Curbed Boston: All Posts by Curbed StaffLove where you live2016-02-12T13:46:45-05:00https://boston.curbed.com/authors/curbedstaff3114925/rss2016-02-12T13:46:45-05:002016-02-12T13:46:45-05:00Stroll Down 6 of the Most Romantic Main Streets in the U.S.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p> <br>It's <strong>Valentine's Day weekend</strong>, meaning romantic clichés are inescapable. Between candlelit dinners and confectionary gifts, stock ways to show affection can become a little bit much. It may be the architecture fan in us, but we think there's something to be said for taking a stroll down a particularly well-designed, and perhaps well-preserved, main street. </p>
<p> The following list of exemplary city centers, compiled by the <a href="http://www.preservationnation.org/">National Trust for Historic Preservation</a> and <a href="http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/about-main-street/main-street-america/main-street-america.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/">Main Street America</a>, is far from complete. Add your own suggestions for great streets for a romantic stroll in the comments.</p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/11/most-romantic-streets-national-trust-for-historic-preservation.php">Six picks, from Dutch-style architecture to southern charm >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/12/11029370/stroll-down-6-of-the-most-romantic-main-streets-in-the-usCurbed Staff2016-02-11T13:16:19-05:002016-02-11T13:16:19-05:00A Proposed Skyscraper Rethinks Tower Design
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p><strong>Skyscraper technology</strong> is constantly racing to keep up with new designs and the needs of developers, and few places have seen and spurred on as much change as China. A new proposal for a city in the Pearl River Delta designed by <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2015/09/28/plp-architecture-new-york-office-space-the-edge.php">PLP Architecture</a>, a theater and arts complex bracketed by two towers, offers a new take on skyscraper design that meets a commercial request by breaking with tradition.</p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/09/nexus-skyscraper-design-plp-architecture.php">Read on >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/11/11029784/a-proposed-skyscraper-rethinks-tower-designCurbed Staff2016-02-10T14:34:05-05:002016-02-10T14:34:05-05:00Microwaves in Kitchens: Where's the Best Place to Put Them?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>A gorgeous kitchen renovation over on <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2016/01/before-after-a-fixer-upper-home-gets-a-new-kitchen.html">Design Sponge</a> got us thinking: Is there an art (or science) to microwave placement? As you can see in the photo above, the microwave there is tucked nicely beneath the counters, making way for a very clean, polished kitchen when viewed from normal height. Often recommended as a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houzz.com%2Fideabooks%2F54568640%2Flist%2F9-places-to-put-the-microwave-in-your-kitchen&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fboston.curbed.com%2F2016%2F2%2F10%2F11030076%2Fmicrowaves-in-kitchens-wheres-the-best-place-to-put-them" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">great</a> <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/5-alternate-locations-for-your-157514">alternate location</a> for a microwave, the rather popular under-counter move is not without its cons, however.</p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/10/where-to-put-microwave-kitchen.php">Where do YOU put the microwave? >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/10/11030076/microwaves-in-kitchens-wheres-the-best-place-to-put-themCurbed Staff2016-02-09T13:57:08-05:002016-02-09T13:57:08-05:00How Water Shapes Architecture in Arid Tucson
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>In Tucson, Arizona, says Jesús Robles, there's one topic that rarely recedes far from architectural considerations. "The larger conversation of this place revolves around water," he says. "Water and <strong>water security</strong> equals food security, which equals crop security, which equals economy for a region, state, a nation."</p>
<p> A typical year brings around twelve inches of rainfall to Tucson. After a <strong>drought crisis</strong> in the mid-1970s, water conservation became a major priority. And though the population of the area served by the city water authority has grown by more than a third since the late 1980s, water consumption has remained constant. With a handful of activist groups spearheading awareness on a more systemic level and residents increasingly choosing arid landscaping over lawns, installing rainwater recapture and gray water use systems, <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/15/arid-tucson-leads-the-way-in-water-conservation-out-west.html">Tucson is at the forefront of water conservation</a>. </p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/09/tucson-water-architecture-urbanism.php">How that plays out in architecture >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/9/10953376/how-water-shapes-architecture-in-arid-tucsonCurbed Staff2016-02-08T13:57:45-05:002016-02-08T13:57:45-05:00Marshawn Lynch's Bay Area Mansion Is the Most Lavish NFL Player House
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>The <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/05/tom-brady-mansion-marshawn-lynch-house-vote.php">people have spoken</a>: Seattle Seahawks running back <strong>Marshawn Lynch</strong> is the NFL player who owns the <strong>most over-the-top mansion</strong>. His <a href="http://seattle.curbed.com/archives/2012/10/beast-modes-beastmansion-inside-marshawn-lynchs-36m-new-home.php">7,000-square-foot waterfront retreat</a> triumphed over Tom Brady's former French villa-inspired estate to be named the champion of the first ever <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/home-field-advantage">real estate Super Bowl</a>.</p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/08/marshawn-lynch-house-bay-area.php">Check out the house >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/8/10940576/marshawn-lynchs-bay-area-mansion-is-the-most-lavish-nfl-player-houseCurbed Staff2016-02-05T13:02:38-05:002016-02-05T13:02:38-05:00Super Bowl Scoring: Pick the Best Football Player Houses, the Finals
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>New England Patriots quarterback <strong>Tom Brady</strong> couldn't pull out a win against the Denver Broncos to make it to Super Bowl 50, but his former 14,000-square-foot mansion <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/04/football-player-houses-tom-brady-rob-gronkowski-vote.php">easily trumped every lavish it home</a> it faced off against in our quest to find the most over-the-top house owned (previously or currently) by an NFL player. </p>
<p> Brady and his Brentwood estate, which he sold in 2014 to Dr. Dre, will now face one last challenger: Seattle Seahawks running back <strong>Marshawn Lynch</strong>. </p>
<p> Lynch's Bay Area-mansion is half the size of Brady's, but it sits right on the harbor and features a 58-foot long boat dock (the closest Brady's house gets to the water is a fake moat and a swimming pool). Which house should be named the champion of lavishness?</p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/05/tom-brady-mansion-marshawn-lynch-house-vote.php">Take a look at the houses and cast your final votes >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/5/10941034/super-bowl-scoring-pick-the-best-football-player-houses-the-finalsCurbed Staff2016-02-02T14:13:50-05:002016-02-02T14:13:50-05:00Rent in NYC, Seattle, Charlotte: What $2,000/Month Can Get You Right Now
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p><em>Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a column that explores what one can rent for a set dollar amount in various cities across the U.S. Is one man's studio another man's townhouse? Let's find out! Today's price: </em><em><strong>$2,000/month</strong></em><em>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br> <strong>↑ New York, NY (1.5 beds, 1 bath)</strong>—This is a convertible <a href="http://streeteasy.com/building/562-west-161-street-manhattan/2">two-bedroom apartment</a> in a renovated lime and brownstone townhouse in the historic Washington Heights neighborhood in upper Manhattan. With three arched windows, a trendy exposed brick wall (<a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2015/12/07/exposed-brick-tired-trends-that-are-over-2015-decor.php">of course</a>), hardwood floors, and in-unit washer/dryer, the 730-square-foot abode seems worthy of the trek uptown. </p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/02/rent-new-york-city-seattle-denver-charlotte-santa-monica-curbed-comparisons.php">Read on >> </a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/2/10942534/post-24Curbed Staff2016-02-02T09:00:00-05:002016-02-02T09:00:00-05:00Curbed Is Relaunching, and We Want Your Feedback
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Denizens, citizens, readers, hecklers: We know you love Curbed. You love to read it, you love to critique it, and you love to tell us what we should be covering. Now here's your chance to do that in a formalized way.</p>
<p> Here's the buried lede: <strong>Curbed is relaunching on February 21</strong> with a faster, souped-up engine (also known as Vox Media's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/business/media/voxcom-takes-melding-of-journalism-and-technology-to-next-level.html">proprietary publishing platform</a>, Chorus) and a better-looking and easier-to-navigate front end. You'll notice some subtle design changes, a stronger direction for photography, and more toys and tools that will help tell Curbed stories even better. Most importantly, we'll be introducing some new features—think original <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/house-calls">home tours</a>, <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/renovation-diary">renovation chronicles</a>, <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/home-tech">home tech</a> coverage, and more—alongside our better-than-ever <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/curbed-features">longform program</a>.</p>
<p> Now for your part. Below we've outlined the myriad ways to weigh in pre-launch, so hit us up with your most opinionated opinions. What recurring Curbed stories do you click on most? Which of the 16 homepages do you visit on the regular? What would you like to read more of?</p>
<p> · Comment on this post. <br>· Have more to say and prefer to do it privately? Send us an email at <a href="mail:beta@curbed.com">beta@curbed.com</a>. <br>· How about an anonymous survey that's already been formatted for you? <a href="http://goo.gl/forms/89NizsPHgY">Fill out our <strong>Google Form questionnaire</strong> right here.</a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/2/10942982/curbed-is-relaunching-and-we-want-your-feedbackCurbed Staff2016-02-02T08:54:24-05:002016-02-02T08:54:24-05:00Why Harvard Stadium's Revolutionary Concrete Construction Changed the Rules of Football
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>"During a blistery Sunday afternoon, 22 men took the field, gladiators preparing to do battle in front of a roaring crowd of spectators, all for a fleeting chance at glory." Football fans have heard similar, grandiose descriptions of the game for decades, comparing the players of yesterday and today to the warriors of antiquity. Any fan reading that line may have instantly switched into the steely baritone of an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmJhSF86H9U">NFL Films announcer</a>, perhaps adding the crackling of tackles and the boom of timpani drums as part of a subconscious soundtrack. </p>
<p> Gladiators and football players: it's a common comparison. And, when looking at the dawn of the sport, a somewhat apt one. When the first concrete football stadium in the country was being constructed on the storied Cambridge campus of Harvard University in 1903, sportswriters of the day considered it sacred ground, and believed the U-shaped structure would "rival those buildings in the ancient world solely given up to athletic games." Constantly <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F0DEFDC1439E433A2575AC2A96F9C946297D6CF">compared to the old stadium in Athens</a>—the school's drama department would even stage Greek plays inside its grand confines—the stadium helped reinforce Harvard football as one of the era's preeminent programs. From the early days of the sport, when football resembled what <a href="http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/10.23/00-stadium.html">one writer called</a> "a cross between rugby, soccer, and a bar fight," this massive edifice and forward-thinking structure helped elevate the competition, making a comparison to classical competitions all the more relevant. It also literally altered how we play the game. </p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/02/01/harvard-stadium-first-football-stadium.php">Full story at Curbed National >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/2/2/10887148/why-harvard-stadiums-revolutionary-concrete-construction-changed-theCurbed Staff2016-01-29T13:02:28-05:002016-01-29T13:02:28-05:00Toilet Room Within the Bathroom: The Ultimate Luxury or Just Absurd?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r4WPGBjiDrT9KjFE1Nd9khRXU24=/222x0:3778x2667/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48740115/curbed_placeholder.54.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Forgive us for taking it to the loo two weeks in a row on <a href="http://curbed.com/tags/weekly-decor-rant">Weekly Decor Rant</a> but one issue in the <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/01/20/bathroom-design-ideas.php">controversial realm of bathroom design</a> that drew particularly strong feelings from Curbed readers and editors alike was the <strong>water closet</strong>. Yep, that means a separate room with a toilet built into a larger bathroom containing the rest of the good stuff—a "toilet room," if you will.</p>
<p> Sure, cramped urban dwellers with tiny apartments can't even fathom entertaining the scheme, which is more common in older British houses than homes stateside. But that hasn't stopped many from coveting such a setup, especially those living with partners. </p>
<p> <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2016/01/27/toilet-room-design-bathrooms.php">Do you have/want one? >></a></p>
https://boston.curbed.com/2016/1/29/10871678/toilet-room-within-the-bathroom-the-ultimate-luxury-or-just-absurdCurbed Staff