When we move to the house, we new it will need some remodeling. The house has L-shaped floor plan…read more The L-wing was a separate studio, with no direct connection to the main house. On top of that, the main part of the house was divided into number of smaller rooms/spaces. The wished was to have more open space type of the floorplan, with center of a living oriented to backyard, which has nice view. After some time self planning and sketching variations of modified floorplan, decided it is time for a real architect's help. We talk to several architects and after awhile narrowed down to two. Eventually we selected Studio S Squared Architecture, with Eugene Sakai as a lead architect. The main requirement for the remodeling was to do the open space type floorplan, with seamless connection to then L-wing separate studio. The solution should look as if the house was build from the beginning that way, not having visible artifacts of remodeling. The Studio S^2 Architecture delivered the ideal floorplan, as this house was meant to be built. The house got the great room, with almost whole glass wall toward the backyard, perfect connection to the L-wing and additional bathroom and an easy-flow floorplan flow. The L-wing became the main master bedroom, and old master bedroom became an additional mini-master bedroom. Perfect floorplan, without changing external walls foot print! Eugene presented us with sketches of three different floor plans. We did not spend more than 5 minutes to select the "ideal" one. Almost as he saw how the house should have been designed and built in the first place. Eugene has vision of the new space, producing perfect solution. If one wants to get maximum from a given space, Eugene and Studio S^2 Architecture is the right place to go. We highly recommend him. J & D

We have hired Eugene (president of Studio S Squared Architecture) to help with a home remodel in…read moreLos Gatos, CA. Our realtor convinced us to purchase a fixer upper that would require some remodeling work to address some of the functional deficiencies of the home. While we were in contract, we interviewed about 5 designers/contractors to get their recommendations and possible budget before we actually purchased the home. Eugene was the only architect who came and brought one of his builders, C.W. Wright Construction to discuss options as well as to verify the costs of each one. During our discussion, he was mindful to listen to the functional problems which we wanted to address and he agreed to come up with a proposal. The next day, we received a very detailed spreadsheet outlining the costs of everything and it all seemed to fall into our budget. Based on their recommendations, we decided to proceed with the purchase the home. The design process was a very fun and enjoyable experience. Both Eugene and his junior associate, Catherine listened to our "wish list" and presented a final design that we absolutely loved. We appreciated their "vision" to see the possible options that lay before us that were not so readily seen by us or other architects. Studio S Squared Architecture's flat fee system also encouraged a lot of back and forth dialogue with the revisions. We never had to worry about costs or expenses as it was all included. He has a rapid response time via phone and email and because everything is done in CAD, we had design revisions waiting in our email inboxes almost with a same day turn-around. We are currently in the middle of building our home, but we could not speak any more highly of the professionalism, attention to detail and breadth of knowledge of Studio S. Squared Architecture during the design process. Because of this, we trust wholeheartedly that he will deliver a wonderful home for us.

Avoid this architect at all costs. It will significantly drag you down your timeline. Very low work…read moreethics, treat small clients like trash. Need to offer extra money to for quicker updates otherwise it takes forever to respond. Very frustrating.

Frank is a great architect to work with. I worked with Frank on a small home remodeling/alternation…read moreproject. He understands well the needs of a new home owner, and comes with some creative design, which is both convenient and and very cost-effective. He is patient, and can work with me to make many changes according to clients' request, and gave very constructive advice. Moreover, he charges very reasonably, and will help one go through every single steps to obtain permit, and gave effective advice for contractor, as well. Will definitely want to work with him again!

We had an absolutely great experience working with Prestin Ravid Architects. We hired Eyal for a…read morefull interior remodel and addition to our house, and he consistently exceeded our expectations. We are first-time home buyers embarking on a substantial project with structural changes, and he made the process as simple and straightforward as possible. We tried to work with another well-known architectural firm in the Bay Area but after six months of painfully slow communication and frustration with the lead architect not understanding our preferences or project vision, we decided it was time to look elsewhere. We were referred to Eyal by another homeowner who worked with them and promptly made the switch after hearing the terrific reviews. Eyal understood our vision for the project very quickly and always delivered on time -- often ahead of the milestones outlined in the contract. He took the time to understand our preferences, goals, and budget quickly, and tailored his designs to suit our requirements. Their pricing was also very competitive, offering excellent value for the high-quality service provided. What stood out the most was Eyal's personality and communication. Eyal is a very genuine, empathetic human being and we really appreciated his care, excitement, and attention to detail. He was always available to answer questions and responded to emails within hours, which is rare and invaluable when working with architects. He brought in trusted colleagues to make fast progress with surveying, structural engineering, and energy needs. He is very efficient with knowledge of city permitting process and regulations and our permitting process was smooth and went much faster than expected. If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality architect who gets it right the first time, we highly recommend Prestin Ravid Architects. Thank you Eyal for the fantastic job on the plans and great vision with our house! We are excited for construction to begin and to see our dream home take shape soon.

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!

I put 3 star(as suggested by YELP, A-OK) --- which doesn't mean that they do a good or bad job…read more They reply (response) very fast. In the next day I contact them, they shot me an email saying that they are fully booked for the next 8 month. If you are looking for anything before Oct. 2014, you can simply walk away and try other architect/contractor. I hope they disclose this fact on their website.

We approached Modulus with an unusual request: to design a mountain get-away for our family from…read moreused shipping containers. Although they had never worked with this material, they were intrigued and jumped into the project with both feet. David, the principal, created an amazing, beautiful design that was perfectly suited to our challenging site and that met all of our requirements (and many that we hadn't even thought of) from the first concept. Refreshingly different from the stereotype I had of architects, David listened to what we wanted and didn't impose his personal aesthetic vision on us. It was truly a collaborative effort. If having an architectural firm that listens to your needs, understands that real people have real budget constraints, and that has sensitivity to and an understanding of the practicalities of getting things built in the real world -- while also creating innovative, breathtaking designs -- you will not be disappointed in Modulus.

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%

About two months ago, my apartment was flooded due to a broken water line in the unit two floors…read moreabove mine. After the insurance company sent out the emergency restoration crew, I was left with an apartment that was torn apart and full of water damaged finishes. After being referred to RED Company's Josh Moore, we met and quickly came to agreeable terms for him to handle the repair work that needed to be done. From that point forward he handled most all of the communication with the insurance company, my HOA, and building management. While the work was being done, Mr. Moore kept me well informed about the progress of the work and helped me make decisions about the finish options that became available as we had to replace large areas of my floor and ceiling. The work was executed professionally, on time, and within budget. If I'm ever in need of a contractor again, I would definitely hire Josh as my contractor. I highly recommend him to any home or apartment owner.

In the course of a re-roofing project at our Menlo Park home, dry rot was found within the arches…read moreof our porch. As this was a sub-roof line issue, the roofing company was not equipped to handle the project and we had to find a competent contractor who we trusted to work on our home, a pre-war Spanish Mission style bungalow. Enter Moore Architects, PC. From the outset of the project Josh Moore inspired absolute confidence in us. Josh is not only a highly skilled builder, he is also an architect and designer with a keen eye to detail and an appreciation of a home's aesthetic qualities. From the demolition process through the rebuild and finishing work, Josh kept us thoroughly apprised of his team's progress and answered all of our questions promptly and to our absolute satisfaction. Given that the roof could not be entirely completed until the structural issue was addressed there was a significant time constraint on the project. But Josh's team of carpenters proved to be craftsmen or the highest caliber, utterly undaunted by the unique challenges that our house presented; they came in on time, on budget and rebuilt the arches to the precise specs of the originals. In the future should my wife and I ever need the services of a contractor, Moore Architects will be the only company we do business with. If quality and workmanship matters to you, give them a call.

I highly recommend ARDECO and architect Raivis, whom we first hired for architectural design and…read morethen for getting our plans approved by the city. During the design phase, Raivis was incredibly collaborative and created a beautiful design that was the absolute best fit for our specific requirements. He then seamlessly managed the city approval process, handled all necessary revisions required by officials to complete the project, and provided excellent recommendations for a structural engineer and an electrical engineer. On top of his professionalism and expertise, ARDECO offers very fair pricing for a high-quality, end-to-end service. I would absolutely hire Raivis again for any future project!

As the size of my family grew, we soon found ourself in need of a bigger home. But the thought of…read moreembarking on a home addition project seemed very daunting. Fortunately, we were introduced to Raivis who had made the entire architectural plans and permitting process as easy as possible. Raivis was professional, patient, easy to work with and very responsive throughout the entire process. Firstly, he took a 3D scan of our entire existing house and lot which made designing our addition much easier. We were really happy with the final layout that blends function and comfort, and maximizes our backyard's potential. Next, he worked expeditiously to prepare the plans to submit to the city. He also coordinated with the various engineers that are needed for my project. Raivis has an extensive experience, in-depth knowledge of building codes. Ultimately, we received the permit approval in a relatively short amount of time. We are thoroughly impressed with Raivis's work and highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for an architect!

Metropolis Architecture recently completed the plans for a 2-story addition for our San Carlos…read morehome. Larry Kahle, the lead architect/owner, was great to work with. He knows how to listen and how to push back. His designs are stellar, and we're very pleased with both the process and the outcome. We interviewed a lot of Larry's clients before making our decision, and all of them had wonderful things to say about Larry.