Fontan Architecture Blog
Architecture, Planning, & Interior Design Blog
Modern Gray Bathroom Design Ideas
Gray is a timeless color for a bathroom design that many consider easy to match with their home aesthetic. Gray bathrooms tend to have a modern and sophisticated feel that you can easily style with accessories, especially white, black, and metal. At Fontan...
Does a Living Room Need a Window in NYC?
The New York City Building Code and NY State Multiple Dwelling Law require that a living room must have at least one operable window. The window's total surface area has to be at least 10% of the area of the room and the combined opening area at least 5% of the room...
What is a Zoning Analysis?
In property development and architecture, ZoningZoning is a set of regulations pertaining to land use and development established by the local municipality. Zoning regulations will designate certain building uses to specific areas and place requirements on the overall...
Local Law 11 Architect
Local Law 11 also known as FISP requires facade inspections to be performed by a licensed architect or engineer who is also qualified as a QEWI. A QEWI is a Registered Architect or Professional Engineer who is certified by the New York City Department of Buildings as...
FISP Facade Inspection Safety Program Local Law 11
What is FISP? The Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP), formerly known as Local Law 11, is a requirement for buildings to have regular inspections to verify the safety of the exterior walls for buildings over six stories in NYC. Safety reports are filed with...
Why Porcelain is Good For a Bathroom
There are many options for wall and floor materials when renovating a bathroom. One popular option is porcelain. Is Porcelain Good for a Bathroom? Porcelain is often used for bathrooms because it is durable and nonabsorbent, so it should not discolor over time....
Why You Need a GFCI in a Bathroom?
Do You Need a GFCI in Your Bathroom? You need to install GFCI / GFI outlets in your bathroom because bathrooms are wet areas, and GFCI outlets will automatically shut off if water comes in contact with the electrical current. Building and Electrical Codes typically...
Converting JLWQA Artist Lofts to Residential in SoHo
SoHo and NoHo lofts are sometimes designated as Joint Living-Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA). If you are not an artist and would like to own one of these lofts, you can now convert certain JLWQA lofts to unrestricted residential lofts due to the SoHo / NoHo rezoning...
NYC Rezoning Process
Zoning codes in New York City dictate the use and bulk of buildings based on their zoning district. Use regulations determine what goes into a building such as whether it is for residential, commercial, manufacturing, or community facility use. The Bulk regulations...
Why You Need a Separate Workspace at Home
Working from home has become a very common aspect of daily life. Many people work from home full time while some others work between home and the office. One common problem with working from home is the constant distraction coming from the home infiltrating into the...
