Tours Details
Date: weekdays
Start time: 1oam, 2pm or 5pm EST
Duration: 2 or 4 hours (30 or 50 min walking)
Meeting Point: Whitney Museum or TBD
End Point: Hudson Yards or TBD
Participants limit: 15
Private New York Chelsea and the High Line Art and Architecture Tour
In a city renowned as an international art hub, the West Village and Chelsea stand out as two of New York’s most architecturally and culturally vibrant communities. The lively area around Washington Square Park is home to the NYU campus and many of its remarkable buildings. Directly north of the West Village, the converted industrial warehouses and factories of Chelsea are now home to one of the world’s densest concentrations of galleries making this area a driving force in the art world. Specific examples that will be discussed include Washington Square Park, NYU buildings, the Whitney Museum, the Standard Hotel, the High Line, Hudson Yards, Javits Center, Penn Station, and more. This tour will award 4 AIA-CES credits for continuing education by the American institute of Architects.
Important Projects Featured on this Tour
High Line, Diller Scofidio & Renfro, James Corner, 2008-2015
Whitney Museum of American Art, Renzo Piano, 2015
Standard Hotel, Polshek Partnership Architects, 2009
One High Line, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, 2023
Diane Von Fustenberg HQ, Work AC,
Little Island, IAC building, Frank Gehry, 2007
100 11th Avenue, Jean Nouvel,
HL23, Niel Denari
Porter House, Shop Architects
520 West 28th Street, Zaha Hadid Architects,
Maritime Hotel, Albert C. Ledner, 1960s
Hudson Yards, Kohn Pederson Fox, 2018
The Shed, Diller Scofidio & Renfro, 2020
15 Hudson Yards, Diller Scoffidio + Renfro, 2019
The Vessel, Thomas Hetherwick, 2019
35 Hudson Yards, SOM, 2018
The Spiral, BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, 2021
1 Manhattan West, SOM, 2022
The Javits Center, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, 1986
Penn Station, McKim, Mead & White, FX Collaborative, ASTM, 2023
Languages
Private tours are available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Bulgarian, Catalan, German and Dutch.
Whitney Museum
Your PhD Architect Guides
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
Dr. Ivan Shumkov is a New York based architect, urban planner, entrepreneur, and professor with more than 20 years of experience across the private, public, and academic sectors. He is the founder of Build World and Build Academy, organizations dedicated to providing professional solutions and education for the built environment.
Ivan combines his experience of practicing and teaching architecture with his passion for discovering and sharing the history and secrets of New York. His tours provoke curiosity, show hidden urban gems, and provide opportunities for experiencing and understanding art and architecture in a unique way. He helps his guests to see and connect the city through the eyes of an architect. They are activated and transformed by these immersive experiences and view the city in a new way.
Ivan is a licensed NYC tour guide. Being fluent in multiple languages, he can conduct tours in English, Spanish, Catalan, Bulgarian, French and Italian.
Stefan Al, PhD, RA, LEED
Stefan Al is an experienced architect and professor, who has worked on large scale projects around the world, including the Canton Tower, briefly the world's tallest tower. Dedicated to integrating the domains of architecture, urbanism and sustainability, he aims to create transformative spaces that balance human needs with environmental stewardship.
Stefan’s expertise extends beyond designing future buildings; he is deeply fascinated by humanity’s ongoing drive to build higher and expand further. His walking tours provide a unique lens through which the ambitions of the past merge with cutting-edge visions for the future, offering fresh insights into the evolution of architecture and its lasting influence on society.
Public Walking Tour
You’ll expperience NY with a small group of up to 10 other Art and Architecture professinals, enthusiasts and lovers.
Exclusive Private Tour
You’ll experience NY by yourself or with a group of your family, freinds and colleagues. Call or email us to customize your tour experience.
Experience New York with our PhD Architect-led Tours
Our public tours are 2 hours of transformational experiences that connect people with the city on a deeper level. We focus on 8 areas according to the location, neighborhood and their distinct character - weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
