Architecture And Design

October 15, 2021

Sales launch at curvy Olympia Dumbo, to be tallest and priciest condo in the neighborhood

The curvy, twisting tower rising in Dumbo launched sales this week, with condos starting at $1.75 million. Developed by Fortis Property Group and designed by Hill West Architects, Olympia Dumbo contains 76 residences ranging from one- to five-bedroom apartments. According to a spokesperson for the project, the building's top-floor penthouses, which will list for $16 million and $15.5 million, could become the neighborhood's most expensive condos ever sold if they sell at the asking prices.
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October 14, 2021

See David Chipperfield’s plans to renovate the historic townhouse at 1014 Fifth Avenue

From October 14 through October 17, cultural organization 1014 will introduce the public to prize-winning architect David Chipperfield's plans for the renovation of an Upper East Side historic and cultural gem at 1014 Fifth Avenue. Built in 1907 and flanked by two 15-story apartment buildings, the Beaux-Arts townhouse faces the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The renowned British architect was chosen in 2020 to design the building's future form after an international competition that included some of the field's most noted names. This weekend “1014 Past and Future” and related programming are taking place as part of Archtober and Open House New York.
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October 13, 2021

Brooklyn Public Library opens new branch under the Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo

At the Brooklyn Public Library's newest branch, reading comes with a view. The library opened the Adams Street Library in Dumbo this week, marking the first new library built in the borough in nearly 40 years and the first branch to open in the neighborhood. Bordering Brooklyn Bridge Park and tucked underneath the Manhattan Bridge, the library has 15-foot windows that face the East River and lower Manhattan skyline.
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October 6, 2021

Yelp and Chasing Paper have a new wallpaper highlighting small businesses in NYC

Yelp has teamed up with home decor brand Chasing Paper to create a series of three wallpaper prints featuring beloved small businesses in San Francisco, NYC, and Austin, with 10 percent of proceeds benefitting a select charity in each city. The New York City print highlights spots like Amy Ruth's, Di Fara Pizza, Jim's Shoe Repair, and Books are Magic, and its sales will support Hot Bread Kitchen. The trio of fun wallpapers was designed by Amanda Giuffre of Noun New York.
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September 30, 2021

A 24-ton stone sphere is hanging in the lobby of Philip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue tower

A massive blue spherical stone now hangs in the lobby of the landmarked office building 550 Madison Avenue, part of a broader project to revitalize Philip Johnson's postmodern gem. The Olayan Group on Wednesday unveiled the renovated space, a project which included preserving the 110-foot arched entry, adding a multi-story window across from the entrance with views through to the new garden, still under construction, and the centerpiece art commission. Designed by artist Alicja Kwade, who had a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's roof garden in 2019, the art installation includes a 24-ton Azul Macaubas stone sphere hanging from ten polished stainless steel chains only 12 feet above the floor.
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September 28, 2021

Mixed-use development Manhattan West officially opens today, revealing restaurants, open space, and more

Following more than 30 years of planning, Brookfield Properties' eight-acre mixed-use development Manhattan West officially opens today. Located on the blocks between 32nd and 33rd Streets and Ninth and Tenth Avenues, the $4.5 billion project serves as a much-needed link on the far west side, bordered by the new Moynihan Train Hall to the east, Hudson Yards to the West, and the High Line to the south. Manhattan West's master plan was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and consists of six buildings--four office, one residential, and one boutique hotel. There's also a 2.5-acre public plaza designed by James Corner Field Operations, as well as a Whole Foods, immersive retail, and tons of restaurants including two from Danny Meyer.
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September 22, 2021

On Washington Heights’ hidden Sylvan Terrace, a modernized wooden rowhouse asks $1.8M

New York City has a few hidden mews sprinkled throughout, one of which is Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights. The one-block cobblestone stretch was originally the carriage drive for the adjacent Morris Jumel Mansion, and in the 1880s, 20 wooden rowhouses were constructed along it to serve as housing for working-class locals. A rare opportunity, the home at number 8 has just hit the market for $1,795,000. The current owner, who bought the property back in 1998 for just $135,000, is designer Tom Givone, who modernized the two-bedroom house to have a rustic-contemporary style that's even been featured in Dwell.
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September 21, 2021

First look at Robert A.M. Stern and Olson Kundig’s new Chelsea condo tower on the Hudson

The renowned teams of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and Olson Kundig have teamed up for a new condo project in Chelsea and ahead of its official launch later this fall, we're getting a first look inside. Located across the street from Hudson River Park at 555 West 22nd Street, The Cortland is a 25-story building with 144 total units. RAMSA designed the exterior of the condo and Olson Kundig handled the interiors, combining their distinguished architecture styles in one impressive waterfront development.
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September 21, 2021

Famed London steakhouse Hawksmoor opens in Gramercy’s historic United Charities Building

"Our job was easy – restore the building to its former glory and use reclaimed building materials and antique lighting to create a restaurant and bar that feel like they really belong in the space," says Huw Gott, co-owner of the NYC outpost of London's popular steakhouse Hawksmoor, referring to its location in Gramercy's historic United Charities Building. The restaurant is located in the landmarked building's grand Assembly Hall, under the original 30-foot vaulted ceiling. It's the perfect place to enjoy one of Hawksmoor's famous dry-aged steaks that are cooked over live charcoal. Ahead, see more of the stunning space and hear about the project firsthand from Gott.
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September 17, 2021

Asking $8.5M, this 100-year-old Bronxville mansion has magical gardens and grand Tudor interiors

Architect Lewis Bowman was raised in Mount Vernon and started his career as a draftsman for McKim, Mead and White. Bowman would go on to become well-regarded for the stately residences he designed in Bronxville, ranging in style from Jacobean to Tudor. He chose the latter style for his personal home in the Westchester commuter suburb, which was built in 1922. The mansion is now on the market for $8,500,000 and it retains all of its grand appeal, from beamed ceilings and oak-paneled walls to hand-carved fireplace mantels and leaded glass diamond windows. And of course, the grounds are truly magical, with hidden paths, tranquil fountains, magical gardens, and a dreamy pool.
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September 15, 2021

Archtober 2021: This year’s best in-person and virtual architecture and design events

A monthlong celebration of architecture and design returns to New York City next month with a mix of virtual and in-person events. Now in its 11th year, the Center for Architecture's Archtober includes a host of events, exhibitions, and expert-led tours and talks, all of which provide a behind-the-scenes look at the buildings, cultural institutions, and public space that make New York, New York. For the second year in a row because of the coronavirus, the festival will feature a combination of in-person and virtual programming, allowing more people than ever to participate. Ahead, find just some of our favorite events happening for the festival, which runs through the month of October.
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September 15, 2021

See the elevated pedestrian pathway that will connect the High Line to Moynihan Train Hall

Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled designs for a 1,200-foot-long elevated pedestrian pathway that will connect the High Line to the recently opened Moynihan Train Hall. The $50 million project will also connect Chelsea with other West Side destinations like Hudson Yards, Manhattan West, Penn Station, and the Javits Center. The plan was first floated by former Governor Andrew Cuomo in January as part of his extremely ambitious agenda to redevelop Midtown West. Under the direction of Governor Hochul, the pathway is expected to be completed by Spring 2023.
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September 14, 2021

Ryan Serhant unveils SERHANT. House NYC, high-tech ‘brokerage of the future’ office in Soho

One year ago, celebrity real estate broker Ryan Serhant launched his own brokerage. Since then, SERHANT. has grown to more than 55 agents and over 30 full-time employees, representing some of NYC's biggest listings, including the current most expensive apartment. The growing firm is now settling into its new home in Soho, a 15,000-square-foot real estate office "designed for the brokerage of the future." Dubbed SERHANT. House NYC, it's located in a four-story cast-iron building on the corner of West Broadway and Broome Street and has been outfitted with Herman Miller and Design Within Reach furniture, Bang & Olufsen speakers, and modern functional spaces like a film studio, podcast studio, client lounge, high-tech conference rooms, and coworking-style space for agents.
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September 14, 2021

Summit One Vanderbilt reveals 1,000-foot-high mirrored art experience

Tickets officially go on sale today for Summit One Vanderbilt, the Midtown East tower's 1,000+ foot observation deck. Previously, we got a look at the two skyboxes that allow guests to stand on completely transparent glass 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, and now developer SL Green has revealed even more of the sky-high attractions, including an all-glass outdoor elevator (yes, even the floor!) that travels up the side of the building to over 1,200 feet. But perhaps most mesmerizing is an art installation called Air created by Kenzo Digital. Covered on three sides, along with the floor and ceiling, in mirrors, the multisensory experience challenges one's perception of space and immerses the guest within the fabric of the skyline. 
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September 13, 2021

Robert A.M. Stern will design affordable Bronx building with 40 apartments for sale

About a month after Robert A.M. Stern's affordable rental building opened in Brooklyn, the renowned architect's firm has been tapped to design another residential development designated for low-income New Yorkers. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week announced a project to bring 40 homeownership opportunities to a new 8-story building in the Bronx, which will be designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and developed in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, Camber Property Group, Almat Urban, and Interboro Community Land Trust. The building, located near Claremont Park, will have apartments that are affordable to families of three earning up to $93,000 annually.
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September 9, 2021

With Norman Foster back as the architect, 2 WTC construction could begin soon

Twenty years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan's World Trade Center complex is nearly complete. But one tower still hasn't got off the ground. After architecture firm changes and financing problems, developer Silverstein Properties said construction is set to begin in the coming months on 2 World Trade Center with a new design from Norman Foster's Foster + Partners. As first reported by Commercial Observer, the developer is close to securing an anchor tenant, which would lead to a construction loan and the start of work within "the next six to 12 months."
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September 8, 2021

World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas National Shrine will be lit for the first time this week

On September 11, 2001, a Greek Orthodox church on Cedar Street was destroyed, resulting in plans to rebuild the structure at a new location on Liberty Street. Construction finally began on this new Santiago Calatrava-designed church, St. Nicholas National Shrine, in 2015, and though there were some hurdles along the way, the domed building will finally be lit for the first time. The church will commence the 20th-anniversary remembrance of 9/11 with a memorial service and the inaugural lighting of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine this Friday evening.
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August 31, 2021

Jean Nouvel’s condo tower 53W53 reveals lavish wellness amenities

The private club and wellness center at Jean Nouvel's residential tower in Midtown West is a work of art. New images of the lavish full-floor space at 53 West 53, which rises adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art, were released this week, unveiling for the first time the club's elegant gym, squash court, golf simulator, saunas, and 65-foot lap pool that is surrounded by a green wall made up of 3,500 plants.
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August 26, 2021

NYC’s famous skinny house hits the market for $5M in Greenwich Village

The townhouse at 75 1/2 Bedford Street has long been known as the narrowest home in all of New York City. The Greenwich Village house is just 9-feet-6-inches wide, and though some accounts say there are actually a couple skinnier buildings, this is the one that's become famous. It's also in part because Edna St. Vincent Millay lived here in the 1920s. Now, this truly unique home, which was built in 1873 in the Dutch style, has hit the market for $4,990,000. And despite its slender frame, it offers three bedrooms, two balconies, a rear patio, and a finished basement.
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August 25, 2021

Hollywood legend Arlene Dahl’s Hudson Valley Victorian hits the market for $5M

Actress Arlene Dahl--who achieved fame in the 1950s for her roles in Journey to the Center of the Earth, Slightly Scarlet, and Three Little Words--and her husband, renowned perfume bottle designer Marc Rosen, bought and restored this beautiful upstate Italianate Victorian 40 years ago. After decades of hosting many star-studded events at the home, including their son Lorenzo Lamas' wedding and an 80th birthday party for Helen Hayes, the couple has decided to list the Sparkill, New York property for $4,950,000. Known as Treetops, it was built in 1859 and has six bedrooms, eight original fireplaces, and plenty of period details.
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August 24, 2021

Take a tour of Untermyer Gardens, one of the world’s finest Persian gardens, just north of NYC

Located just over an hour from Grand Central Terminal on Metro North’s Hudson line, the renowned Untermyer Gardens is a 43-acre historic park in Yonkers that features a Persian Paradise garden, a small amphitheater, a classical pavilion, the “Temple of Love,” and a “Vista” staircase. The park was developed in the early 20th century by philanthropist Samuel Untermyer, who purchased the estate in 1899. For 40 years, Untermyer transformed the sprawling greenery into some of the most acclaimed gardens in the United States, known today as “America’s Greatest Forgotten Garden.” Following his death, the property was not well maintained and fell into disrepair. For the last ten years, the Untermyer Garden Conservancy has worked to restore the site to its former glory and to provide a beautiful public space for all.
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August 24, 2021

East Village home and art studio of late abstract painter Jay Rosenblum hits the market for $4M

Abstract expressionist artist Jay Rosenblum moved into this East Village townhouse at 502 East 11th Street 50 years ago, setting up his studio in the skylit space on the top floor. Though he passed away in 1989 at age 55 from a bike accident (his wife Muriel passed away in September), the home is owned by his daughters, Julia Crane and Maria Rosenblum, according to Mansion Global. Now, for the first time in five decades, they've put the home, which they call "Bohemian rhapsody" for its 1960s/70s vibes, on the market for $3,995,000. Built in 1836, the 4,000-square-foot townhouse is the oldest on the block and is configured as four apartments.
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August 18, 2021

$7.25M bayside home on Long Island sits on 15 acres with themed gardens and a waterfront esplanade

Wow with a capital-W. This home, listed for $7,250,000, on Long Island's Moriches Bay is set on 15 acres filled with themed gardens like a manicured rose garden, sculpture garden, an entire koi pond paradise, and even a tunnel of vines. It has over 850 feet of water frontage, along with a bayside esplanade and private dock, a deck with a solarium, a rooftop viewing area, huge pool, a gazebo, and a guest house with a second pool. Another wow factor is that the home was transformed into this stylish estate over 25 years by fashion industry icon Rose Marie Bravo, who's credited with turning Burberry into an international luxury brand.
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August 12, 2021

New Roosevelt Island cocktail bar has panoramic views of NYC and the Queensboro Bridge

New York City is full of rooftop bars, most offering a sky-high snapshot of the Big Apple's expansive skyline. But a new cocktail lounge on Roosevelt Island is providing an even bigger picture, with 360-degree views of three boroughs and a unique perspective of the Queensboro Bridge. Opening this Friday, the aptly named Panorama Room sits on the 18th-floor of the Graduate Roosevelt Island, the first hotel to open on the island.
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August 10, 2021

Revolutionary War-era house in Sag Harbor with a modern update and pool house asks $11.5M

According to the National Register of Historic Places, this Hamptons home was built by Lieutenant Colonel John Hulbert between 1780 and 1790. Hulbert was a general in the Revolutionary War, where he oversaw 3,000 soldiers in charge of protecting the East End from British Invasion. Located in Sag Harbor Village, the home has gotten some modern updates over the years, all of which have received approval from the local boards and are sensitive to the history of the house. With 5,000 square feet, six bedrooms, a 40-foot pool and hot tub, and a guest/pool house, the "Captain's House" is asking $11,500,000.
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