Governors Island's New Rolling Hills Will Open This Summer

    Thursday, January 21, 2016, by Amy Plitt

When Governors Island reopens to the public this summer, it'll have one very new, big attraction: the Hills, four sloping slabs of land totaling 10 acres, each of which has a specific purpose. Some are meant for active use—Slide Hill is pretty self-explanatory, and at 40 feet high, it'll have the city's longest slide—while others are intended to show off Governors Island's unique vantage point. The tallest of the four, Outlook Hill, will rise 70 feet over the island and have views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and the Manhattan skyline.
New York City Parks and Turner Construction Co went to Celebrity Designer Bobby Berk when it came time to sourcing the furniture that will outfit these amazing spaces.  Bobby chose pieces from Fermob and Loll Designs for their modern, cool design and superior quality.

In addition to all that, the 10 acres of parkland includes "43,000 new shrubs, more than 860 new trees, four slides, pedestrian paths, [and] lawns." The new section is part of the Governors Island master plan, which was designed by Dutch firm West 8 and has led to the addition of now-popular sites like Hammock Grove and the revamped Liggett Terrace. Though no exact opening date has been set yet for the Hills (the rest of the park opens May 28), they will debut a year ahead of schedule—a rarity for civic improvements in NYC.
↓ Slide Hill in January 2016, and a rendering what it will look like upon completion.

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↓ Discovery Hill in January 2016, and a rendering what it will look like upon completion.

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↓ Granite Scramble on Outlook Hill in January 2016, and what it will look like upon completion.

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↓ Liberty Moment in January 2016, and what it will look like upon completion.

Millennials, Allow Us to Present Your Dream House

by Kate Thorn on January 24, 2016

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Millennials have very specific ideas about what they do and don’t want — and real estate is no exception. A survey published last June by Pardee Home gave us a glimpse into what exactly millennials *do* want out of a home. They interviewed 503 people, ages 25-34, half of whom were already homeowners and half of whom were looking to buy within the next year. The survey showed that millennials want outdoor space, the ability to customize the interior (hello, Gen DIY) and all the urban conveniences but in a suburban setting. That seems like a pretty tall order, but Responsive Homes decided to put all those requests together into two millennial dream houses. See the incredible spaces below and get ready for some major home envy.

So what does a millennial-centered home design look like? The first Responsive Homes designed by Celebrity Designer, Bobby Berk have just been completed in Henderson, NV and are located close to Las Vegas. There are two models: a contemporary farmhouse and a contemporary transitional. Both homes are unique and totally customizable for each buyer.

The smaller of the two Responsive Homes is the 2,130-square-foot farmhouse. It boasts a $320,000 price tag that makes the prospect of home buying more attainable for those just starting their careers. The house also comes with room to expand in the future, with an upper-level loft area that can be converted into a bedroom and an optional flat over the garage for guests.

Even though it’s an affordable house, nothing feels cheap here. There are plenty of stylish, high-tech amenities that you’d usually never see in an entry-level home. The designers knew that millennials don’t want a “cookie-cutter home,” so they really focused on creating something unique with lots of modern and rustic touches.

The second, much larger home is a 3,194-square-foot transitional residence, which is targeted more toward the growing family. Millennials said more space is the biggest motivator to buy a home, but they still want to be close to recreation, walking trails and, of course, shopping.

Since outdoor activities and healthy living are a huge selling point for millennials, this $450,000 home boasts some serious outdoor living, including a covered private patio and the extra outdoor space and option to add a separate fitness room.

Combining with millennial-tailored design elements like adaptable floor plans, indoor-outdoor flow and bold design finishes, Responsive Homes has created two homes that they hope will satisfy millennials’ desire for tech-savvy and eco-friendly homes. Home tours are available to the public now. Vegas trip, anyone?
Calling all millennials! What do you think of these homes? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @BritandCo!
(h/t Builder)

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tags: architecture, Interior Design, millennials, study

About the author

Kate Thorn

Kate Thorn is an illustrator, foodie, photographer, and blogger at Create & Kate. She loves creating art, traveling, and all things chocolate. A native to the Great Northwest, she is currently living in London and pretending to be a mature grad student. Find Kate Thorn at http://createandkate.blogspot.com/. 

BOBBY BERK NAMED DESIGN DIRECTOR FOR RESPONSIVE HOME

The founder of Bobby Berk Home will bring first-hand knowledge of millennials to the TRI Pointe BUILDER venture, set for IBS 2016 in Las Vegas

By Lauren Hunter

Bobby Berk, founder of growing design firm Bobby Berk Home, is joining the team of innovative brands that will bring the 2016 Responsive Home to life. Berk will serve as design director for the two-home concept project, which BUILDER is developing with TRI Pointe Group's Pardee Homes and Bassenian Lagoni Architects. Berk's affinity for clean and modern design will complement the homes' flexible spaces, and help attract the millennial buyers for whom they are designed.

"I love taking design cues from midcentury to modern to industrial modern, and making homes livable as well," Berk says. "There are brands out there right now that are a literal translation of my grandmother's home, and others where the home feels like a museum and you can't kick back and enjoy it. Millennials are all about entertaining and having people over. We try to think about all of that and the way design helps makes a home livable."

Berk adds that millennials are drawn to brands with a story behind them, making Bobby Berk Home an ideal brand for the Responsive Home project. Berk came to New York City from Texas in 2003, working retail while fostering his dream of creating a new design brand. "Millennials really related to brands that have a name behind them, something they can put a face to," he says. "Martha Stewart was really the pioneer of that concept and when you were putting your home together with Martha Stewart's collections, it's like she's helping you. It all comes back to having a story. When people have friends over to their house and it comes up that their sofa was designed by a 33-year-old guy, it becomes relatable."

Midcentury modern design inspires Bobby Berk's projects and vignettes in Bobby Berk Home retail stores.

Berk's "affordable luxury" positioning is another aspect of the brand that millennials will appreciate. The first Bobby Berk Home retail store opened in 2007, followed by a market crash in 2008. "In that situation, we made the decision to make great design with products your grandchildren will fight over, and do it at an affordable price," Berk says. The concept matches Pardee Homes' positioning in the market as a premium brand at every price point, making higher-quality amenities and finishes standards compared to what builders offer in the same price point.

Berk will address all the interior design and outdoor furniture for both homes in the Responsive Home project, and will also consult on the project's landscaping. He says he look forward to bringing his brand of personalization to the concept homes.

"One of the things we try to do with product in our stores is to offer tailored choices to gives customers an element of customization without worry about making the wrong choice," Berk says. "To me, a responsive home is one that interacts with you, and it's important to a millennial that their home adapts to them, responding to your lifestyle and where you live."

Unique features of the Responsive Home will be revealed this spring, followed by a goal of breaking ground in June 2015 in the Inspirada master-planned community. The Responsive Home will debut during at the 2016 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Visit Builder Online, or find the Responsive Home on Facebook to follow the project's progress.

Palm Springs Modernism Week with Bobby Berk and Christopher Kennedy

We're excited to announce an amazing collaboration with Bobby Berk and Christopher Kennedy on this years Palm Springs Modernism Week Compound.  We're putting together an amazing Mid-Century Modern Home in the heart of Palm Springs sponsored by Traditional Home Magazine and California Homes Magazine.

Retro IPhone5 Wallpaper by Bobby Berk

Check out the latest Retro IPhone5 Wallpaper design by Bobby Berk.  For this design, Bobby drew his inspiration from the vintage television series, SPACE 1999.  Take a look at the photos below and see if you can see some of the set design in his wallpaper.

Check out Celebrity Designer, Bobby Berk as he talks about his design for MODA's "The South's Next Wave Design Challenge".