtrak, and the LIRR, Madison Square Garden will have to move (just don't tell any die-hard Rangers fans that). The Alliance for a New Penn Station, a coalition of the Municipal Art Society and the Regional Plan Association, is proposing in a new report (revealed at this morning's MAS Summit) that the world-famous venue take up residency in the Morgan Post Office and Annex, occupying the block bound by 9th and 10th avenues and 28th and 30th streets. The mail sorting facility site is large enough to accommodate a new state-of-the-art arena and is just a quick walk to Penn Station. The coalition told Capital New York: “Relocating the Garden to this site will provide the city with a new arena and allow for the reconstruction and expansion of Penn Station, each of which can be designed to vastly improve the conditions of the district.”
More on the proposal and renderings of what the new site could look like
October 23, 2014

Accounting for the Strange Faces That Adorn the Woolworth Building (And Other Fun Facts)

The 101-year old Woolworth Building has been in the news quite a bit lately, especially since it was first announced that the top 30 floors would be turned into 34 apartments; one of which is a nine-story penthouse is expected to hit the market for a record $110 million. But the Woolworth has long been at the center of New York life with its storied past and lofty 792-foot height. It cost $13.5 million to erect the tower in 1913, and the building was the world's tallest when it first debuted. Though a number—50 to be exact—have surpassed it in height, the Woolworth Building has remained one of the world's most admired for its detailed and compelling ornamentation. Like other prestigious companies of its time, Frank W. Woolworth wanted something unforgettable and the building's architect, Cass Gilbert, certainly delivered. The tower is filled to the brim with mosaics, stained-glass, golden embellishments and of course tons of those carved faces and figures.
See the faces of the Woolworth building
October 23, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Luxury Tower Rising Along the AirTrain; No Picket Fences for This Generation

Someone is building a luxury residential building next to the AirTrain station. The Crossing, as it’s called, will host 580 units with roof terraces and a 24-hour doorman among other amenities. [DNA Info] “No Picket Fence”. New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s are increasingly looking for appealing rentals as opposed to buying, and developers are […]

October 23, 2014

2.5Âł is a Multifunctional Living Cube for Contemporary Nomadism

2.5³ is Maciej Chmara and Ania Rosinke's proposal for living minimally. The multifunctional space reduces life’s material needs down to the bare essentials and follows ideas of utopian thinking from the 60s and 70s, when many architects and designers were working on modular and mobile living structures. Perfect for small homes or as a functional island within a large loft or warehouse space, this cubic wooden structure will let you sleep, eat, relax and work within its reduced design.
Find out more about this multifunctional space

Our Mission

More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.