David Mandl

Most 1,203-word Sunday Times articles about combined-unit condos with nine surround-sound speakers and 14 plasma televisions and a 15-foot retractable theater screen and 35 electrically shaded windows stir up throbbing, bilious resentment.

But there was something unpredictably lovely about a July 2005 profile of the apartment that architect David Mandl built for himself and his wife, Anita, at 280 Park Avenue South. The article ends with Ms. Mandl explaining that they watch a little TV, but prefer putting photographs from their three decades together up on those 15 screens.

A few months after that article was published, Mr. Mandl, who co-founded the much-lauded firm Meltzer/Mandl Architects, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  read more »

Renowned architect David Mandl passed away on August 4 following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 53.

Mr. Mandl made a name for himself in New York by being the first architect to transform a downtown office building into a luxury apartment building with 45 Wall Street. A New York native and Pratt Institute graduate, Mr. Mandl was a member of the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) and a former board member of the New York Society of Architects. He was also president of the firm Meltzer/Mandl Architects.  read more »

• The world doesn't need another "wellness community" real estate article, but luckily Forbes' entry into the genre includes the following: "[W]hat is happening is the boomers have spent the whole time in the office, and they somewhat forgot themselves," and "It's not just about going to a gym. It's not about working on your mind a little bit." [Forbes]
• From the Lights of Dyker Heights to the 'Burg and Bergen Beach, Gowanus Lounge has the full guide to Brooklyn's glowing holiday cheer. Prospect Park, lord bless them, has 600,000 lightbulbs alone. [G.L.]
• Here's a grossly Manhattanized version of the news above: Sachs Fifth Avenue's yearly yuletide celebration will only consume "the energy equivalent of three toaster ovens." Green Design is officially chic. [Interior Design]
• Jonathan Miller has a must-read analysis of real estate bubble blogging, written (in part) as a response to a recent PBS piece. Mr. Miller's conclusion? "Lord help us." [Matrix]
• Jewish Condo News of the Year: A press release we got on Thursday brags that Riverdale's "Kosher-smart" condominium has "secured the approval of the community." Architect David Mandl admits that the community "was weary of the project," but apparently the golden Jerusalem Stone at the base won them over. More gold, after the jump.
- Max Abelson  read more »
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Chic in chic Greenpoint

The ultra-modern, ultra-chic architects at Meltzer/Mandl are conquering Brooklyn, one warehouse- to- condo conversion at a time. First came the curvaceous Vanderbilt in Clinton Hill. Up next? A pair of "strikingly modern" apartment buildings, with 130 units, at 110 Green and 133-137 Huron Street.

The concrete and glass condos will be "contextual with the scale of the surrounding buildings"--Meltzer and Mandl sure know how to sweet talk--yet the firm promises to bring dynamism to the defunct Greenpoint manufacturing district.

As for that vibrancy, there will be a 360-foot window of colored spandrel glass, plus 16 new trees, a public roof terrace and pool. Spandrelific!  read more »

The full release, as always, is after the jump.

An oasis of luxury?

Two lucky Clinton Hill warehouses are about to turn into two six-story condos (plus a 60-foot inner courtyard, plus a shiny pool.) The curvy Vanderbilt Apartments, designed by Meltzer/Mandl Architects, will be made of clear and "colored spandrel glass."

According to the designers, all this luxurious shine will set "the benchmark for future new construction in Clinton Hill." Enjoy!

Full release after the jump.  read more »