Monacle recently interviewed James Corner, the prominent Landscape Architect who created the Highline. He makes some very interesting points regarding the skill of a landscape architect, they are commonly thought of as gardeners, when in fact the job requires engineering skills, and an education in city planning.

Green, public outdoor space creates a healthy city environment- the balance of green is essential to neighborhood growth. Just look at how the Highline enlivened the entire meatpacking district. Check out his interview…

A new 67 story skyscraper has won the approval of the New York authorities despite efforts from the Empire State Building.  The new building is subject to be built as 15 Penn Plaza and will stand almost as tall as the Empire State Building, only a few blocks away.  15 Penn Plaza will be the newest addition to the City’s infamous skyline, standing 1,190ft-tall.

……..in spite of a falling market. I contend that some of the most creative thinkers and innovators have come to the surface with their best work in times that seem dire. Some of history’s greatest works come at times that seem the most depressed. Art and commerce act independantly.

Axis Mundi has designed an alternative to Jean Nouvel design for the Hines site on 53rd Street next to MOMA. While it has received some unfounded criticism for trying to replace an already well conceived design , I applaud this work. This type of creative process is what pushes the boundaries of the ordinary and evokes ideas that will ultimately advance our status quo.

John Beckmann sent me this email today, and has graciously allowed me to post it here below. (more…)

On January 11th, 2007 I predicted that West 19th Street in Chelsea would become the most architecturally distinct block in Manhattan. The Real Deal was there to cover a guided tour we gave of the high line and our project. (See video above).

It is extremely rewarding to see the dream and vision of all the architects, developers, builders and marketers become a reality. The project Core represented, 520 West Chelsea, is sold and closed, but for one unit (which has a contract out). I consider it the most successful project to date, in a neighborhood that has evolved into a worldwide destination and desirable residential address.

I tip my hat to John and Keith Jacobson for being visionaries, and delivering 26 elegant, understated new homes. I thank Annabelle Selldorf (who I sat down with and had a conversation with) for designing the most gorgeous building in the neighborhood. I also thank the entire brokerage community for embracing this project and helping us successfully sell this building.

About two and a half years ago we opened the sales office of 520 West Chelsea when 19th Street looked a lot different than it does today. Frank Gehry’s first New York project for Barry Diller’s headquarters of IAC hadn’t even opened; Jean Nouvel Chelsea had not yet broken ground and Shigeru Ban’s Metal Shutter Houses did not exist. But there was one thing that was the talk of the neighborhood and well on its way to happening, and that was the High Line Park. (more…)

Richard Cook and Bob Fox are  two of the most innovative architects of our era. They have been at the forefront of designing energy efficient homes and spaces before it became fashionable.

I received an email today from them which brought a new endeavor of theirs to my attention. It mentioned ….. Today’s Wall Street Journal includes a special report on energy: a look ahead at technology, design, policy, and economics. Its cover story, “The Green House of the Future”, asked four architectural firms to imagine an energy efficient, environmentally-sustainable home without worrying about the usual realities of costs and building technologies.

Their answer is a conceptual design for an environmentally-responsive, “biomorphic” house that adapts to its occupants’ needs, as well as changing weather and other environmental factors. The design is an evolution of their proposal for the Live Work Home, a winner of Syracuse University’s recent “From the Ground Up” competition.

The article from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal shows many creative and provocative ideas from four different architectural firms.