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Architecture and Urban Design

Aug 5, 2020
1 min

Does you space work for you?

In these times many employees have been asked to work from home. If you look at the new, funny ad from Apple, sometimes this is not easy ...

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10 Ways to make your design more beautiful and livable

Maria Luisa Castellanos

May 23, 2020
2 min

10 Ways to make your design more beautiful and livable

Architects can make your general design work and space flow from one area to another, but without great details the space can appear star...

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How about adding to the front of your apartment building?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jun 22, 2019
1 min

How about adding to the front of your apartment building?

... there was a project where the architect took an old apartment building with no balconies and added an entire terrace in front of the old

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Will online shopping kill brick-and-mortar stores?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

May 28, 2019
1 min

Will online shopping kill brick-and-mortar stores?

A lot has been said about online shopping vs. shopping at brick and mortar stores. Many people think that physical stores are on their way

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Flood Zones - Why You Need to Know if the Building or House You Are Buying is in a Flood Zone

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Apr 13, 2019
2 min

Flood Zones - Why You Need to Know if the Building or House You Are Buying is in a Flood Zone

If you are buying a building or house in a flood zone, later, it may be difficult or next to impossible to add to it or remodel it.

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Are you sure you want to buy that condo?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Mar 1, 2018
3 min

Are you sure you want to buy that condo?

Condo remodeling is not easy, not as easy as remodeling a single-family house. There are certain things you need to consider.

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10 Questions to ask a general contractor before hiring him

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Feb 13, 2018
3 min

10 Questions to ask a general contractor before hiring him

1. How is your company structured? Do you carry workmen’s compensation insurance as well as liability? It’s important to know with whom you

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Can you phase your commercial remodeling project?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Feb 7, 2018
2 min

Can you phase your commercial remodeling project?

Why is phased construction something to consider for a commercial remodel? Most small businesses cannot afford to shut down completely when

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Planning a house for today and for future sale

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Dec 28, 2017
3 min

Planning a house for today and for future sale

Many people ask me what they should do with their houses when they are redesigning them. Some plan their remodeling and/or addition as thou

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If you live in Unincorporated Miami-Dade, can you turn your single-family property into a duplex?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Dec 8, 2017
1 min

If you live in Unincorporated Miami-Dade, can you turn your single-family property into a duplex?

Yesterday, Public Housing and Community Development along with Miami-Dade County's Planning Department unveiled the regulations on their

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Where would we go if we had a revolution?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Nov 30, 2017
3 min

Where would we go if we had a revolution?

We should start generating a consciousness for urban spaces. Miami needs them. We should lobby for them. Why should we have to go to shoppin

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What does 'good bones" mean and what makes a good floor plan?

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Oct 11, 2017
2 min

What does 'good bones" mean and what makes a good floor plan?

To me, “Good bones” means a house with a working floor plan, solid structure, and windows. In other words, it may need to be remodeled or u

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Time is right for investing in the Florida Keys

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Oct 2, 2017
2 min

Time is right for investing in the Florida Keys

I went to visit a friend in the Keys this weekend, and while I was there, decided to drive around and see how much damage Hurricane Irma had

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Maria Luisa Castellanos

Sep 22, 2017
2 min

Granny Flats – should we build them?

The Miami 21 Zoning Code for the City of Miami allows what it calls “Granny Flats” in certain areas. In T3-L zoned areas of town, granny fl

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Principles of Good Planning from the Miami 21 Zoning Code

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jul 13, 2017
3 min

Principles of Good Planning from the Miami 21 Zoning Code

Maybe you want to know why Miami 21, the zoning code for the City of Miami, is such a different code from all the other municipal codes in S

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When to Tear Down, When to Add & Remodel, & When to Sell your House

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jul 11, 2017
4 min

When to Tear Down, When to Add & Remodel, & When to Sell your House

So you are thinking about spending substantial money to add and remodel your present house. But should you? Or would it be better to tear do

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Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jul 7, 2017
2 min

What is a 40-year Re-certification?

In Miami-Dade County, including all municipalities, any building other than non-residential farm buildings, single family residence, duplexe

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Five major issues in adding to or remodeling residential property

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jul 3, 2017
2 min

Five major issues in adding to or remodeling residential property

1. Look at the required setbacks. Before doing anything, look at the zoning code of the city or the county (if you live in an unincorporated

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Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jun 15, 2017
2 min

Space Matters

Whenever I go anywhere I notice the space. I doubt other people are as aware of the space they inhabit as those in the construction industr

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Designing the Mansion Junior instead of the McMansion

Maria Luisa Castellanos

Jun 1, 2017
3 min

Designing the Mansion Junior instead of the McMansion

When I was a child unlike most Cubans, my family lived in the north – Missouri, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Georgia. We would come to Miami

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