2012 July | Inhabitat New York City

Mayor Bloomberg Recognizes 10 Starchitect-Designed City Projects That Change NYC for the Better

Mayor Bloomberg Recognizes 10 Starchitect-Designed City Projects That Change NYC for the Better

CityPoint Retail Facility and Dekalb Market by Cook + Fox, Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture and ORE Design and Technology.

Earlier this week, NYC's Design Commission Awards for Excellence recognized some of the most innovative city-commissioned projects that are changing the face of the 5 boroughs for the better. Mayor Bloomberg invited press to the Frank Gehry-designed 8 Spruce Street School and called attention to 10 outstanding projects that are helping to bring more sustainable architecture to the city. From the Squibb Pedestrian Bridge in Brooklyn to the Three Carriage Houses for the Staten Island Historical Society, these game-changing projects bring beautiful, modern design to the communities they're located in. Click through our gallery to see them all and tell us in comments which inspires you most.

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Leo Villareal to Create Giant Glowing LED Buckyball For Madison Square Park

Leo Villareal to Create Giant Glowing LED Buckyball For Madison Square Park

New York-based artist Leo Villareal is set to install a 30-foot tall “Buckyball” sculpture comprised of 180 glowing LED tubes in Madison Square Park later this year. The sculpture will be formed of one LED rendition of the distinct spherical fullerene structures nested inside another. The installation promises to have an extraordinary dynamic presence in the park as programmable pixels located every 1.2 inches throughout the tubes will have the capacity to glow in any one of 16 million colors.

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Eleven Madison Park Announces Brand New Menu That Serves Up Local NYC Food in Unexpected Ways

One of New York City’s most esteemed restaurants, Eleven Madison Park, is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “dinner and a show”. Scrapping their award-winning menu for a new one that pays tribute to NYC, they will now serve food from area artisans

NYC Announces Another New Tech Campus, This Time for Columbia University

NYC Announces Another New Tech Campus, This Time for Columbia University

We recently wrote about the Cornell NYCTech facility coming to Roosevelt Island, and now we’re excited to say that NYC’s Columbia University has announced it will be getting a new tech campus of its own. Even more interesting, the new Institute for Data

Gorgeous Plans for the High Line’s Third Section Finally Revealed!

Gorgeous Plans for the High Line’s Third Section Finally Revealed!

After months of anticipation, Friends of the High Line has finally released images of their plan for the last installment of the city's famous elevated park. DNA info's exclusive pics show that the third and final section, called "The High Line at the Rail Yards" will flow in seamlessly with the rest of the park's design. Following the space's iconic train track rails and featuring benches, tables, and children's play equipment that sprouts right out of the floorboards, the outdoor oasis will also work in sync with the Hudson Yards Project, a plan to build 16 new skyscrapers in Hell's Kitchen in hopes of creating a new and improved Midtown area.

MTA May Charge Riders a $1 Green Fee to Encourage MetroCard Recycling

MTA May Charge Riders a $1 Green Fee to Encourage MetroCard Recycling

If you’ve ever reused your MetroCard thinking it would be a waste to chuck it, you might soon be rewarded for your efforts. Word on the street is that the MTA is looking to add a $1 surcharge for all new MetroCard purchases to encourage riders to reuse their

Staten Island Rolls in Plans for New Skate Park at Faber Park

Staten Island Rolls in Plans for New Skate Park at Faber Park

NYC's skateboarders might soon be flocking to Staten Island, which is quickly becoming the skating center of the city. The Parks Department just announced plans to build the borough's third skate park in Faber Park in Port Richmond, and renderings of the new space show 2 acres of ramps, jumps, and rails that will blend in seamlessly with the natural landscape. The design, by Action Sport Design, incorporates existing stone walls and boulders, and if watching rather than actually boarding is more your thing, there will be plenty of seating and pedestrian trails for spectators surrounding the outdoor facility.

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High Line Gets $5 Million from New York City

High Line Gets $5 Million from New York City

The City of New York has agreed to provide $5 million in cash for the High Line Park, which is scheduled to begin construction on the third (and final) half mile section in the near future.

Two of Pale Male’s Red Tail Hawk Babies Are Sick After Eating Rat Poison

Two of Pale Male’s Red Tail Hawk Babies Are Sick After Eating Rat Poison

There are few New Yorkers who haven't heard about Pale Male, the city's most famous fine-feathered friend, so many were outraged to hear that two of his babies have fallen ill after ingesting rat poisoning this weekend. The little red tail hawks were found in Central Park by animal rescue volunteer Cathy Horvath, and quickly given blood tests that revealed the presence of the chemical. Horvath has since taken the lil' guys under her wing, treating them with doses of vitamin K to strengthen their immune systems and bring them back to good health.

Winners of ENYA’s Harlem Edge Urban Agriculture Design Competition Showcased at New Exhibit

Winners of ENYA’s Harlem Edge Urban Agriculture Design Competition Showcased at New Exhibit

Last week, The AIA's Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) celebrated the winners of its Harlem Edge: Cultivating Connections competition with an exhibit opening showcasing the most innovative designs. The contest focused on the site of DSNY's decommissioned 135th Street Marine Transfer Station on the Hudson River, inviting participants to create a multi-modal transit hub and nutrition-educated facility. A group of esteemed judges chose 3 winning projects and a student prize, which will be on exhibit along with other distinguished entries until the end of October - click through our gallery to see the winners.

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New East River Waterfront Esplanade & EcoPark at Pier 35 is Coming Along Slowly But Surely

New East River Waterfront Esplanade & EcoPark at Pier 35 is Coming Along Slowly But Surely

Downtown New Yorkers should be happy to see that work on the much-anticipated East River Waterfront & EcoPark at Pier 35 is moving forward slowly but surely. When complete, the new landscaped esplanade will culminate in a lush EcoPark and green habitat that looks right out over the river. The East River Waterfront Esplanade was designed by SHoP Architects, and is part of a larger project to revitalize the East River and Lower Manhattan. Planning began back in 2009 and the first phase was completed in 2011, but we'll still have to wait until 2014 for the whole vision to come to fruition.

New Study Shows That NYC Surprisingly Has Lower Lung Cancer Rates Than Upstate New York

New Study Shows That NYC Surprisingly Has Lower Lung Cancer Rates Than Upstate New York

Cigarette photo via Shutterstock

Upstate New Yorkers might see more stars and breathe fresher air, but according to a new report, they also have a higher rate of lung cancer than New York City residents. The new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS)

Brooklyn’s Tiniest Apartment is Only 29 Inches Long

Brooklyn’s Tiniest Apartment is Only 29 Inches Long

If you thought Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed micro-dwellings were small, you haven’t seen Brooklyn's tiniest apartments - which are just 29" long! Okay, so calling them "apartments" might be a bit of a stretch - they're actually miniature scale dioramas by Patrick Jacobs. Currently on view at Williamsburg’s Pierogi Gallery, the artist’s tiny tableaus even overlook the Gowanus Canal, which visitors can glimpse right through their tiny windows.

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PHOTOS: Brooklynites Show Off Beautiful Gardens for the 2012 Greenest Block in Brooklyn Competition

PHOTOS: Brooklynites Show Off Beautiful Gardens for the 2012 Greenest Block in Brooklyn Competition

Which Brooklyn block do you think is the greenest? From Flatbush to Bed-Stuy to Greenpoint, 173 different streets across the borough are currently competing in the 18th Annual Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, but they're all so beautifully manicured that it's going to be a really tough call. Luckily, we were able to obtain some photos of the most impressive stoops, garden plots and frontyards in the competition, so click through our gallery and tell us in comments which block you think is Brooklyn's greenest.

PHOTOS: Step Inside the Delta’s Teeny Tiny Transforming NYC Apartment

PHOTOS: Step Inside the Delta’s Teeny Tiny Transforming NYC Apartment

Whether you wholeheartedly laud Mayor Bloomberg's push for smaller NYC apartments or think it's the worst idea since reopening McCarren Pool (sorry, just sayin'), you have to admit that the thought of living in a teensy, tiny micro apartment is kind of fascinating. So when found out that the city's very first self-powered building, which opened last week, also boasts an ultra-compact, 345 sq. ft. studio apartment, we had to take a look inside. Though lilliputian, the living space packs a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and dining room into an oddly-shaped triangular floorplan using clever transforming furniture and a whole lot of architectural ingenuity. Step inside our slideshow of the Park Slope studio and tell us in the comments if you think you could picture yourself living there.

Final Section of the High Line On Track for 2014

Final Section of the High Line On Track for 2014

The final .58-mile portion of The High Line Park was donated by CSX in early July, 2012 under the Federal Rails-to-Trails program, a D.C. non-profit that specializes in turning old train tracks to parks.

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Mayor Bloomberg Cuts Ribbon on the High Line’s Newly Renamed Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook

Mayor Bloomberg Cuts Ribbon on the High Line’s Newly Renamed Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook

While not many New Yorkers know it, the High Line might still be a diamond in the rough without the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, which donated piles of time and money to bring the city's elevated park to fruition. So it's no surprise that NYC Mayor Bloomberg personally attended the ceremony to dedicate one of the park's most-loved features - the overlook - to the Foundation this morning. The newly-named Tiffany & Co. Foundation overlook is located at the southern end of the park and its glass-encased structure provides a stellar look at the High Line’s structural framework, as well as views of Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, and the Hudson River.

Rosie O’Donnell Buys an $8 Million Green-Roofed Apartment in NYC

Rosie O’Donnell Buys an $8 Million Green-Roofed Apartment in NYC

Rosie O’Donnell has reportedly purchased a 4-bedroom, 3-bath duplex in the 42-unit adaptive reuse building that was once St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City.

Studio a+i Reimagines AIDS Memorial Park Design as a Fresh Green Triangular Canopy

Studio a+i Reimagines AIDS Memorial Park Design as a Fresh Green Triangular Canopy

In January, we reported that Studio a+i won the international competition to design the AIDS Memorial Park in the West Village but their original design, while breathtaking, was denied by community members this spring. Not to be discouraged, the team went back to the drawing board and has just unveiled their latest idea - a beautiful triangular trellis that will shade the 1,600 square foot plot near the old St. Vincent’s hospital and serve as a place of reflection and meditation.

David Rockwell Designs a Striking Southampton Performance Pavilion That Will Double as a Skate Rink

David Rockwell Designs a Striking Southampton Performance Pavilion That Will Double as a Skate Rink

We just received word that one of our favorite architects, David Rockwell, is designing a brand new outdoor performing arts and cultural center in Southampton, New York. Made of recycled steel trusses and solar panel-covered glass, the 300-seat venue will be a beautiful addition to the Hamptons, which is becoming increasingly sustainable in terms of architecture. The eye-catching circular pavilion is meant to be used all year-round, hosting fun family events like concerts, lectures and outdoor movies in the summer and doubling as an ice rink in the winter.

Beach 30 Pavilion is an Undulating New Outdoor Classroom for The Far Rockaways

Beach 30 Pavilion is an Undulating New Outdoor Classroom for The Far Rockaways

Beach 30 Pavilion, the latest in a series of structures meant to rejuvenate the Far Rockaways, was unveiled last week, and we couldn’t help but admire its unique, wave-like form. Designed by WXY Architecture and landscape designers Quennell Rothschild and

Green Depot’s Bowery Location is Up for Rent

Green Depot’s Bowery Location is Up for Rent

This might be the end of an era. For the past 4 years, 222 Bowery Street has been the home of environmentally-conscious building supply store Green Depot, but recently, locals have noted Sinvin Real Estate’s lease signage outside its door. During its short

SNEAK PEEK: See Inside the Delta, NYC’s Very First Self-Powered Building

SNEAK PEEK: See Inside the Delta, NYC’s Very First Self-Powered Building

Unveiling a new building in 99 degree weather with no air conditioning doesn't sound ideal - unless, that is, said building is the first one in NYC that can power itself. Dubbed the Delta, the self-sustaining residential property was opened to the press last night by green developers Voltaic Solaire, and the balmy conditions in the city just happened to be the perfect opportunity to showcase its smart design. If you've been following our coverage of the Delta, you know that it is equipped with solar panels and a vertical wind turbine that allow it to meet 100% of its energy needs without tapping into the grid, and yesterday, we also got to experience its effective passive cooling and ventilation on one of the hottest nights of the year. Click through our gallery to see our photos inside the Delta's two compact and cleverly-organized apartments, which will be available for short-term rental starting this August as well some of the building's other super-futuristic technologies. See-through solar panels, anyone?

Amtrak Proposes High Speed Rail to Take Riders from NY to Philly in 37 Minutes!

Amtrak Proposes High Speed Rail to Take Riders from NY to Philly in 37 Minutes!

While officials on the west coast of the US solidify plans for their high speed rail line, the east coast is hoping not to be left behind. This week, Amtrak announced their hope to create a train line capable of running at 220mph to take New Yorkers to Philadelphia

East Village’s Molecule Cafe Serves Nothing But Filtered NYC Tap Water!

East Village’s Molecule Cafe Serves Nothing But Filtered NYC Tap Water!

Glass of water photo via Shutterstock

A new watering hole called the Molecule Cafe has opened up in New York’s East Village, and it serves only one thing – NYC tap water. Considering that the cafe gets the water for free, filters it and then sells for

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