Who doesn’t know New York City? Even if you haven’t been there, you’ve heard a lot about her. We all know them, the names: The Big Apple, or The City That Never Sleeps. But while one of the most famous cities in the world, it is impossible to know them completely. New York City is changing daily.
A few years ago, Brooklyn was one of the most socially ill-posed neighborhoods, and now it’s so hip that everyone wants to go there, and not just to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Queens has become a hub for tourists wandering through the multicultural streets of the Immigrant Quarter. But what makes this city so special and above all a design metropolis? If you google New York City you will find the well-known: Times Square, Central Park, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty. But that’s not all, what makes the city and gives it this unique charm.
New Yorkers always seem to be stressed, everyone rushes from one place to another. On foot, by subway, or by taxi. Tourists struggle through the crowds of Times Square, waiting for hours to visit the 9/11 Museum. We want to get away from the hustle and bustle, the many lights in Times Square that wind their way to the Rockefeller Center entrance. New York City has more to offer then the aforementioned sights. Even the origin of many trends, whether fashion, food or design, lies in the most popular city in the USA. No matter which street you’re strolling around and which block you walk around, in New York City you’ll find design everywhere.
Here are a few of our favorite places in the metropolis and design city:
PRADA STORE
The Prada Store on Broadway in Soho looks more like a fantastic exhibit than a shop. A wavy structure of tropical zebra wood, designed by Rem Koolhaas in 2001, connects the two floors of the shop. Even the ceiling-mounted showcases, which serve as further exhibition space, are unique. In pictures, this is only half as spectacular – you have to see!
NOMO KITCHEN
The NOMO Hotel is located in the heart of thriving Soho (South of Houston Street) in Lower Manhattan. The adjoining NOMO Kitchen Restaurant is set in a sort of modern greenhouse with glass facades, elegant chandeliers, marble tables and a glass sculpture designed by Beth Lipman hanging from the ceiling. Some people also know this location from the movie “Best Enemies”. In addition to the beautiful location, delicious food from the top chef. Our favorite: Ricotta Pancakes!
ROCKEFELLER PARK
If you are looking for a cozy place away from the bustle of the city, you should not miss the Nelson A. Rockefeller Park. This is located on the Hudson River, with beautiful views of the New Jersey skyline. You will find plenty of sculptures, a pool and tables with integrated chess boards where you can pass the time. Instead, you see native New Yorkers completing their morning run, walking with their dog, or just reading the New York Times on the park bench with a cup of coffee in hand.
WORLD TRADE CENTER STATION
Ever wanted to travel or feel like Will Smith in the movie “iRobot”? That’s possible in New York. Not only from the outside is the futuristic node a highlight, the interior is incredibly impressive. As you enter the Oculus, you feel like you were in 2025. In bright white, the World Trade Center Station shines, revealing the modernity and futuristic nature of the color white. In 2016, the design of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was realized. Since then, every day a quarter of a million people are moving through the Oculus.
If you stand on one of the galleries at the end of the building, you have the feeling of watching a thousand small ants marching through a white cell. However, if you prefer to enjoy culinary delicacies or have your credit card glow, you will find something in one of the restaurants or shops in the 80,000 square meter train station.
BAR HUGO ROOFTOP
As in every big city, New York has the best view from above. Of course you can get a great view of the city on the famous Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building or One World. But for those who want a bit more comfortable, rooftop bars are a must. Our favorite? Bar Hugo Rooftop. A stylish bar on the roof of the Hotel Hugos in the middle of Soho. Not only does it have a great view of NYC skyscrapers. The icing on the cake of this rooftop is the view of the Hudson River and the skyline of New Jersey. The sunset here is fantastic! And in contrast to the scenic sights of the city, access to Bar Hugo is free. So you can treat yourself to two or three drinks.
NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
When talking about a museum in NYC, the first thing you think about is the MOMA. One of the most respected museums in the world is often overshadowed. The “New Museum of Contemporary Art” is a museum of contemporary art. In bright white and cubic forms, the building stands between residential buildings in Lower Manhattan in the eye.
Since December 2007, the museum has resided on Bowery Street in an exceptional building. This was designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. If you do not want to spend your time in NYC inside museums, do not miss the building from the outside.
