Located in Santa Clara County, Saratoga is listed as one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S. Home builders in Saratoga often draw inspiration not only from the classic and ever-popular Spanish California villas, but also from the latest modern and contemporary themes.
This list features 15 of the best residential architects in Saratoga. They were selected and ranked based on their work history, affiliations, and previous projects. Several of these firms offer unique services and incorporate innovative, exclusive solutions into their designs. Additionally, some of the firms on this list are the architects behind some of the area’s most recognizable and award-winning homes.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
360 design studio
1491 Ben Roe Dr., Los Altos, CA 94024
Featured in publications such as Dwell Magazine and the San Jose Mercury News, 360 design studio offers a full range of architectural services. It closely works with its clients throughout the entire process and makes use of the latest industry techniques. The firm’s team takes charge of programming, site analysis, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation. Additionally, the firm handles permits, bidding and negotiations, and construction administration. Most notably, the firm considers a home’s site in its designs by keeping the home’s potential environment in mind throughout the entire design process.
The project featured here best showcases the firm’s work. For this project, the firm utilized a wooden theme with several modern elements. This can be observed in the team’s choice of windows and fixtures.
Acadia Architecture
644 N Santa Cruz Ave. Suite #6, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Located in Palo Alto, the project featured here spans over 2,500 square feet and includes a detached single-car garage. Inside, the home has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. Its entry door features an interlocking Italian haute-couture shoe shape and has metal guard railings. The home also features several custom mosaic columns.
The company behind this home, Acadia Architecture, makes use of a highly collaborative approach. The firm primarily focuses on high-end residential homes and interior design. The firm is also known for its master planning services and educational buildings.
Bridgford Construction
2380 S Bascom Ave. Suite #100, Campbell, CA 95008
Headquartered in Campbell, Bridgford Construction has been in the industry since 2007. It extends its services throughout the Bay Area and offers potential clients a complete range of general construction, architectural, and interior design work. It adheres to a highly simplistic approach for its projects and is known for its streamlined processes. In line with this, the firm is present throughout the duration of a project—from design and inception all the way to completion. It dedicates itself to crafting only high-caliber homes and has built a comprehensive portfolio filled with the best transitional and modern designs.
The project featured here was completed in Sunnyvale. It spans 3,100 square feet and has four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Inside, it has a large open-concept kitchen with countertop seating directly next to its family room. Its owners also specifically requested the firm’s team to install large La Cantina Doors that lead to the home’s backyard. This helps in achieving a nice flow between the home’s indoor and outdoor spaces.\
De Meza + Architecture
60 Santa Marina St., San Francisco, CA 94110
De Meza + Architecture operates out of its main office in San Francisco and is regarded for its award-winning services. It has been in business since 2001 and offers potential clients with a full range of services. Composed of a group of talented and innovative designers and architects, the firm has completed projects not only in the Bay Area but also for discerning clients in the states of New York and Hawaii. At its helm is Gregg De Meza, an experienced professional who has had the privilege of working on numerous high-profile residential and commercial projects, including the design of one of the world’s largest private yachts.
The firm is the proud recipient of various awards, including distinctions from the Reveal Awards. It has also been featured on HGTV. Perhaps the firm’s best work is the “Fieldstone House,” which measures around 5,200 square feet and was custom-designed with its owners’ active lifestyles in mind. Specifically, the firm designed the home with various seamlessly intertwined indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside, the home has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. The home is divided into three distinct zones: a public living area; a two-bedroom suite; and a separate master suite, which includes an art studio.
HomeTech Construction
111 N Market St. Suite #300, San Jose, CA 95113
HomeTech Construction is manned by a group of not just architects and general contractors, but also knowledgeable designers, electricians, roofing experts, and plumbers. Together, they make use of the latest industry techniques, such as 3D and virtual reality renderings, to ensure the accuracy of their designs prior to construction. This helps in avoiding overspending once the building begins and in providing clients with accurate plans and estimates. Moreover, the firm assists its clients throughout the entire process.
The firm extends its services throughout the entire Bay Area and adheres to only the highest of standards. It is also a boutique firm, meaning that it tailors its approach to each individual project and designs no two homes alike.
Louie Leu Architect
236 N Santa Cruz Ave. Suite #210, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Louie Leu offers a full range of architectural services and specializes in planning and working with wonderful interiors. Its services are comprehensive and direct and emphasize the importance of “Design for Living.” It ensures that its solutions are not only creative, but also catered to each client’s budget and needs. Further, it incorporates several green building practices and techniques into each of its projects and handles every facet of a home—from site analysis and planning to procurement and finish selection. The firm is also no stranger to the pages of various publications, including Saratoga Rolling Hills Estate, Dwell, and California Home + Design.
This sprawling 12,000-square-foot contemporary hilltop home offers stunning 360-degree views of Silicon Valley. Designed to fit the breathtaking landscape it was constructed on, this home was completed with the help of the talented professionals at Conrado-Home Builders and features several outdoor living spaces complete with an exterior kitchen, steel fire pits, and large rooftop entertaining areas. It also has its own guest house, an infinity pool, and several beautiful gardens. The firm’s team also incorporated several sustainable features, such as a partial living green roof and solar panels. Large cisterns were also buried underground to collect rainwater, and the home’s exterior was specifically designed and constructed to reduce heating and cooling costs.
M. Designs Architects
4131 El Camino Real Suite #200, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Operating out of its headquarters in Palo Alto, M. Designs is known for its excellent interior design and planning work. It offers a full range of architectural services for residential as well as commercial and industrial projects as well. It has nearly five decades of industry experience and handles every aspect of a project not only in terms of design, but also documentation and construction support. The firm is also known for its excellent cost estimates and accurate projections. The firm does not limit itself to single-family homes when it comes to its residential projects, as it has worked on various townhouses, villas, and even estates.
M. Designs Architects has been the proud recipient of multiple awards throughout its years in service. Most recently, the firm was lauded at the World Architecture & Design Awards for its excellent work on the Junaid Residence. For this, the team infused various modern elements with smart home automization details.
You can see more on their website here.
Modern House Architects
1265 Indiana St., San Francisco, CA 94107
As its name suggests, Modern House Architects showcases expertise for the latest architectural themes. It is led by Curt Cline, a talented professional and licensed architect under whose leadership the firm has secured a solid reputation for its traditional-modernist architecture. He offers more than three decades of experience to each project. His design skills include an ability to incorporate the client’s lifestyles and needs into spaces as well as to infuse the latest green building technologies into a budding home. His work has been recognized in various journals and publications, including California Home & Design and the Architectural Record.
Some of Cline’s most noteworthy projects include the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the renovation of a historical home by renowned architect, Julia Morgan. These projects have helped garner attention for the firm itself, as the firm’s work has been featured in Architect Magazine and Curbed San Francisco.
ODS Architecture
5895 Doyle St., Emeryville, CA 94608
With design projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, ODS Architecture specializes in new custom homes, large-scale renovations, and unique office and museum spaces. The firm is known for their simplicity and efficiency, as well as their use of modern and transitional themes. Offering a full range of services, the firm’s team makes use of the latest industry trends and technology, including extensive 3D remodeling.
The firm’s team conducts several builder pricing sessions before settling on a final figure to avoid any extra costs and overspending. Given that its team has more than two decades of experience, the firm has established relationships with some of the area’s best builders.
Rockwood Design + Associates
3 High School Court, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Having been in business for the greater part of more than three decades, Rockwood Design + Associates offers one of the best design and architectural services in the Bay Area. The firm was recognized back in 1982 for its work on the renovation of the Hotel Saint Claire, now the Hilton Sainte Claire. It is also the firm behind several other noteworthy commercial projects in the area, including the Ho Chow restaurant. Its principals, Robert and Cynthia Rockwood, oversee each of the firm’s projects and have had the honor of being featured on the cover page of SV Magazine. Together, they have been recognized as two of Silicon Valley’s leading designers.
Robert and Cynthia are now joined by Adam Rockwood, an experienced architect, and his wife, Lorena Perez. As a group, they have made a name for themselves and the firm with their signature blend of traditional and cutting-edge designs.
Rolm Design Studio
1622 W Campbell Ave. Suite #108, Campbell, CA 95008
Rolm Design operates out of its office in South Bay and serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area. It is primarily a residential design office but also works on corporate and institutional projects. The firm offers comprehensive design services that have led to innovative new homes and large-scale renovations. It does not limit itself to specializing in only one or two particular styles, but showcases a diverse portfolio as unique as the clients it takes on. The firm describes its approach as “user-centric,” meaning it takes into account the environment in which a home will be built.
Located in Half Moon Bay, the project featured here is a new custom single-family residence. Measuring 1,700 square feet, it features minimalistic and open-floor-plan interiors. For this, the firm was tasked with working on both stories, a home office, a guest room complete with an en suite bathroom, and a laundry area. The home also has a master bed and bath in addition to a loft area.
Studio S Squared Architecture
1000 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
Completed in Menlo Park, the project featured here is a new two-story home that was carefully designed and crafted around a magnificent oak tree. Its roof comes in varying heights but features consistently high ceilings throughout the entire house. For this project, the firm’s team took into account the clients’ request of keeping the design clean and simple so as to emphasize the woodsy setting of the home. Overall, the project cost roughly $1.5 million and spans 4,000 square feet. Inside, it has six bedrooms, four and a half baths, and a three-car garage.
The firm has worked on more than 100 projects since its inception and is manned by a group of talented professionals. It extends its services throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Swatt | Miers Architects
5845 Doyle St. Suite #104, Emeryville, CA, 94608
Swatt Miers Architects is an award-winning firm and has completed projects across the West Coast, Hawaii, Colorado, Canada, Spain, and India. The firm primarily specializes in modern architectural themes and keeps up with the latest themes and techniques. That said, it often utilizes open floor plans and is capable of crafting highly customized spaces tailored to fit clients’ special needs. It is also known to consider a home’s site in its designs. This has often resulted in wonderfully and seamlessly incorporated indoor-outdoor spaces.
The project featured here is located in Portola Valley. Located on a east facing, gently sloping site, the home has serene country views in all directions, with dramatic views with San Francisco visible in the distance. The design emphasizes the flow of space from indoors to outdoors. The house is organized into an ‘L’ shaped plan with primary circulation set on the east-west axis. A circulation spine gently ascends on the south side of the building, and forms one edge of private landscaped courtyard. In 2015 this home received an Honor Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design, and was cited as one of the 17 best homes built in America.
Timeline Design + Build
14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
The project featured here is a California Mission Revival-style residence. Located in Los Altos, it spans over 5,000 square feet and serves as an homage to classic renaissance and baroque architecture. It features classic Spanish elements coupled with thick, rounded archways; stucco exteriors; and clay roof tiles. Its designers also opted for authentic wood windows and Saltillo tiles to further complement and emphasize the home’s historic feel. The home also has its very own atrium, which features four large skylights.
The Timeline team offers its clients more than a century of collective industry experience. Because of this, its team’s creative abilities are highly diverse, and the firm has secured partnerships with some of the area’s leading craftsmen and professionals.
WA Design Architects
805 Folger Ave., Berkeley, CA 94710
WA Design Architects’s projects range from small-scale remodels all the way to large-scale residences and commercial structures. The firm’s process and philosophy emphasize the importance of taking into consideration the relationship of a building to its site. This progressive approach is coupled with the firm’s dedication to sustainable design, specifically solar features. Although headquartered in Berkeley, the firm extends its services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Marin County, the South Bay, Saratoga, Los Altos, Woodside, Orinda, and San Francisco.
Designed to blend into the hills of the San Francisco Bay Area, the project featured here sits on a 20-acre piece of land and overlooks the beautiful Napa Valley. To make the most out of this view, the firm’s team incorporated large inclined glass windows and doors. These are further complemented by the team’s use of cement and plaster elements.
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
