The fencing around The Crest in Park Slope has come down. The mindboggling results are above. We will refrain from a long diatribe about how such architecture is the equivalent of saying “screw you” to the streetscape and how people that design residential buildings this way should be held up to professional ridicule for designing […]
Entries Tagged as 'Architecture'
Park Slope Crest Improves Fouth Ave. Streetscape
December 31st, 2007 · 9 Comments
Tags: Architecture · Park Slope
"Action" on Scarano Projects "After the Holiday"?
December 22nd, 2007 · Comments Off on "Action" on Scarano Projects "After the Holiday"?
News of the new permits for the Caroll Gardens Hell Building at 333 Carroll Street has gotten around the neighborhood and residents have been emailing city officials. One reply making the rounds says that elected officials are still working on a variety of issues related to architect Robert Scarano: We are trying, but even Scarano […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens
Bklink: Skeptical of DOB Defense of Scarano Deal
December 13th, 2007 · Comments Off on Bklink: Skeptical of DOB Defense of Scarano Deal
“The deal does nothing to counter the notion that DOB (or at least the Brooklyn office) exists to protect developers, contractors and architects, rather than to regulate construction and enforce zoning rules.”–Brooklyn 11211
Tags: Architecture · Shortlink
Dept. of Buildings Response to Scarano Controversy
December 11th, 2007 · 4 Comments
We got an email from the press office at the Department of Buildings responding to the controversy about the “stipulations” signed by Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster concerning architect Robert Scarano. A Daily News article on Sunday detailed agreements the Building Commissioner signed as part of the arrangement that led to Mr. Scarano’s giving up of […]
Tags: Architecture · Construction Issues
Buildings Commissioner Signed Interesting Scarano Agreements
December 9th, 2007 · 1 Comment
Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster signed off on some interesting stipulations as part of Brooklyn architect Robert Scarano’s agreement to surrender self-certification privileges last year, according to a story in today’s Daily News. Architects in New York City are able to “self-certify” that their work meets city zoning and building regulations. Controversies arose over Mr. Scarano’s […]
Tags: Architecture · Construction Issues
Old & New: Friends or Frenemies on Union Street?
December 4th, 2007 · 12 Comments
These buildings are neighbors. The two photos were sent to us by the same very special GL correspondent who provided yesterday’s tale of the Carniceria sign on Smith Street. Our correspondent writes: Picture one [left] is of very nice, renovated brownstone with, not-quite-original- but-it’ll-do, iron shutters. On Union Street in Carroll Gardens. This lovely thing […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens
Zoning Amendments Might Produce Bigger, Bulkier Buildings
November 19th, 2007 · 2 Comments
Earlier this year, the American Institute of Architects proposed “text amendments” to city zoning that have flown relatively under the radar could result in bulkier, taller buildings in areas of the city with certain zoning (including many Brooklyn neighborhoods). Aaron Brashear of Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights sent out an email over the weekend about […]
Tags: Architecture
What ‘s That Thing on Top? Williamsburg Facadomy Update
November 15th, 2007 · Comments Off on What ‘s That Thing on Top? Williamsburg Facadomy Update
This is 66 N. 1st Street in Williamsburg, which was a What’s That Thing on Top honoree back in May. The building has evolved since then and its latest turn has left it looking like a facadomy victim. Not only does it have that rather odd thing on top, but it now sports a new […]
Tags: Architecture · Williamsburg
Carroll Gardens Luquer Street ‘Monstrosity’ Poking Up
November 7th, 2007 · Comments Off on Carroll Gardens Luquer Street ‘Monstrosity’ Poking Up
While architects like Robert Scarano (see below) seem to garner an inordinate amount of headlines both online and in print, other architects are making a significant impact on both the Brooklyn streetscape and skyline. One of them is Karl Fischer, whose work is almost everywhere one turns in Williamsburg, and can be found in South […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens
The World According to Scarano
November 7th, 2007 · 1 Comment
Brooklyn’s most well known architect, Robert Scarano, finally has his say on a wide range of topics in an interview that’s part of an excellent story in the November issue of the Real Deal. It’s fascinating to see the gentleman who has embraced some controversial building techniques and put up some buildings about which people […]
Tags: Architecture
Bad Chi Building Takes Shape on Skillman
October 3rd, 2007 · Comments Off on Bad Chi Building Takes Shape on Skillman
It’s hard to say what to make architecturally of these cheese-wedge balconies at 63 Skillman Street. Our Greenpoint Correspondent called them Skillman Daggers, although to us, it looks more like stacked Wedges of Sharp Cheddar. Actually, the case can be made that if ever an Feng Shui consultant would be required by occupants of buildings, […]
Tags: Architecture · Williamsburg
Dumbo’s "Thing on Top" Making Good Progress
October 2nd, 2007 · 2 Comments
One might call the thing growing atop 53 Bridge Street one of the most impressive growths to sprout atop an old building in all of Brooklyn. What’s equally impressive is that the The Thing on 53 Bridge has progressed amazingly well since we last trained our camera on it, especially given the Stop Work Orders […]
Tags: Architecture · Dumbo
Translating the Miss Brooklyn Naming Story from Japanese
September 29th, 2007 · Comments Off on Translating the Miss Brooklyn Naming Story from Japanese
So, how would Frank Gehry’s story about naming Miss Brooklyn–his Atlantic Yards tower–read if it were translated from its Japanese version back into English by an auto-translation program? No Land Grab did and the results are funny. A sample: All these motley colors, all these sincere Victoria type construction, took his starry night recollected a […]
Tags: Architecture · Atlantic Yards
Carroll Gardens Developer Addresses "the Scarano Issue"
September 12th, 2007 · 4 Comments
You might recall that one of the issues connected to the building at 360 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens was the involvement of Robert Scarano as the architect. In fact, City Council Member Bill de Blasio had previously called on Billy Stein, the developer, to “end the curse of Scarano” and demanded his removal from […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens · Construction Issues
The Bunker in Gowanus Getting an Exterior
August 31st, 2007 · 3 Comments
Finally! The building we like to call The Bunker on Bond and Carroll Streets in Gowanus because of its stunning street-side lack of windows abundance of wall space, is getting a skin. The facade appears to be white. You will also note the exterior wood paneling, which is a trademark of architect Robert Scarano on […]
Tags: Architecture · Gowans
New Building Putting the Green Back in Greenpoint
August 31st, 2007 · Comments Off on New Building Putting the Green Back in Greenpoint
Given that we featured a jaw-dropping Gowanus building designed by Karl Fischer earlier this week, we figure this is a good time to have another look at one of the architect’s buildings rising on Diamond Street in Greenpoint. (We last checked on it July.) The photo comes from our Greenpoint correspondent. Of the green facade […]
Tags: Architecture · Greenpoint
Spitzer Signs Bill to Crack Down on Fradulent Building Plans
August 17th, 2007 · Comments Off on Spitzer Signs Bill to Crack Down on Fradulent Building Plans
NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer has signed Assembly Bill #7746, which gives the Department of Buildings the authority to refuse to accept plans from architects or engineers “who have been found to have knowingly submitted false or inaccurate plans to the DOB in the past.” The so-called “self-certification” bill “empowers the Department of Buildings (DOB) to […]
Tags: Architecture
What Were They Thinking? Fedders Special
August 1st, 2007 · 3 Comments
We featured this building as a “Construction Site Du Jour” back in the spring because it was so special. Well, now that it’s been fully unveiled to the public, it’s just as nice. It’s not as, uh, ornate in design as some of our previous “What Were They Thinking?” friends. Nonetheless, its utilitarian character and […]
Tags: Architecture · East Williamsburg
Checking in on the New Brick Thing at Smith & Ninth
July 28th, 2007 · Comments Off on Checking in on the New Brick Thing at Smith & Ninth
Granted that the surroundings at Smith and Ninth Street are not the most uplifting in Brooklyn. That having been said, however, the contribution this structure will make toward neighborhood beautification is of, uh, limited value. The building is the work of of Henry Radusky and the ubiquitous Bricolage Designs. It’s a four-story, 50-foot high building […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens · Red Hook
Is This Why The Bunker on Bond Doesn’t Have Windows?
July 24th, 2007 · 7 Comments
Oh God. Here we go again. Yes, this a building designed by you know who. (Hint: His first name is Robert. His last name is Scarano.) We have featured it many times and named it The Bunker and/or The Bunker on Bond because of its striking lack of windows. In any case, you can look […]
Tags: Architecture · Gowanus
More of the New Look on the Burg’s N. 7th Street
July 19th, 2007 · Comments Off on More of the New Look on the Burg’s N. 7th Street
What you’re looking at is the future of 253 N. 7th Street on top, and the existing building in its current state of deconstruction. The new 253 N. 7th, which also sports an address of 245 N. 8th, is the work of Michael Muroff Architect. The firm describes the new building as follows: In industrial […]
Tags: Architecture · Williamsburg
Old vs. New on Boerum Hill
July 19th, 2007 · 4 Comments
There is nothing particularly brand new about this juxtaposition. It’s just that we happened to pay more attention to it the other day and noticed the 1876 atop 333 Warren Street, which is next door to 335 Warren Street. We also noted that the flowers in the windows of the empty building are a nice […]
Tags: Architecture · Boerum Hill
Scarano Wins Architecture Award
July 18th, 2007 · 2 Comments
Controversial Brooklyn architect Robert Scarano recently recieved two awards from the New York Society of American Registered Architects. The late June awards were reported by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle yesterday. He recieved the Housing Award of Merit for the Manhattan Park Condos in Greenpoint (above). The other awards was for a residential tower in the […]
Tags: Architecture
Another Anti-Scarano Rally Today
July 17th, 2007 · Comments Off on Another Anti-Scarano Rally Today
Last week, we reported on the rally/media event against architect Robert Scarano that City Council Member Bill de Blasio was organizing for today. At the time, Mr. de Blasio’s office was considering having it at the Department of Education’s office, as he is asking for the architect to lose his professional certification. Well, a change […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens
Attack Continues: "Next Scarano Rally" Being Planned
July 12th, 2007 · Comments Off on Attack Continues: "Next Scarano Rally" Being Planned
GL has learned that City Council Member Bill de Blasio is planning another rally against architect Robert Scarano for Tuesday, July 17. How did we learn this? An email from Mr. de Blasio’s office is making the rounds among Carroll Gardens residents. It says in part: We are looking to do our next event calling […]
Tags: Architecture · Carroll Gardens