Jorge Fontan’s latest project exhibits effortless elegance through structured choices, all centered on a client’s desires and needs.
When Fontan was asked to help design the Loft Project in Manhattan, New York, he was first asked what his vision for the home was. The first thing he said was: “I haven’t gotten to know you well enough.”
While some might find this surprising, Fontan’s design philosophy centers on understanding and knowing his clients well enough to be able to deliver the ideal end result. As such, he spoke with the owners about what they wanted, rather than merely implementing his vision outright. This conversation led to a rich palette of dark materials, designed around high ceilings and open space.
“We designed it with a large 40-foot-by-40-foot open-plan great room to take advantage of the space, height, scale, and proportions we were lucky to be working with,” Fontan shares. “They wanted to prioritize the open areas to create a grand social hub within the home.”
Fontan and his team, which includes designer Cellia Ait-Ouaret, planned the layout around the loft’s columns, using them as a grid system to outline and define zones within the home. This included the kitchen and island placed along one wall, with a walkway between them, and a row of columns that divided the living space. It also included custom stonework, stone slabs, and other integrated features, such as shower niches inside the stonework.
Completed in one year, the project now serves as the clients’ primary residence, and their first response when they walked into the home was one word: “Wow.”
A Client-Led Design Philosophy
The Manhattan project reflects Fontan’s broader approach to architecture: creating highly personalized homes based on each client’s lifestyle, needs, and individual tastes.
“We cannot have a vision for a home without getting to know the people who live in that home,” Fontan shares. “Every project we do is for a specific family, and that is important to how we develop our work.”
Fontan believes his firm lacks a signature aesthetic, which he sees as a strength. He does not believe in overdesigning, and his guiding philosophy revolves around the Italian concept of sprezzatura, which translates to “studied nonchalance.”
Fontan describes this philosophy as “effortless elegance,” which he says is not just a matter of perception, but of making effort feel intentional.
From Construction to Architecture
Fontan grew up around architectural design, as his father worked as a general contractor in the home improvement business. The experience gave him early exposure to hands-on construction and craftsmanship. As he grew older, he became increasingly interested in the design side of the field and enrolled in architecture school.
After graduating, Fontan worked with an established architect for several years before starting his own firm at 29. The craftsmanship he encountered during his early experience continues to inform his aim of producing personalized projects executed to high standards.
Every Project as a Learning Experience
Jorge Fontan believes every project is a learning experience, and that design evolves rather than appearing out of nowhere. In this sense, he shares that writing helps him improve his craft.
“Writing makes me a better architect, whether through thoughts I jot down in a notebook or an article I publish on my website. Writing helps me work it out,” Fontan adds.
Ultimately, he believes prioritizing guiding principles and design philosophies over aesthetic signatures helps create great homes, because he aims to create homes that feel natural and, above all, inevitable.
