Could Giant Rotterdam-Style Floodgates Protect Lower Manhattan From Flooding in Future Superstorms?

Could Giant Rotterdam-Style Floodgates Protect Lower Manhattan From Flooding in Future Superstorms?

It has been over three weeks since Hurricane Sandy blew through the mid-Atlantic states, and since then the public and officials have begun to question New York's crumbling infrastructure as well as our affinity for building houses where they don't belong. Matt Chaban over at the New York Observer recently spoke to some urban planners who say that if development is to continue in low-lying areas like Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts, New York City should take a hint from Rotterdam and consider building giant floodgates to protect our property. So what can New Yorkers learn from Rotterdammers about rising tides?
 

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Architects Propose ‘Soft Waterfront Infrastructure’ to Protect NYC From the Next Big Storm

Architects Propose ‘Soft Waterfront Infrastructure’ to Protect NYC From the Next Big Storm

Thanks to climate change, we've experienced some wild storms the past couple of years, culminating in Hurricane Sandy, which hit the city with record devastation  . To make matters worse, NYC is slowly succumbing to rising sea levels, which threaten to sink coastal neighborhoods throughout the boroughs. In light of a possible environmental disaster (and the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), a group of architecture firms have united to tackle these issues with innovative green design. Taking lessons from levee design flaws in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, these architects have created "soft infrastructure," a design concept based on priming the city to "deal with storms instead of fortify itself against them" by using natural resources like coastal marshlands and building more sustainable infrastructure like green roofs.
 

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Architecture Students Propose an Elaborate Lattice Work Bib to Protect Manhattan From Rising Sea Levels

Architecture Students Propose an Elaborate Lattice Work Bib to Protect Manhattan From Rising Sea Levels

Global warming and rising sea levels pose a serious threat to Lower Manhattan, and some experts believe that rising waters could affect New York more than any other city in the world. The impending flood, be it from a storm like Hurricane Sandy or rising sea levels, has many architects thinking of viable solutions to save our great city. Two architecture students from the University of Pennsylvania, Tingwei Xu and Xie Zhang, think the solution is to build an elaborate lattice work bib on the shorelines of Downtown. The duo have designed an extensive membrane system that would guard the bottoms of Lower Manhattan buildings from messy floods.
 

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PHOTOS: Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to See the Pop-Up Peace and Quiet Pavilion in Times Square

PHOTOS: Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to See the Pop-Up Peace and Quiet Pavilion in Times Square

Have you ever wanted to talk to a veteran or thank them, but felt funny just walking up to them out of nowhere? Matter Practice has eliminated that apprehension with their unassuming Peace and Quiet pavilion in Times Square. The curious pop-up shed invites civilians to take a load off and engage in story telling by recent and past veterans - all in the middle of bustling Times Square. The pavilion offers a place of respite, while giving regular folks a chance to understand what it's like to experience war on the front lines.
 

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Crystal Green LEED-Designed Luxury Rental Apartments Are Now Available in Midtown Manhattan

Crystal Green LEED-Designed Luxury Rental Apartments Are Now Available in Midtown Manhattan

New Yorkers looking to rent apartments that are just as sustainable as they are high-end have a new building to choose from, Crystal Green in Midtown, Manhattan. Luxury rental company Glenwood launched leasing for the property last month and in addition to opulence, the 25-story Midtown West building also boasts a design that strives for LEED certification.
 

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Temporary Peace and Quiet Pavilion Pops Up In Times Square for Veterans Day

Temporary Peace and Quiet Pavilion Pops Up In Times Square for Veterans Day

Anyone who has been to Times Square knows it is one of the busiest places in New York, but what if you could go there for a little tranquility? That is exactly what Matter Architecture Practice had in mind with their new pop-up pavilion/art installation, “Peace and Quiet.” The shed-like building opened yesterday to coincide with Veterans Day, and is a serene meeting space where veterans and civilians can interact.
 

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VIDEO: Hurricane Sandy Winds Turned One World Trade Center into a Giant Musical Instrument

VIDEO: Hurricane Sandy Winds Turned One World Trade Center into a Giant Musical Instrument

“What a horrible sound,” a man filming this video of One World Trade Center is heard saying shortly before Hurricane Sandy struck New York City. The noise he’s referring to is an eerie, high-pitched howl that can be heard coming from the tower, which was turned into a giant musical instrument by the impending storm. Reports liken the creepy phenomenon to an Aeolian harp – an ancient instrument played by the wind – sounding an ominous warning of what was to come.


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The Lower East Side’s Historic Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center Needs Your Help!

The Lower East Side’s Historic Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center Needs Your Help!

Most New Yorkers probably won’t recognize the gorgeous new Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center on the Lower East Side, as it has been covered by scaffolding for a whopping eighteen years! After years of renovation, the cultural center finally

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Natural History Museum Unveils Teddy Roosevelt Memorial Hall After Green Renovation

Natural History Museum Unveils Teddy Roosevelt Memorial Hall After Green Renovation

The American Museum of Natural History has been renovating its Theodore Roosevelt Memorial and Hall of North American Animals for three years now and the beautiful new space proudly opened its doors last month. Designed by legendary architect Louis I. Khan, the $40 million dollar project has renewed the hall's displays and adapted energy-efficient and sustainable fixtures throughout. A private press preview was held to unveil the memorial and specially commissioned statue of the great American conservationist, and we were on the scene snapping pics - read on to see them all!
 

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Mayor Bloomberg Announces New NYC Rapid Repairs Program to Fix Homes Damaged by Hurricane Sandy Quickly

Mayor Bloomberg Announces New NYC Rapid Repairs Program to Fix Homes Damaged by Hurricane Sandy Quickly

Photo via FEMA’s Facebook Page

NYC Rapid Repairs is an unprecedented new program announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Director of NYC Housing Recovery Operations Brad Gair today to fix homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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The Chrysler Building Earns LEED-EB Gold Certification!

The Chrysler Building Earns LEED-EB Gold Certification!

Move over Empire State Building. The Chrysler Building has just joined the ranks of LEED certification. The NYC icon and Art Deco masterpiece is now the city's newest building to go green. The gleaming architectural gem was recently granted LEED Gold certification for existing buildings after a massive energy and infrastructure overhaul.
 

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FEMA Creates “Check Your Home” App That Lets Sandy Evacuees Keep an Eye on Their Houses from Above

FEMA Creates “Check Your Home” App That Lets Sandy Evacuees Keep an Eye on Their Houses from Above

Hurricane Sandy destroyed and endangered hundreds of homes and many residents throughout the East Coast were forced to leave their neighborhoods due to the rising safety and health concerns during and after the surge. It’s a scary thing to be away from home

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Staten Island’s PS 62 Will Be New York’s First Net Zero Energy School

Staten Island’s PS 62 Will Be New York’s First Net Zero Energy School

It's no secret that Staten Islanders have been going through very troubling times, but last week we saw a small bright spot of news for the borough's PS 62. The New York City Department of Education recently broke ground on the building that will house the state's first net zero energy school right in Richmond, Staten Island. PS 62 was designed by SOM and will be covered in solar panels to generate enough power for the building. Additionally, the school will feature other sustainable programs to reduce environmental impact, work towards greater self-sufficiency and provide a higher level of education for students. The school is expected to open around 2015, and a spokesperson for SOM told us this week that the construction site was not impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
 

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Architecture for Humanity Unveils Green Plan to Rebuild After Hurricane Sandy

Architecture for Humanity Unveils Green Plan to Rebuild After Hurricane Sandy

Many people have been talking about how to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Sandy, but nonprofit design services group Architecture for Humanity has actually gone and created a 5-point rebuilding plan. Their proposal not only focuses on working with

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New York Runs out of…Brownstone?

New York Runs out of…Brownstone?

The next time you walk by one of the city’s beautiful brownstones, you may want to take an extra moment to appreciate it. The New York Times recently reported that the last local brownstone quarry in Portland, Connecticut would be using up its final pieces

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DIY: How to Make an Iconic Chrysler Building Halloween Costume

DIY: How to Make an Iconic Chrysler Building Halloween Costume

 

New York City may have just been battered by one of the worst storms in East Coast history, but the Big Apple continues to prove its resilience even in the face of disaster. This year celebrate the spirit of New York City and crown yourself

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See Inside Manhattan’s First LEED Gold Townhouse by BW Architects

See Inside Manhattan’s First LEED Gold Townhouse by BW Architects

BW Architects has just finished renovating an 1840s West Village home into Manhattan's first ever LEED Gold-certified townhouse. The new design is a historic and modern blend with an eco-friendly twist, and the 4,000 square foot homestead features gorgeous new furnishings and windows set against its prewar moldings and baseboards. From reclaimed flooring to locally-sourced counters, this home is jam-packed with green features that make it worthy of its new certification.
 

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Woman Turns Her Tiny 200 Square Foot Brooklyn Apartment into a Cozy and Classy Home

Woman Turns Her Tiny 200 Square Foot Brooklyn Apartment into a Cozy and Classy Home

Brooklynite Suzy West knows how to live the luxe life in an impossibly small space. Her 200 square foot Brooklyn apartment may be small but it's packed with antiques and retro flair, proving that downsized living doesn’t have to be stark. Plus it's the perfect size for her toy schnoodle dog. SPACEStv recently spent a day with West to see just how she created a calm and cozy life in such a small space. Read on for some of their photos of this miniature but stylish home.
 

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Piezoelectric Energy-Generating “Scene Sensor” Wins the 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative Competition for Freshkills Park

Piezoelectric Energy-Generating “Scene Sensor” Wins the 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative Competition for Freshkills Park

We've been closely following the 2012 Land Art Generator Initiative design competition to create a new public art installation on the site of Freshkills Park for several months now, and are excited to announce that the winner was announced just moments ago in New York City. "Scene Sensor", designed by artists James Murray and Shota Vashakmadze, is a striking piezoelectric energy-generating art project designed to be installed above and below the surface of the Staten Island park. The duo from Atlanta will walk away with the $15,000 grand prize, while the $4,000 second place goes to Matthew Rosenberg, Matt Melnyk, Emmy Maruta, and Robbie Eleazer for their design "Fresh Hills".
 

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Louis I. Kahn’s FDR Four Freedoms Park Opens to the Public Today

Louis I. Kahn’s FDR Four Freedoms Park Opens to the Public Today

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park © Paul Warchol

After 40 long years of waiting, New Yorkers will finally see legendary architect Louis I. Kahn's vision for the FDR Four Freedoms Park come to life on Roosevelt Island. The monument and new green space is set to open to the public this morning. If you can't make it today to see this powerful memorial to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, fear not. We snapped some sneak peek photos to tide you over, so read on!

 

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PHOTOS: Dwell’s City Modern Home Tours Take You Inside Two of Brooklyn’s Coolest Homes

PHOTOS: Dwell’s City Modern Home Tours Take You Inside Two of Brooklyn’s Coolest Homes

This October, Dwell and New York Magazine collaborated to launch the City Modern Home Tours - daylong events in both Manhattan and Brooklyn that permitted attendees to self-tour a selection of New York City’s most impressive modern architecture. The Brooklyn tour took us on a journey through 2 homes in the borough’s elegant Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill neighborhoods, and we were astonished at both their beautiful interior designs and their efforts to reuse on-site materials and experiment with alternative eco-conscious materials during their renovations. Click through our photo gallery to see all of our pics.
 

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Cornell Tech Releases New Renderings of Net-Zero Campus on Roosevelt Island

Cornell Tech Releases New Renderings of Net-Zero Campus on Roosevelt Island

Prospective students hoping to attend Cornell Tech can now get even more pumped up looking at new renderings of the school's future campus on Roosevelt Island in NYC. The prestigious school just released the new images of their 12.5 acre campus, which will include one of the largest energy-neutral buildings in the U.S. The campus masterplan is being designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP, and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne and Morphosis Architects are working on the first academic building .
 

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PHOTOS: Super Tiny Whittled-Down Wagon Home Comes with a Cat Observation Deck

PHOTOS: Super Tiny Whittled-Down Wagon Home Comes with a Cat Observation Deck

We saw an array of amazing home-made things at this year's Maker Faire NYC, but one of the most impressive by far was the Whittled Down Caravan, a super tiny home on wheels. Built from scratch on top of a 4' x 8' utility trailer by Libby Reinish and Tristan Chambers, the diminutive dwelling features a kitchen, a living area and a bed, and even incorporates solar power. We were lucky enough to take a full tour of this miniature but effective abode (as you can imagine, it only took about 2 minutes), so click through our gallery to see everything from the neat hidden storage to a dutch-door to an observation deck for the couple's cat, Lionshead.
 

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Solar-Powered, Carbon Neutral Earth-Bermed House is Made Entirely Out of Recycled Materials

Solar-Powered, Carbon Neutral Earth-Bermed House is Made Entirely Out of Recycled Materials

Allan Shope has sent us images of his incredible carbon neutral, solar-powered earth-bermed house in upstate New York. First featured on Bob Vila's TV show, the house is cradled by the earth to ensure comfortable indoor temperatures come rain or snow, and it boasts an exciting selection of all-recycled building materials. But that's not all. Pushing the limits of his own former practice, Shope installed a rooftop photovoltaic array that emits nary a heat-trapping gas into our fragile atmosphere.
 

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LEED Gold Helena Tower Will Boast NYC’s Largest Residential Composting Program

LEED Gold Helena Tower Will Boast NYC’s Largest Residential Composting Program

Tenants of the LEED Gold Helena luxury high-rise in Hell’s Kitchen will soon be able to compost as easily as they might take out the trash. Initiated by mega developers The Durst Organization, the program will implement a rigorous composting program that will be available to the whole building. The already eco-friendly apartment building plans to offer the in-house service to all of its 600 units.
 

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