It May Be Up to Private Sector to Confront Climate Change, Says Landscape Architect – Mansion Global

Renowned landscape architect Hank White, founder of New York City-based HM White, has designed residential, civic and, commercial outdoor spaces, including the Madison Square Park public urban space, the garden court and sky garden at The New York Times building, and the courtyard and common roof gardens at the celebrity-heavy 443 Greenwich condo development.

We caught up with Mr. White to talk about the importance of architectural integrity, his grave concerns about climate change and why he thinks fringe areas surrounding urban cores offer the best real estate opportunities

Mansion Global: Describe your dream property.

Hank White: Anything that has access toand relentless views ofbeautiful landscapes. Thats what does it for me personally, but if you think about high-quality and high-value urban space in general, waterfront, park views and park visibility are all important. That applies to suburban and rural space as well.

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MG: Do you have a real estate property that got away?

HW: When we were looking to move out of the city because of our expanding family, in that classic cliche, we found an ideal Cotswalds cottage in the neighborhood we wanted to be in, but they wanted to close right away. And we just werent ready to pull the trigger.

And theres another house, that we looked at before we had children. I introduced my wife to a summer community in Rhode Island that I grew up in.

We saw a house on a knoll with amazing waterfront views that needed a lot of work and was 150 years old. I couldnt get the capital to buy it, but I was planning on putting about $300,000 into it to transform it and preserve it, and then flip it. We could have gotten it for about $700,000 in the latter part of the 90s. If the house was on the market in a fine condition now, it could ask $9 million.

MG: What does luxury mean to you?

HW: Primarily, its quality of space, quality of materials, abundance of natural light and refinement of architecture and detailed expressions. Its how materials are put together and how theyre crafted. Whether in a modernist palette or in an accurate historic palette, it has to have design integrity and intelligence.

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MG: What area do you think is the next hub for luxury properties?

HW: Its about the overall demographic shift toward millennials, and how much technology is transforming our world. Over 75% of the world will be living in an urban area in the next five years or so. That number used to be much, much lower.

The next hubs are probably neighborhoods on the fringes of high-valued urban neighborhoods.

The big news is surrounding population growth as well as climate change. Sea level rising is a big issue. Places by the water need to be reinvented, and dealt with.

And I think places all need a form of public access. Youre likely going to see denser developments around train stations.

MG: Whats the biggest surprise in the luxury real estate market now?

HW: You see these over $10,000-per-square-foot apartments on the 80th floor of sliver towers. Those prices are driven by emotion not a quantitative, or realistic, economic model. These places are so ego driven, that its hard to price them.

Plus, they slap on the word luxury to everything, and you walk in and its a 500-square-feet one-bedroom. It may have a Miele appliance, but does that make it luxury?

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MG: Where are the best luxury homes in the world and why?

HW: I just came back from Italy and Greece, and every time I travel, what Im drawn to are places where the architectural history and heritage has been preserved, valued and nurtured. Its not only about the built environment, but the surrounding open space, and natural-world qualities that give it so much of its character.

Those are the places I find to have the biggest impact, and thats what lifts my spirits, because of the awe of the antiquity. Its humbling to be in a place where so many other people have inhabited it before you, and so many generations have respected that history.

As you drive into these European towns you feel the difference. In America, a great deal of the country is sprawl. We have to go through the commercial crud to get through to something we see as charming or beautiful.

MG: Whats your favorite part of your home?

HW: My house is an 1874 Victorian. My favorite view is looking up the stairs. It has something of a spiral quality to it. When you stand on the bottom floor looking up, its the core of the house. It speaks to the quality of the architectural design.

Also, I love sitting outside on a terrace enclosed by vegetation, looking onto my gardens, and reading a book. As a landscape architect, Im in the business of creating outdoor rooms, and this is one of my outdoor rooms.

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MG: What best describes the theme to your home and why?

HW: Its warmth. A friend told us, whenever I come here, I feel very calm. Because its a Victorian, there are a lot of rooms, and its not loft-like, but we removed a lot of doors so the openings were maintained. The large openings between the rooms means that the flow is great, and it creates warmth, and a sense a movement.

Because theres a lot of historic millwork and casing around the moulding, and high ceilings, we literally stripped the interior clean of all clutter so you can see that. We introduced a lot of warm colors too.

My friend said its like being in a spa lounge. Lighting is a big part of that. Furniture selection and decluttering is really important too.

MG: Whats the most valuable thing in your home?

HW: The millwork. Otherwise, a collection of paintings. What we try to do when we travel is dig into as much of the local art scene as we can. We have a piece from a young artist in Barcelona, and one from Quebec City. The art acknowledges memorable occasions in our lives; we were captivated by the beauty and art and the representation of that special time.

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MG: Whats the most valuable amenity to have in a home right now?

HW: Creating a nexus where people want to gather. Kitchens are now big social centers, but it didnt used to be that way at all.

MG: Whats your best piece of real estate advice?

HW: Look at the edges of high-valued districts and neighborhoods. And the other thing to look out for are access to beautiful, open space, conservation land or waterfront.

One warning: Being mindful of our global climate, trends, and the vulnerability of waterfront property at this point. Your real estate dreams may be wiped out.

Its alarming whats happening and the speed in which its occurring. I see it in the waterfront community I grew up inthe tides are higher.

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MG: Whats going on in the news that will have the biggest impact on the luxury real estate market?

HW: Global warming, and a lot of developers are already pursuing low-carbon emission buildings. Hopefully more and more will start supporting that kind of thing. New York City is doing what it can with changes to building code. In part, the private sector may need to lead the way.

Our European colleagues are much more ahead of the game.

MG: What is the best area now for investing in luxury properties?

HW: Islands, like Manhattan. Any place that has sustainable value and resources but physical limitations in terms of space, is always where people will want to be.

The challenge will be how to accommodate more and more people in a confined area in a way that improves livability and increases the value. Thats part of our job, working with so many developers, were taking a sows ear and making it into a silk purse.

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MG: If you had a choice of living in a new development or a prime resale property, which would you choose and why?

HW: Im attracted to history, so it would always be resale. Im of the mind that while we need to respect our past, with technology theres an opportunity to reinvent the past and make it relevant to how we live today. Its important to do that without erasing that past, that heritage, and keeping an eye on the environment footprint.

MG: What area currently has the best resale value?

HW: Places that have architectural integrity, whether thats modern or historic. It has to be authentic to whatever period of architectural style or expression it is. And it helps when its in a place where neighbors have been concerned with preservation and care.

The same is true for the landscape as much as the building. When sprawl development is resisted and care is given to an open landscape, thats how you uphold resale value.

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It May Be Up to Private Sector to Confront Climate Change, Says Landscape Architect - Mansion Global