by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Aug 8, 2022 | General Architecture, NYC Zoning, Property Development, Real Estate
In property development and architecture zoning is a set of regulations pertaining to how land is developed and used established by the local municipality. Zoning regulations will designate certain building uses to specific areas as well as place requirements on the... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Nov 8, 2021 | Apartment Renovations, General Architecture, New York City
A “Classic Six Apartment” is a term commonly used in New York City real estate parlance to describe an apartment in a prewar building that has six rooms consisting of a kitchen, living room, dining room, two bedrooms and a maid’s room. Classic... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Nov 1, 2021 | General Architecture, Loft Design in NYC, Multifamily Residential
In New York, the term maisonette apartment is used to refer to any apartment on the ground floor that has an entrance accessible directly from the street. While the apartment may also be accessible from the lobby, if it has a private sidewalk entrance, it is a... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jul 10, 2020 | Architectural Design Process, General Architecture
When starting an architectural design I begin with identifying 5 key pieces of information. These 5 points are the: Program, Site, Constraints, Concept, and Goals of the project. By identifying these main points an architect will have enough information to begin an... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Apr 16, 2021 | Architectural Design Process, General Architecture
Plan, Section, and Elevation are different types of drawings used by architects to graphically represent a building design and construction. A plan drawing is a drawing on a horizontal plane showing a view from above. An Elevation drawing is drawn on a vertical plane... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jun 26, 2020 | General Architecture, Hospitality, NYC DOB, NYC Zoning
Weather a hotel is a commercial or residential building is a matter of context. For example according to the New York City Zoning Resolution a hotel is a commercial use whereas the New York City Building Code Classifies a Hotel as Residential Occupancy. A hotel being... 
