Director Michael Bay's Santa Barbara House goes on the market for $6.8 million.

In early September, the spectacular Santa Barbara residence of 45 year old director Michael Bay (of the Transformers franchise, the Island, The Rock, Armaggedon, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys and countless commercials) went on the market for 6.8 million.

Holy Modern Home! Renovated Church Townhouse In Utrecht Is For Sale.

In 2009, the Saint Jakobus Church, located in Utrecht, on Bemuurde Weerd Oostzijde 56, was converted under architectural supervision of Zecc Architecture, into a beautiful modern town house called "The Residential Church XL."

Originally built in 1870, the Utrecht Old Catholic Parish had ordered the construction of a church and vicarage. Architect Gerard Gerritsen 'finished the job' in a little more than seven months, for the sum of 25,481 florins.



The church tower at the front was unfortunately too heavy for the foundation and had to be demolished in 1889. The Saint Jakobus was a soberly decorated church, being the only church built in Utrecht in the so-called 'plasterers' gothic style.




Inside, the stained glass windows date back to 1911:




The original nave (14 meters high) is impressive, but the balanced design of the inner space ensures that a human dimension is not ignored.



The atmosphere, created by both the furniture and styling, is the work of Thomas Haukes from (springers) wonen. The result complements the strong design of the architecture, creating an extremely original, modern and streamlined living space.




The clear plainness that the Saint Jakobus exuded at the time of architect Gerard Gerritsen still gives power today to this monumental building.




The current owners were very careful in the renovation and refurbishment. The renowned Utrecht-based firm of ZECC Architects undertook the transformation from church to home with a great attention to light, space and functionality.

Unfurnished upper level:


The former Saint Jakobus Church is of historic and architectural significance due to its location and relationship with the surroundings. The church is also registered as municipal monument.

Good restaurants, cafes and terraces full of atmosphere but the city will not disappoint you in its cultural side: it offers various museums, theaters and concert halls.

Most attractions and nightlife spots are within walking distance.



Some specs and details of the home for you:

Dimensions (approximately)
• Parcel (own ground) 670 m2
• Living area 475 m2
• Front garden 90 m2
• Back garden 150 m2

HOUSE - GENERAL
• Living kitchen
• Elevated living room floor
• Hobby room/study
• Study
• Sleeping room/bathroom (incl. toilet)
• Guestroom/ bathroom (incl. toilet)
• Guest toilet

KITCHEN
• BULTHAUP cooking island (3.60 m x 1.20 m)
• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• 5-burner induction cooker
• Combi-oven
• Quooker
• 2 pantries
• Remotely-controlled sophisticated lighting program.

MISC.
• The Church is registered as municipal monument
• (newly implemented) architectural elements built under warranty
• Isolated crawlspace
• No previously existing cemetery
• Full exterior painting done
• Owners are members of Monumentenwacht
• Municipal subsidy confirmed for long-term external maintenance

EXTRA OPTIONS
• Internal elevator
• Bar
• Electronically operated railing in front garden
• Alarm installation
• Additional sleeping room(s)


FOR SALE: BEMUURDE WEERD OOSTZIJDE 56 UTRECHT

The renovated church is for sale right now, if you are interested, please contact THOMAS HAUKES +31 (0)6 53 67 19 14 | info@wonkerk xl.com

Wild Modernist Home For Sale. I Mean Reeeeallly Wild.

This single family Hollywood Hills home, built in 1990, has been on the market for a few months now and is listed at $1,995,000 (recently reduced by $200,000).

Without a doubt, the home is very polarizing in its appeal. The 2,490 square foot single family residence, which sits upon a 7,650 sq foot lot, has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and some of the most unusual interior and exterior architecture I've ever seen. Filled with ultra modern furnishings, textiles and art (some stunning, some hideous) I've never seen another home quite like it.



The exterior is that of a very modernist style. Multiple sharp planes jutting out here and there, outdoor catwalks, mitered glass windows, rooms that open to the backyard with curtains. The swimming pool has a cement deck which actually hovers over the water, a wonderful terraced space for entertaining complete with built in outdoor grill, and black stairs descending to the lower level.

exterior:



The exterior of the home on the ground floor opens into the interior:



Inside the home is filled with unusual jutting angular walls, interior windows that allow you to look from one room to another, angular ceiling beams, black interior walls and ceilings with pin spot lighting, interior catwalks with glass railings, cement flooring, white interior doors, wood log interior walls, giant plate glass windows, and lots of built ins.

Interior:





The piece of art shown in the image above (and below) is by a Russian artist I have profiled here.







Recently reduced by $200,000, the asking price is $1,995,000.
The home is located at 3391 Ledgewood Drive in Los Angeles, CA. in the east Hollywood canyons:

To schedule a showing contact Rose + Chang

16w21 Apartments By Zac Posen Get Dolled Up In Their New Ad Campaign.

To promote designer Zac Posen's new residential loft apartments, 16 west 21st street in New York (referred to as 16w21), Imagination NYC created an ad campaign using 12" articulated dolls as the main characters to represent the hip, urban, sophisticated "Model Life."





The five "Model Apartment" videos (all shown later in this post) air in New York taxicabs (but only within a 10 bock radius of the building) and online. The integrated campaign also features print, outdoor and digital ads, also shown in this post.

A smart move given that the apartments are not yet completed (i.e. no sets yet) and that dolls are far less expensive to shoot than models (no residuals!). In addition to the creative cost-cutting techniques, by using Ken and Barbie-like dolls in stop motion animation for the Anthem video and the four other Model Room videos, they attract an edgier, more youthful audience.

The Print Ads:







The Promotional Videos


The Model Apartments Anthem Spot:




The Model Living Room:



The Model Bedroom:



The Model Kitchen:



The Model Bathroom:



   

The amenities, designed by fashion designer Zac Posen.

The Building has: Keyless remote entry with 24 hour offsite monitoring, a part time doorman with virtual doorman services, Spa and Fitness center, refrigerated storage and package room, keyed elevator access, 9 foot high ceilings, oak flooring, solid wood doors and Bosch washers and dryers and a common roof deck. Bathrooms have: Regency Noir Mosiac tile flooring, Siberian white marble wall tiles, Venetian style stucco wall finishes, custom designed mirrored vanity cabinets with double wet style sinks, Zuma Whirlpool and Airbath Tub, Duravit WC, Robern mirrored medicine cabinets with integrated electric outlet and Lefroy Brooks Mackintosh series fixtures in Polished Chrome. Kitchens have: Porcelain enamel cast iron sinks, Lefroy Brooks faucets, Direct vent Meile hoods, Miele gas cooktop, electric oven, dishwasher; Subzero Combination Refrigerator/Freezer, Wine Storage, Trousdale Marble mosaic floor, and Venetian White marble wall tiles, countertops and Tub surrounds.  

The Architect

16W21'S principal architect, Morris Adjmi, is globally renown for realizing visions that both "fit in and stand out" with their respective context. In the instance of his most recent project, Adjmi drew inspiration from the neoclassical limestone and white-washed brick buildings of New York's Ladies Mile Historic District. And then he reimagined the neighborhood's vernacular. By combining contemporary vision, cutting-edge building technologies, and a custom glass facade, cut in Spain by Cricursa, he has produced a residence that is, like ice, whiter than white, reflecting the history of a city and establishing a modern landmark that frames the warmth of the light and vibrancy of the life within. The 14 stories will be divided into 9 units; 1 garden "townhouse," 5 full-floors, 2 duplexes and a triplex penthouse with prices starting in the mid $2 million dollars. below are artist renderings of the Penthouse and Townhouse floor plans (please click to enlarge and see a clearer image):



The building in progress:
 
above: MA’s 16 W 21st Street project, a residential loft building going up in the Ladies Mile Historic District near the famed Flatiron Building, recently topped out at 14 stories. A special topping out ceremony/spiritual offering was hosted by the building owner. When complete, this unique building will boast a facade constructed entirely out of glass (columns, spandrels, cornice, etc.) that will mimic the historic details of the district.

 16w21 

Related links:
Zac Posen MA Imagination