I have had the pleasure of working and collaborating with Acadia Architecture on several projects,…read moreand every experience has been exceptional. Davide is a true visionary. His creativity, ability to see the bigger picture, and talent for turning ideas into thoughtfully designed spaces truly set him apart. He brings an incredible level of passion, innovation, and expertise to every project. What I appreciate most about working with Acadia is their professionalism, attention to detail, communication, and willingness to collaborate. They don't simply approach a project from an architectural perspective--they take the time to understand the vision and find creative ways to bring it to life. After working together on several projects, I can confidently say that Acadia Architecture is a team I would be happy to collaborate with again and again. Davide's vision, creativity, and commitment to excellence make Acadia Architecture truly stand out. I highly recommend Acadia Architecture to anyone looking for an architectural team that brings vision, creativity, professionalism, and genuine passion to their work.

We purchased an older, fixer upper on a hillside in Portola Valley with the hopes of rebuilding it…read moreinto our dream home. We aimed to generate income by converting the former primary bedroom into a rentable, attached JADU. This mean building a new primary BR on the back, downhill side of the house, along with creating a new family room, and office. The front of the house was definitely old style, and did not, in any way, match our vision of a contemporary, hi-tech, look. I had interviewed other architects who had suggested we add a new front foyer, but I wasn't thrilled about the look presented, which was basically to add a gable roof addition ("A" frame shape add-on) at at the front, that would be harmonious with the rest of the house. In my first meeting with Davide, he suggested something that changed the whole dynamic of the house. He suggested that rather than be constrained by trying to harmonize the new entry with the old architecture, we could add a new layer to the front of the house, and change the look completely. This also creates a new corridor at the front that greatly improves the flow/circulation from the front to the back. It was a genius idea! This new layer at the front of the house gives us a spectacular new front entrance, plus a new corridor with tall ceilings. He also very skillfully raised the ceiling heights in many parts of the house so it feels like the rooms were expanded (when only the height changed). I am attaching a photo of the original house and Davide's concept for the new design. I want to add that we are not demolishing any part of the old house so we are not losing any existing square footage. We are just adding and "splicing the old with the new". For the new room additions at the back, he integrated the complex siting of the hillside PBR & family room to flow seamlessly into the same level of the existing house on. I have very strong ideas of what I want in terms of design, and Davide has been very patient in working through my ideas. He uses his critical eye and design experience to guide me so I don't get off track, and we can get to where it is I want to end up. We are now in the building permit process, and I can't wait for construction to start. I will be updating this post when the house is finished with more photos, because I want to show off the dramatic transformation between the "before" and "after". If you are looking for a miracle transformation, Davide Gianella is the architect who can make this dream come true for you! I can recommend him 100%

First time house remodel to add a master suite and to expand the living room. Luckily, we had Kyle…read moreas our architect and he made the usually painful and complicated process very easy and not worrisome at all. After learning our main goal of the remodeling (adding a new bedroom), he provided us a very practical proposal and patiently explain what we should consider doing and what we should not. For example, while we had a thought of opening up a wall to re do the kitchen, he suggested we might not want to do it as that will significantly increase the scope and the cost of the project due to the percentage of the remodeling area (to the existing SqF). Another case is the skylight window and sun tunnel windows suggested by him. When he had put those items in his design, we had some reservations as we did not see they were necessary. However, he strongly recommended those items and we eventually agreed. It turns out he was totally right. These low-cost items really took the indoor space to a different level. In addition to the design part, he also followed through the project during the whole process. First, he referred many good professionals (land surveyor, structural engineer, green energy expert, general contractor, etc.) that we can trust. This saved us a lot of time and trouble. Also, there were many inspections and related questions we had during the construction. He always answered our questions promptly and professionally. When it was about the time to file documents for the project completion, he also reminded us and checked back with us later. For a house remodel, an architect is definitely a key contractor you need for the first step. We highly recommend Kyle.

Kyle designed my new house from a SB9 subdivision in San Jose. He is very patient and courteous,…read morevery knowledgeable about the city codes, and always responds in time. His design is elegant and efficient, he oversaw the project and answered all the questions promptly even after the project is well into the late stage. Highly recommend!

I recently had the pleasure of working with Eyal. He demonstrated incredible skill and expertise…read moreand went above and beyond to deliver an outstanding result which got me access to an over the counter permit with SF's building department - which saved a lot of headache! His attention to detail and ability to understand and translate my vision into reality was truly remarkable. He took the time to listen to my ideas and requirements, and then used their expertise to create a design that got though the approval process without any delay. Throughout the entire process, he maintained a high level of professionalism and communication and kept me informed every step of the way Eyal's work truly speaks for itself, and I loved working with such a skilled, talented and reliable architect!

Working with Prestin Ravid Architects on our home addition and renovation has been amazing…read more Navigating the City of Palo Alto's complex permit process could have been stressful, but Eyal and his team made it smooth and enjoyable. With Eyal's extensive experience, his strategic, efficient approach and clear communication helped us get our permit in about half the expected time. His designs are thoughtful, detail-oriented, and perfectly balance aesthetics and practicality. Highly recommend!

It was a pleasure working with David. He actively listened to understand our preferences and…read moreinspirations. He took the time to truly grasp our desired architectural style, spatial requirements, and intended use of the space. Throughout the design and construction process, David maintained open communication, soliciting feedback to ensure the final product exceeded our expectations.

We just finished a bathroom and laundry renovation and David is our architect. David is very…read moreresponsive to ours and the inspector's questions. Our inspection wouldn't be so smooth if it wasn't for David's attention to details and timely guidance. We would love to work with David again in the future.

Meet Doug at the Home Shows, and as a Landscape Architect with Landscape Locators / SCVDesign4U, I…read morehave coordinated with and recommended his firm to many of my clients. The feedback I received from my clients and working with them personally was outstanding! Always nice to be able to recommend another professional who believes in the customer first! Susan Vogel Landscape Locators

After our modular home manufacturer unexpectedly canceled our order, we felt lost and unsure of how…read moreto move forward with building a new second unit on our property. That's when we met Doug -- and everything changed. Our project wasn't simple. The permit required us not only to build a brand-new house but also to renovate and legalize the existing old house. Doug stepped in, redesigned the new unit beautifully, and reimagined the old house so the two complemented each other perfectly. The construction of the new home went incredibly smoothly. Doug's professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were evident every step of the way. The quality of his work truly exceeded our expectations. The renovation of the old house turned out to be much more complex than expected, but Doug handled every challenge with steady leadership and creativity. He brought the right people together, found thoughtful solutions, and kept the project moving forward steadily through each difficulty. His dedication and calm problem-solving turned a demanding process into a truly rewarding experience. The whole process took nearly five years -- but in the end, we have two beautiful homes that feel cohesive, warm, and full of life. Doug's commitment, honesty, and heart carried us through. We're deeply grateful for his expertise and friendship throughout this journey. If you're looking for someone who truly cares about your home as much as you do, Doug and his team are the ones to call. We can't recommend them enough. Please feel free to contact me if you want the reference. My phone: 408-800-6698. Michael

Working with Samah has been amazing. We sought her expertise for our 570 sq.ft. tiny home (ADU)…read moresince we required a custom plan because the available area to build in our backyard isn't rectangular. Samah met with us, surveyed the site, and drafted a plan based on our wants and also gave recommendations from her experience. We went with her experience! The architectural plans and structural calculations (we used her referral) were delivered to our city and county in such detail, everyone was surprised. This detail is what we want to highlight. It makes the build much easier, almost like lego, and the inspection process smooth. We had to go through various inspections: - Underground plumbing - Rebar - Foundation - Exterior shear wall - Exterior lath - Rough framing - Roof - Wall insulation - Window flashing - Drywall - Shower and backing - Exterior slats - Electrical meter - Planning final - Solar - Final Absolutely wonderful.

Working with Samah Nasser was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This is our second…read moreproject with her, and once again, she exceeded our expectations by combining creativity with practicality in a way that made the entire process feel seamless and inspiring. From the initial concept discussions, she took the time to truly understand our vision, lifestyle, and priorities. Her ability to translate our ideas into a design that was both beautiful and highly functional made every detail feel intentional, bringing together aesthetics, efficiency, and comfort perfectly. Communication was clear and consistent throughout the project. She was responsive, patient with our questions, and proactive in offering thoughtful solutions when challenges arose. Her professionalism and attention to detail gave us complete confidence at every stage. What stood out most was her ability to balance big-picture thinking with meticulous execution. The final result is a space that not only looks incredible but also feels tailored specifically to us. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, reliable architect who is genuinely invested in delivering exceptional work. It was an absolute pleasure working with Samah.

My husband and I highly recommend Martinkovic Milford Architects! Blake, Amanda, and Amelia were…read moreour brilliant team of architects overseen by Brian Milford. They designed our dream home and also monitored the construction/renovation process in addition to recommending a great contractor to build our home.

Disappointed by my experience here. I got more value from a 15 minute phone conversation with a…read moredifferent architecture firm than I did from my interaction with this firm, which involved multiple hours of billable research.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Geoff and his team on a full demolition and new…read moreconstruction of a single family home with ADU in San Francisco. We loved our experience and wholeheartedly endorse Winder Gibson to anyone looking for a full service architecture firm. From the outset, Geoff and his team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our family's needs, which they transformed into a beautiful house design that resonates with our aspirations and lifestyle. We are currently transitioning to the construction phase, and are excited to raise our family in such a thoughtfully designed space. Also, Geoff and team are true experts at navigating the San Francisco permitting process. They efficiently moved us through permitting, both reacting to feedback from the city and helping us manage our neighbors. Honestly, we could not have permitted the house without their guidance. In a city where building homes can be difficult, the one two punch of beautiful design + the knowledge and skill to get it across the line was invaluable. We are so appreciative of Geoff and team.

We found our way to Winder Gibson through our realtor and could not be more grateful. We worked…read moreclosely with Geoff and Daniel to design our dream home. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and took on all details at every stage, including handling a difficult neighbor. At the same time, they were efficient and budget conscious, helping us stay on track both financially and time-line wise. They made what could be an overwhelming process move smoothly and enjoyably. We unreservedly recommend Winder Gibson.

I wanted to share what a lovely experience we had with Marta and team. We hired Cal Designs to…read moreassist us with designing our remodel (new addition and removal of walls inside). Throughout our entire engagement, and with many iterations to our original plan, Marta was kind, courteous, responsive and most of all patient. She is very detailed oriented, gave feedback on pros and cons and was knowledgeable about the do's and don'ts as it relates to city requirements. Overall we were very pleased with the outcome of our design and there ability to deliver on time with engineering plans and city permits. We strongly recommend Cal Designs for any of your design needs. We've also engaged them as a PM for our construction build which is underway and am happy to report that everything is running smoothly.

Marta is the best! She's very fast to communicate and has great ideas. She helped us with our large…read moreaddition and came up with some amazing ideas to make the most of our space for our busy family. She worked tirelessly with the city to get our permit approved, and I'm so glad we had her by our side during this process. I've been recommending her to everyone! Can't wait to see the vision we created come to life.

Extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Creative…read moreknows how to work with governmental officials