by Jorge Fontan | Last updated May 26, 2023 | New York City, Residential
In NYC there are different housing types. One unique example is the SRO. What is an SRO in New York? The term SRO stands for Single Room Occupancy. In New York City it is usually used to describe a Rooming House which falls under Section 248 of the Multiple... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jul 23, 2023 | Renovations, Residential
Can You add a Roof Deck to a Townhouse in NYC? When adding a roof deck to a townhouse in NYC, you will need to hire an architect to assess the existing conditions, obtain approval from the Department of Buildings, and design all necessary alterations to complete the... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jul 21, 2023 | General Architecture, Property Development, Residential
If you have encountered the term habitable room or space, you may wonder what that means. The term “Habitable Space” is commonly used in Building Codes. Building codes are complicated and have terminology you must understand to correctly assess the... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Aug 31, 2022 | NYC DOB, Residential
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... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Oct 1, 2023 | Home Design, Interior Design, Residential
Water and grease splatter from cooking are major problems in a kitchen. The wall behind the stove and sink is one area at risk for damage and staining, which is why you need to have a backsplash in your kitchen. A backsplash is the vertical surface at the back of a... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jun 7, 2024 | Apartment Renovations, Architects, Residential
I am Jorge Fontan, owner of Fontan Architecture, a New York City based architecture and design firm working on residential design projects throughout NYC. Below are a few of the residential renovations we have completed over the past recent years. Upper East...