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Standing on the High Line last week while surveying the twisted concrete structure rising out...
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- The XI, New York
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- 29th and 5th, New York
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- One Madison, New York
- 505 West 19th Street, New York
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Rafael de Cárdenas and Anna Karlin Design Ravishing Residences at the Belnord
November 11th, 2020
A Renaissance Revival beauty sheathed in limestone and brick, the Belnord is one of the Upper West Side’s most prominent residential buildings, occupying an entire city block on Broadway between 86th and 87th Streets. With a history that stretches back to 1908, when it was completed by noted architecture firm Hiss & Weekes, the Gilded Age edifice recently got a 21st-century makeover befitting its historic bones.Given the 12-story landmark’s prewar pedigree, it’s no wonder that owner HFZ Capital Group enlisted powerhouse architect Robert A.M. Stern, who studied the building when designing his acclaimed 15 Central Park West, to oversee the rental-to-condo conversion. “Clearly, Robert has magic dust, and we hope some of it rubs off on us,” HFZ’s Ziel Feldman said in 2017.Also aiding in the transformation were Architecture at Large’s Rafael de Cárdenas, who handled the amenity spaces and a model unit; Ed Hollander, who landscaped the 22,000-square-foot courtyard; and Anna Karlin, who decorated another model residence with many of her own creations.While de Cárdenas—who was named one of Galerie’s Creative Minds—has already unveiled a model unit filled with custom furnishings, the residents lounge and private dining room are only now making their debut. “The material and color palette is on the cool side, which gives the spaces a smarter and crisper vibe,” he says of both interiors, which are divided by a structural column. “The silvery greens and grays are simply elegant.”For the furnishings, his team crafted a custom undulating sofa to connect both ends of the long lounge, as a way to unite them visually and practically. In addition to Apparatus sconces and pieces from the Future Perfect and Avenue Road, other favorites include a pair of graceful Pierre Paulin chairs in a muted sea-foam color. “They have an exuberant form to complement the sumptuous curvature of all the lounge furniture,” de Cárdenas tells Galerie. “We also tend to use textiles from Dedar and Maharam, and the fabric choices here feel special while also being practical and tough on wear.” Adding a worldly touch are a pair of luminous 19th-century Japanese screens, as well as an array of small handmade works by artist Hon Eui Chen, who de Cárdenas commissioned to create the dining room’s painterly abstract work.Meanwhile, New York designer Anna Karlin—who works across interiors, furnishings, decor, and jewelry—wanted to craft a model unit with her signature mix of custom, contemporary, and vintage pieces. “We always start with a character,” she explains of her approach. “Who do we think lives here?” The answer was a well-traveled family who had amassed a curated collection of one-of-a-kind treasures. “I wanted to bring the lived-in feel to what is essentially a fictional space—if we can make it warm and lovely, then we’ve done a good job.”One of the standout works that Karlin created is the living area’s arresting bent-steel floor lamp, sculpted in the contours of a face and featuring a glass bulb for the eye. “I’m obsessed with that piece, and it was so fun to put in here,” she tells Galerie. Vintage finds abound, including a lamp in the home office and a suite of Carlos Scarpa dining chairs. Karlin also amped up the sleeping quarters, one of which she designed with a teenage girl in mind. “To keep it sophisticated, we did tone on tone and texture on texture,” she notes. “It’s not baby pink but slightly off, and there are really cool vintage sconces and a chandelier. It’s still fun and feels a little chic.”While the pandemic halted work before installation could get underway earlier this year, the overall interior design plan was not effected. “This was such a fun project because we were really aligned with client,” says Karlin. “Everyone wants to do their best creatively, and I know the client needs to be neutral and not too hard in one direction. Together we danced that line.”
The XI’s Exterior Continues To Take Shape In Chelsea
October 6th, 2020
Curtain wall installation is shaping up on The XI, a twisting pair of 36- and 26-story residential structures at 76 Eleventh Avenue in Chelsea. Designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group and developed by HFZ Capital Group, the 908,250-square-foot complex stands on the western side of the High Line along the Hudson River waterfront. The mixed-use property will yield 236 condominiums and a 137-room Six Senses Hotel Resort Spa, which will be the first location in the United States. Omnibuild is in charge of the construction and Douglas Elliman is handling sales and marketing.Recent photos show the steady progress on the framing that will hold up each of the travertine panels. They are being installed in the interstitial spaces between the grid of large rectangular windows, most of which are already installed.
A New Garden Grows Within an Iconic New York City Building
August 28th, 2020
Manhattan’s Belnord residential building gets a new look—and verdant courtyard—courtesy of RAMSA and master landscaper Edmund HollanderIn elegant European capitals such as Copenhagen and Rome, great residential buildings were often anchored around airy private courtyards. However, in space-starved New York—which saw Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park as a sort of public courtyard—prime real estate was rarely so generously parceled out.But there have been notable exceptions: like William Waldorf Astor’s the Apthorp by architects Clinton & Russell on Broadway and West 78th Street, and Vincent Astor’s Astor Court by architect Charles A. Platt a few blocks north—both of which feature lavishly landscaped private courtyards.Now a third notable Upper West Side building, the Belnord, is emerging from a comprehensive overhaul that has seen its central courtyard born anew. Completed in 1908 by architects Hiss and Weeks, the 1908 Italian Renaissance building includes a 22,000-square-foot landmarked courtyard centered around a Vermont marble fountain.
Design Can Be ‘A Great Way to Bring Joy to a Home,’ Says French Designer
May 25th, 2020
Pierre Yovanovitch embraces organic shapes and natural hues and materials French designer Pierre Yovanovitch founded his Paris-based atelier in 2001 after a career as a menswear designer for Pierre Cardin. His interior design style blends haute couture, architectural elements, high art and vintage furnishings to create dynamic interiors. An avid art collector himself, Mr. Yovanovitch, 54, often incorporates contemporary work into his designs or commissions emerging artists for on-site works. His portfolio spans residential, hospitality and commercial projects, which include French chateaus and New York City penthouses. Most recently, he designed a collection of penthouses at the Bjarke Ingels-designed The XI in Manhattan’s West Chelsea. He also recently launched a new monograph and a new furniture collection at R & Company gallery in New York called Love. We caught up with Mr. Yovanovitch, who is based in Paris with an office in New York, to discuss the importance of creating definitive spaces in a home (now more than ever), finding the perfect French chateau, and more.
2019 Year-In-Review
January 1st, 2020
HFZ Capital Group would like to celebrate select notable highlights from 2019. Portfolio-wide HFZ achieved and exceeded many milestones and formed new and interesting partnerships along the way. We look forward to seeing what transpires in 2020.
Penthouse Atop a Manhattan Boutique Condo Enters Into Contract for $11 Million
December 20th, 2019
The largest and most expensive penthouse at 88&90 Lex, a twin-tower complex in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, has found a buyer for $11 million.The 3,368-square-foot, four-bedroom residence, dubbed Penthouse A, went into contract last week, per listing records. The buyer intends to use the penthouse as a primary residence in New York, a source familiar with the deal told Mansion Global.This sale “reflects a major milestone that demonstrates the thoughtful design, desirable amenities and ideal location our buildings offer,” said Ziel Feldman, chairman and founder of HFZ Capital Group, the developer.
The Best-Designed New Hotels of 2020
December 17th, 2019
From a luxe Paris hôtel particulier with intimate pieds-à-terre to a sustainable private island off Mozambique with suites made from 3D-printed sandThe preeminent design hotel of 2020 is difficult to describe in just one word or phrase. Our newest annual list is curated with something for everyone. Architect Lord Norman Foster (who designed the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center that made our 2019 list) describes the hotels of the future as places that are all about lifestyles—inviting the community to become a part of the property.“Previously, hotels were more static, fortress-like, and off-putting,” Lord Foster tells AD, adding that unique vantage points are what make hotels exciting these days. “ You need architecture that is calming, not shouting at you.” Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal, president of Fischer Travel Enterprises, whose clients always look for something special, says that affluent travelers are seeking hotels and destinations with purpose and meaning, where lifelong memories can be created. “Luxury is the absence of worry, knowing you are in good hands,” she tells AD.Herewith, our favorite properties opening in or around 2020, with exceptional design, sense of place, and style.
This $5M Maisonette Is An Art Deco Lovers Dream And One-Of-A-Kind In Manhattan
December 12th, 2019
New York is renowned for its architecturally significant buildings from the Empire State Building to the Chrysler Building and everything in between, including cathedrals and museums. With its rich history in pre and post-war, the concrete jungle is filled with one-of-a-kind gems, including a $5M Maisonette that embraces its timeless Art Deco past, while incorporating sleek, modern interiors. The unique building, which is now a luxury condominium set in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood is the perfect example of the blending of pre-war architecture and contemporary, post-modern style. Any Art-Deco lover will love this unit, but don’t take our word for it, have a look inside.
Exterior Work Continues On Bjarke Ingels’ The XI In Chelsea
November 12th, 2019
The stone façade is continuing to ascend the twisting superstructures of The XI. The unique pair of reinforced concrete towers is designed by Bjarke Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group and stands immediately to the west of the High Line in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea. The 36- and 26-story structures topped out in March and will contain 236 condominiums and a 137-room Six Senses Hotel Resorts Spas, the first location in the United States. HFZ Capital Group is the developer of the 908,250-square-foot project, while Omnibuild is in charge of the ongoing construction at 76 Eleventh Avenue. Douglas Elliman is handling sales and marketing for the residences.