Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jun 21
- 3 min
How involved should you be in your project? Who picks the finishes?
This post is about the design process and whether the architect or the client will shop for the finishes.
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Mar 22
- 5 min
So you got your permit. Now what? The 6 Phases of Construction
So you got your permit for your building, what happens now? This outline of the phases is for a small building in Coral Gables or Miami
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Feb 20
- 2 min
So you want to build a new house. Do you know how to pick a site for it?
This article discussed 5 issues to consider when buying a site for a new home.
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- Feb 8
- 2 min
Space Matters
Whenever I go anywhere I notice the space. I doubt other people are as aware of the space. Learn factors which may have an influence.
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jan 27
- 1 min
Do we want tourists to see this – the entrance to Downtown Miami Government Center and Metrorail?
The approach to the downtown Government Center Metrorail and Metromover Station looks like this as we approach from the east. It is the...
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Jan 19
- 2 min
Adaptive Reuse - Will This Become a Trend in Miami
After the pandemic is over, what will happen to all the commercial office space available in Downtown Miami and other areas. Will people...
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Aug 5, 2020
- 1 min
Does your 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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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 stark.
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- 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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- May 28, 2019
- 2 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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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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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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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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- Jul 7, 2017
- 2 min
What is a 40-year Re-certification?
This is about the requirement for 40-year re-certifications in Miami-Dade County. United Architects can perform
these inspections.
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- 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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- 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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- May 24, 2017
- 1 min
New Trends in Laundry/ Utility Rooms
One of the trends in home design is a larger Laundry/Utility Room. Instead of just a place for the washer and dryer, it is becoming a place
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- May 18, 2017
- 3 min
Deciding on which area & which zoning is best for buying real estate
This article should serve as information for anyone interested in buying property in Miami or Realtors who are helping a client look for a p
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- May 15, 2017
- 2 min
Planning your new Miami home or remodeling to reduce insurance costs
Sometimes a particular remodeling or addition to a home can get you more in value than the actual cost of the item.
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- May 12, 2017
- 2 min
Using Miami Area Zoning Codes
Most of the zoning codes in the Miami area are based on mathematical equations, except for the City of Miami. The City of Miami Zoning Code
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- May 12, 2017
- 2 min
8 Ideas for a More Energy-efficient Home Design
Include cross-ventilation in the design. There is not need to air-condition a house all-year around. Including windows on several walls of
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- Apr 4, 2017
- 1 min
Beware of deed restrictions
Besides the many items that a buyer needs to be aware of such as any environmental issues, whether the site has the appropriate water and se
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Apr 4, 2017
- 4 min
The Coming Walkable City
Miami 21 is the most comprehensive zoning code change I have seen in any part of Miami-Dade County in my over 25 years of practicing archite
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Maria Luisa Castellanos
- Apr 4, 2017
- 3 min
Should Floridians give our public money to private entities.
Now this year the legislature is considering requiring the bond money that the public approved for public schools to be shared with charter
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