Clever 425 sq. ft. Manhattan Micro-Loft Stacks Upwards for More Space

Clever 425 sq. ft. Manhattan Micro-Loft Stacks Upwards for More Space

When it first started off, this unusually tiny NYC apartment had high ceilings but only 425 sq. ft. of space. Specht Harpman Architects came in and saw the potential to turn the awkward Upper West Side pad into a spacious, light-filled micro loft by taking advantage of the 25-foot ceilings and rooftop deck access. By installing four "living platforms", Specht Harpman turned what was essentially dead space into a really cool multi-level home that hides plenty of great storage. Read on for a tour!
 

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Orient House IV: 1970s House on Long Island Transformed Into An Energy-Efficient Modern Home

Orient House IV: 1970s House on Long Island Transformed Into An Energy-Efficient Modern Home

Manhattan-based Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects recently renovated an existing 1970s house on Long Island into this beautiful timber-clad contemporary home. Called the Orient House IV, the modern residence is the latest in a series of weekend and summer houses designed by the architects that combine environmentally friendly strategies with the traditional timber architecture of the area.
 

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See the Second Episode of StreetEasy’s New York City Brownstone Renovation Video Series

See the Second Episode of StreetEasy’s New York City Brownstone Renovation Video Series

In the second episode of StreetEasy’s NYC brownstone renovation video series, Demo to Decor, local architect and historic NYC townhouse expert Brendan Coburn walks us through the renovation of a Park Slope brownstone and highlights several recent developments

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StreetEasy’s Video Series Follows the Dog-Friendly Renovation of a New York City Brownstone

StreetEasy’s Video Series Follows the Dog-Friendly Renovation of a New York City Brownstone

Transforming historic brownstones into modern homes has always been a fascinating process for us, so we were really excited to learn about local real estate website StreetEasy.com’s new Demo to Decor video series. The short films follow the gut renovation

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Artist Creates “Alice in Wonderland” Home Inside an Abandoned Farmhouse

Artist Creates “Alice in Wonderland” Home Inside an Abandoned Farmhouse

In order to revamp an abandoned farmhouse in the Finger Lakes region of New York, artist Richard Mackenzie-Childs decided to travel down the rabbit hole and channel Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Built in the 1790s, the home was missing a front door and in desperate need of some tender loving care. Undaunted by the home’s disrepair and charmed by its history, Mackenzie-Childs transformed it into an Alice-inspired home for himself and his family, and the result was recently featured on SpacesTV. Click into our gallery to go on a fanciful journey through this truly unique abode.
 

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Foster + Partners Reveals Plans for New York Public Library Renovation with Bryant Park Views

Foster + Partners Reveals Plans for New York Public Library Renovation with Bryant Park Views

The iconic New York Public Library’s long-awaited redesign by Lord Norman Foster may finally be underway. The designs for the library renovation, four years in the making, were released today, and propose a modernization that will still respect the historic

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New York’s Helmsley Building Unveils Gorgeous LED Light Show Set to the Sound of Violins

New York’s Helmsley Building Unveils Gorgeous LED Light Show Set to the Sound of Violins

The iconic Helmsley Building recently gave New York a magnificent show full of glowing LED lights. The computer-controlled lights changed colors to the sound of violins highlighting the Jewel of Park Avenue's newly renovated green façade. The dynamic lighting display, designed by The Lighting Practice, will continue to make appearances during special events and holidays, and to celebrate the building's 70% energy reduction.
 

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I-Beam Design Uses 20,000 LEGOs to Create a Playfully Pixelated New York City Apartment

I-Beam Design Uses 20,000 LEGOs to Create a Playfully Pixelated New York City Apartment

When the son of Melissa Marks and Vicente Caride got too old not to have a door on his bedroom, they decided it was time to make some renovations to their New York loft apartment. So they called in I-Beam Design for help, and together with LEGO artist Sean Kenney, they built a new stair railing and wall out of 20,000 LEGO bricks. Colorful, flexible, and very fun, this renovated space beautifully showcases everyone's favorite building block.
 

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Fans Successfully Purchase Nikola Tesla’s Long Island Workshop to Turn it Into a Science Museum

Fans Successfully Purchase Nikola Tesla’s Long Island Workshop to Turn it Into a Science Museum

Nikola Tesla fans will now have a place to pilgrimage to in order to honor the great scientist and inventor. A recent online campaign (Let's Build a Goddam Tesla Museum) started by Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal raised over $1,370,511 with the help of 20,000 supporters and a grant of $850,000 from the state of New York to buy Tesla's only surviving workshop at Wardenclyffe on Long Island. The group just completed the purchase of the property and will be turning the historic place into the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe. We can hardly wait until the renovation is done to pay tribute to the master.
 

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Empire State Building’s Iconic Colored Lights to Get an LED Makeover!

Empire State Building’s Iconic Colored Lights to Get an LED Makeover!

The Empire State Building’s iconic lights are getting a green makeover! The famous floodlights that change hues to commemorate all of the holidays of the year will soon be powered by energy efficient LED lights. The swap-out is being implemented with the

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Industrial Sprinkler Tank House Transformed into a Tranquil Rooftop Oasis in NYC

Industrial Sprinkler Tank House Transformed into a Tranquil Rooftop Oasis in NYC

Brian Messana's sustainable renovation of a rooftop loft called the Tank House has the same spirit as New York City's Water Tank Project that revives disused spaces to make them more appealing. Keeping the original loft more or less intact, Messana completely overhauled an existing sprinkler tank house to create something that resembles the tranquility of a treehouse among New York City's soaring towers and skyscrapers.
 

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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.
 

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Heineken Brews Up LEED-CI Gold at Its US Headquarters in White Plains NY

Heineken Brews Up LEED-CI Gold at Its US Headquarters in White Plains NY

Heineken has taken green branding to a whole new level at its US corporate headquarters in White Plains, NY. Working with sustainability consultants CodeGreen, MKDA Architects helped renovate the interior of the beer giant's 360 Hamilton Place office, adding new glass walls, flexible work stations, low VOC-emitting finishes and energy and water-efficient appliances. For its gains in conservation and efficiency and overall workspace enhancement, the newly sustainable space was recently awarded LEED-CI Gold by the USGBC.
 

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Cooper-Hewitt Announces Diller Scofidio + Renfro Will Be the Gallery Designer for Its 2014 Reopening

Cooper-Hewitt Announces Diller Scofidio + Renfro Will Be the Gallery Designer for Its 2014 Reopening

Big news from the Cooper-Hewitt today – the Smithsonian’s National Design Museum announced that it has selected New York City-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro as the designers of the gallery and visitor experience for the reopening of its revamped museum campus

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The Landmarked Museum of the City of New York Goes Green With a LEED-Seeking Renovation

The Landmarked Museum of the City of New York Goes Green With a LEED-Seeking Renovation

For nine decades, the Museum of the City of New York has honored our city's past and celebrated its future through diverse and transformative exhibits, providing New Yorkers with a catalog of the Big Apple's perpetual evolution. As New York moves toward a more sustainable future, MCNY has not only examined the changes through special exhibits, but the institution has become a part of the changes itself. MCNY's landmarked Colonial Revival building is currently undergoing a $90 million LEED Silver renovation by Ennead Architects to bring the building up to date, helping it to engage visitors for generations to come. The comprehensive modernization and expansion began in 2006 and will be completed in 2015.
 

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Henry Street Settlement to be a Model for Green Landmarked Buildings in NYC

Henry Street Settlement to be a Model for Green Landmarked Buildings in NYC

Tucked away on a quiet block in the Lower East Side, the Henry Street Settlement, which dates back to the late 1800s, offers a glimpse into New York City's past. But over the last year, the Settlement has been moving into the 21st Century, embarking on a groundbreaking plan to becoming the first green landmarked building in NYC by sustainably retrofitting its three historic townhouses. The organization is now competing with 39 other sites for grant money from the Partners in Preservation program, which would help the Settlement complete its upgrades and preserve a piece of New York's history.
 

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Park Avenue Tower Set to Get a LEED Renovation in Hopes of Becoming NYC’s Next Iconic Building

Park Avenue Tower Set to Get a LEED Renovation in Hopes of Becoming NYC’s Next Iconic Building

A New York City developer has created a competition to enliven the Park Avenue skyline. L&L Holding Co. is asking distinguished architects, including Jean Nouvel and Norman Foster, for design proposals to transform the boxy building of 425 Park Avenue

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The U.N. Headquarters Goes Green With a $1.8 Billion Renovation

The U.N. Headquarters Goes Green With a $1.8 Billion Renovation

image © Amanda Silvana Coen for Inhabitat

The iconic U.N. Headquarters is in the midst of a $1.8 billion renovation aptly named the “Capital Master Plan.” However, you won’t be seeing any construction on the Turtle Bay area buildings, as the overhaul is mainly focused on internal design. Not only are technology and security being updated with state of the art capabilities, but the Master Plan is also calling for a green cleaning, swapping out old interior designs and habits from the 1950s for new and sustainable features, with the aim of granting the building LEED Silver status.


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Method Design’s Stilted Addition to the DPR House Mimics the Surrounding Trees

Method Design’s Stilted Addition to the DPR House Mimics the Surrounding Trees

Method Design Architecture has won an AIA Honor Award for their renovation of a 1960s modern home in Upstate New York's picturesque Pound Ridge. The resulting DPR House emphasizes the beautiful natural landscape of the area, connecting the views from the interiors to the tree-filled forest outside. The hillside home was incredibly expanded with stilted additions that increase living space without disrupting views of the lush terrain.
 

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Bridgehampton’s Surfside Home is Nestled into the Dunes and Draws Energy From Nature

Bridgehampton’s Surfside Home is Nestled into the Dunes and Draws Energy From Nature

If you're thinking about summer and the beach, fit this lovely vacation home in Bridgehampton into your daydreams. Remodeled from an older and dilapidated home, Surfside is nestled into the sand dunes and enjoys a lovely, low impact existence. The Long Island vacation home was designed by Stelle Architects who took inspiration from the surrounding landscape and made sure to incorporate free energy to make it more energy efficient. Shading, breezeways, and natural ventilation are used to provide passive cooling, while a geothermal heat pump and rooftop solar panels help provide mechanical climate control. This light-filled home is equally saturated with the landscape and the seascape.
 

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Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park Named Best Public Space by Travel & Leisure

Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park Named Best Public Space by Travel & Leisure

Since opening last September, Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park has charmed countless New Yorkers and tourists with its old-fashioned fun and glimmering modern pavilion. Now the beautifully restored ride has won the hearts of the Travel and Leisure editors,

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Leeser Architecture Transforms Brooklyn’s Historic Strand Theater Into a Cultural Space for the Digital Age

Leeser Architecture Transforms Brooklyn’s Historic Strand Theater Into a Cultural Space for the Digital Age

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Cultural District in Fort Greene continues to grow into a destination for the arts with the addition of Leeser Architecture's $40 million expansion and renovation plans for the historic Strand Theater. Built in 1918 for vaudeville acts, the theater has also functioned as a movie palace and bowling alley and will now become a 21st Century, state-of-the-art facility for BRIC Arts Media, a non-profit that presents arts, music, and educational programs for the borough's diverse cultural community, and UrbanGlass, an organization dedicated to glass making and teaching.
 

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PHOTOS: Historic Jane’s Carousel Opens At Brooklyn Bridge Park in a Jean Nouvel Pavilion

PHOTOS: Historic Jane’s Carousel Opens At Brooklyn Bridge Park in a Jean Nouvel Pavilion

It took artist Jane Walentas more than 25 years, but her masterpiece is finally complete. The artwork, a spectacularly restored 1922 carousel aptly named Jane's Carousel, just opened to the public last month in Brooklyn Bridge Park. For more than two decades, Walentas chipped away 60 years of "park paint" by hand to bring the carousel back to its original glory, revealing the original wood carvings and colors. The carousel, which is the only carousel to be placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, sits on the edge of the East River in a glimmering pavilion designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Jean Nouvel. We recently visited the carousel to experience its charm for ourselves and see the intricate details up close.
 

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David Briefel Revamps a Brooklyn Apartment Using Only Sustainable Materials

David Briefel Revamps a Brooklyn Apartment Using Only Sustainable Materials

We're always telling you about the coolest looking sustainable buildings and homes in New York -- even the Empire State Building recently became LEED Gold certified! Though these spaces surely make an impact on the outside, it is of course, what is on the inside that counts. Sustainable interior designer, David Briefel, recently undertook a massive overhaul of a Prospect Heights apartment, filling it with a laundry list of recycled and eco-friendly elements. Briefel's new design certainly makes this Brooklyn pad the greenest (and chicest) home on the block.
 

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1100 Architect Renovates NYU’s Dept. of Linguistics Into a Vibrant Naturally Lit Space

1100 Architect Renovates NYU’s Dept. of Linguistics Into a Vibrant Naturally Lit Space

It's a fair bet that at the Department of Linguistics, communication is pretty important. So when NYU set out to renovate their historic 6-story building in Greenwich Village, they wanted to be sure that the new space would promote interaction and communication between students and faculty. Part of encouraging interaction in the space was to incorporate more natural daylight into common areas, offices, classrooms, and labs. The renovation, which was carried out by 1100 Architect, also improves the natural ventilation, adds energy efficient lighting, sustainable materials, and makes the building a vibrant and fun place to discuss the art of lost languages.
 

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