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Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.

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6,951 Professionals

Featured Reviews for Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.

Saikley Architects
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars20 May 2015
“We worked with Alexandra for a rebuild of our home, upgrading it from a 3bd/1.5 bath to a 4bd/3.5bath while adding a second floor and changing the layout of the house dramatically. We chose Alexandra based on two critical expectations: that she would be good to work with (after all, you spend countless hours with your architect on a very expensive project), and that she would share our philosophy regarding the importance of combining form and function in house design. We were very lucky to have chosen her. Alexandra indeed spent countless hours with us. She paid careful attention to our wishes and needs. She worked patiently through every detail of the house, helping us maximize not only our living space but also important functional aspects of the house. From beautifully located and proportioned stairs to storage for kids backpacks under an entryway bench and built-in cabinets to roof segments and their slopes, everything was thoughtful, detailed, and practical. Alexandra also showed great professional and personal skill in navigating the permitting process, developing a good relationship with the city’s planning department that allowed us to enjoy all the benefits of the zoning code. She was always ready to help and mediate successfully when issues inevitably came up with our contractor. She followed through with everything she said she would in an even, friendly, and professional manner. We are delighted with our home and, truth be told, also take joy in the many compliments we get from anybody who visits our home or even passes by it. Alexandra was wonderful and we can’t recommend her highly enough.”
Sofiov Design
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars13 March 2023
“I have been working and collaborating with Allen for a few years. He has been helping me with my projects and helped me to create stunning renderings and designs for my clients. I truly recommend them to everyone that looks for stunning interiors & exterior deign”
TSBDESIGN
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars10 August 2023
“Tiffany is an exception architect. Her impeccable design sense, phenomenal attention to detail, and her ability to work magic with contractors and craftsmen is impressive. If you want a strong creative visionary with unmatched executional ability, Tiffany is the right architect. Very strong modern sensibility and has the capacity to lead projects across the architectural spectrum — she can do massive renovations and ground up work, to lighting and interior design, to landscape design. Highly recommended.”
KYLE CHAN ARCHITECT
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars19 January 2015
“Before I begin my remodel plan, I was debating whether or not I should hire a professional architect, and I am glad I did. Kyle is extremely knowledgable and resourceful, he organize and oversee the whole project, as well as fill in every little detail that I probably will neglect. Not only he design a cost effective layout for us, tackle all the structural issues, he also help me deal with all the permit and legal hassle so that I can concentrate on shopping for my new sofa and coffee machine. Working with Kyle is such a pleasant experience, he is responsive, honest, and detail oriented. Having Kyle as my professional architect is the best decision I made throughout the entire project!!”
Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars1 November 2012
“We worked with Dotter & Solfjeld most recently to design an Italian villa on a hillside in Saratoga, CA. This was actually our third project together as they worked on an expansion and remodel of our previous house in Palo Alto as well. As soon as we bought the lot in Saratoga Russ and Wencke, of D&S, began studying the landscape, spending significant time at different points in the day to intimately understand the light, the views and the flow of the hillside. Russ and Wencke are experts at both exterior and interior architecture and design, and they are an amazing team! Once they felt they knew the property, they spent time with us to understand what we liked and disliked and then began designing our house based largely on Italian building principles of thick walls and simple, yet elegant, construction. D&S involved us in every step of the process and ensured we were completely comfortable with each phase of the design before moving forward. They totally went above and beyond the call of duty by diligently working with our planning department and even one neighbor. They were our advocates with the City and were clearly extremely well respected by everybody they interfaced with. During the building process, D&S worked closely with our contractor and foreman to ensure that the project ran smoothly and stayed on budget. Often times, there is tension between architects and contractors, but our contractor loved working with D&S. Some of our friends have also used D&S to design ultra modern homes...D&S is super versatile and we unequivocally and enthusiastically recommend them.”
Studio S Squared Architecture, Inc.
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars4 October 2012
“Eugene Sakai stood out far above the pack of the 5 Architectural firms that we investigated to do our total house construction. He was simply the best to deal with, very professional, on time, and took a personal interest in the project, and within budget. We moved in 2 years ago and still love him and the contractor, C.W. Wright in San Carlos. We are pleased to show the house through Eugene Sakai at any time.”
Guy Lubroth, Architect
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars29 December 2014
“We engaged Architect Guy Lubroth to help us remodel our apartment in San Francisco. He was very professional and thorough in his review of what could be done architecturally. Guy was also very helpful in presenting several alternatives to us. Our remodel is now complete and it is as perfect as we could have wanted. Thanks to Guy's help the HOA approvals went thru easily and the entire experience was good. We can highly recommend Guy Lubroth to anyone considering building or remodeling. Sincerely, Noel Pinto”
Bay 9 Architects
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars24 February 2014
“The master bedroom,office and bathroom are superb. a big WOW. We couldn't be happier. Lun Chan Associates are artistic, creative, dependable, and very honest. The job was done on schedule and very reasonable....We highly recommend them.”
John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars3 April 2011
“We used John Lum Architecture for the complete remodel of ~1000 sq ft in San Francisco. John and team were fantastic to work with. Very creative yet good at listening to our thoughts and integrating our ideas. They understand how to both design a gorgeous contemporary space while still keeping it comfortable and livable. We depended on them with a lot of design detail recommendations such as fixtures, paint, tiles and they always had great suggestions that made the process much simpler and easy to manage. They are very professional, extremely responsive and timely. There were no surprises during the entire process including on deadlines and budgets. I would strongly recommend them.”
Ogle Design
Architects & Building Designers in Oakland.
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars18 April 2017
“Consistently refreshing creative architectural designs. William is a unique architect that understands deeply how to create highly functional buildings that are both efficient and gorgeous. Great work and extremely professional. Highly recommend.”
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Why Hire Architects & Building Designers on Houzz?
6,951Local Pros on Houzz Who Serve Oakland, CA
10,000+Total Number of Reviews Left by Homeowners
It is often said when you're building a house, you’re building a dream. An architect or master of building design can make your dream house a reality. Architects can help you design and redesign spaces of your home or focus on helping you build your own house from the ground up. Architectural firms have extensive knowledge of architectural design and building materials, and a strong appreciation of ergonomics – warmth, light, and flow within a property. As you search through architects and building designers in Oakland, CA, keep in mind the following tips to help you choose the perfect one:

How do I find the best Oakland, CA architect for my home design or renovation project?


When building or renovating your home, you don't simply hire an architect or building designer — you build a relationship with them. Be sure you chose a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. Architecture is an incredibly technical profession and one where getting things wrong can literally put lives at risk, so ensure you hire a professional with a valid license or an architectural firm to maintain high quality and standards. Your next consideration will be architectural style. Some residential architects specialise in designing traditional homes or farmhouses, others in designing modern replicas of traditional homes. While a few have a knack for imagining bolder, more futuristic architectural design in Oakland, CA that incorporates the latest technology.

Once you have frozen on the architect or building designer, chat through your goals, projected budget, scope of work, schedule and any other specific requirements you might have. Ask them to walk you through the process, including the number of architectural design consultations, site visits and what they will be delivering and when, e.g. feasibility study, a technical drawing, tender package and/or planning application drawings. Also, get a sense of whether they are a good listener, collaborator, and problem solver. Finally, be sure to find out what the architect needs from you,deeds, rights of way, deposit, staged payments and so on.

How much does hiring an architect in Oakland, CA cost?


Home construction and renovation often have a preset budget and hence it is important to understand how much architects charge. While there is no set payment structure, independent architects may charge differently from architectural firms. Architects sometimes choose to calculate their fees on the basis of a per square foot rate. In rare cases, especially with smaller projects, Oakland, CA architects may choose to ask their clients for a fixed fee. Make sure the total figure and payment schedule is agreed as part of your contract, particularly if you are trying to accurately estimate the cost of building a house.


Questions to ask prospective Oakland, CA architects:


  • What types of renderings (3D, video, illustrative) will you produce?
  • Who will be working on my project? (This is very important if you hire an architectural firm)
  • What is your fee structure?
  • What does the cost include?
  • Can you handle my special requests?
  • What is your experience with similar projects/ architectural design and style?
  • When do you expect to start and be finished with the project?
  • What do your services include? (It's best that the services are until construction is completed.)
  • What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?
  • Can you provide me with references?
  • Would you say your work has a defining style? (This is important in case the architect's personal style will interfere with your vision.)
  • Will you help with hiring a general contractor and other subcontractors?
  • What do you estimate the cost will be?
  • Are there any complications you foresee with this project?
  • What will I need to provide?

Find a home architect in Oakland, CA on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Find Pros section of the website to Oakland, CA architects. You may also look through photos projects to find building designers in Oakland, CA who have worked on a project similar to yours.

Be sure to reach out to multiple professionals, especially for larger projects and don't settle for the first bid you hear. Find the professional for your next project on Houzz.