East Palo Alto is one of the youngest cities in California and is set in the middle of Silicon Valley—one of the most expensive regions in the U.S. With its proximity to tech companies and Stanford University, it is an ideal spot for both growing single families and work-focused professionals.
This list features some of the best residential architects in East Palo Alto. Aside from having years of experience in the industry, these architects are affiliated with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-accredited professionals as well. As experts in their field, some of these architects have been showered with eyes from publications like San Francisco Architecture, MidCentury Home magazine, and The New York Times.
EID Architects
412 Olive Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306
An architect with more than 25 years of experience in the industry, EID Architects, or Environmental Innovations in Design Architects, specializes in sustainable design and green building technologies. After continuously adapting this design method, the firm has become recognized as one of California’s leaders in green building design.
So far, its portfolio has showcased homes in modern, contemporary, and traditional styles. Regardless of the style, the firm incorporates signature features like solar panels, LED lighting with timers, and high thermal performance triple pane windows among other features. The modern Los Altos home is a great example of its projects. Carrying a passive design, it uses sustainable construction materials to create the French wide plank oak floors, metal-framed windows, and smooth finished walls.
Atkinson Architecture
546 Guinda St., Palo Alto, CA 94303
A small, but high-profile architecture firm, Atkinson Architecture has been recognized for designing many pieces of beautiful contemporary architecture. The firm has a signature refined simplicity in its homes, whether inspired by the geography, an old building, or its use. Over time, its designs have been featured in publications like Palo Alto Online, Dwell, The New York Times, and Nano House.
Among its many beautiful contemporary and modern pieces, its most notable one is the residence in Los Altos Hills. Perched on a small hill, it has a dramatic southern view of the valley and is composed of aluminum windows and wooden rainscreen siding. Like this home, many of the other projects in Atkinson Architecture’s roster carry a sense of dignity combined with a sense of history that isn’t so self-conscious.
Pomodoro Architects
255 S Rengstorff Ave. Unit #170, Mountain View, CA 94040
Pomodoro Architects is known for creating timeless architecture that harmonizes with the surroundings. With projects that range from modern and contemporary to Japanese-inspired designs, it has been known for a design approach that utilizes 3D modeling software and virtual reality to present to clients.
With the help of this technology, it was able to create homes like the Mountain View House —a two-story residence that maximizes the indoor and outdoor relationship through spacious openings and by extending the indoors to the backyard, blurring the lines between the two spaces and creating another room for this modern home. Aside from architectural design, the firm is also experienced in master planning, interior design, and virtual reality design analysis.
Ogawa Fisher Architects
715 Colorado, Suite D, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Highly experienced in designing various detailed-oriented residential projects. Aside from understanding the complexities of local planning and building agencies, Ogawa Fisher Architects takes a holistic approach in design where it considers the entire space and surroundings, short- and long-term goals, neighborhood context, terrain, and site orientation. With a multicultural client base, the firm is inspired by current local and global trends that help it create timeless designs.
Among these designs, its most notable one would be the Jewel Box House in Palo Alto. Set in a compact lot, the residence was designed to embrace the border between closed and open by installing an abundance of wide glass doors and windows. Though possessing an unassuming and simple facade, it has lively interiors, justifying its name as the Jewel Box house. Homes like these have given the firm attention from publications like 7×7 magazine and San Francisco Architecture.
Bellomo Architects
102 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301
Bellomo Architects is a firm that has been around since 1993. Ever since, it has been known for providing its clients with a holistic design approach that involves the client and the project’s surrounding community. Over the years, it has crafted several innovative modern and contemporary style homes.
This includes the Everett Residence. A modern single-story house, it has a modular system and sustainable design principles. With sliding doors, skylights, and an expanse of windows, the house has a sense of openness and vitality that blurs the indoors and outdoors. Its structural frame meanwhile is made from renewable steel and was prefabricated and delivered to the site to reduce construction time. It is also made of slag concrete—a post-industrial/pre-consumer material that dramatically reduces embodied energy and greenhouse gases. Aside from this home, the firm has completed other projects that have gained recognition from MidCentury Home magazine.
Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture and Design
4801 Park Blvd., Oakland, CA 94602
A firm that has serviced California, other states, and even Europe, Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture and Design presents its clients with a roster of many fine homes. In this portfolio are homes that carry designs from the modern and contemporary, to farmhouse styles. The contemporary house in Los Altos is particularly a great example of the firm’s design abilities. A home basking in a sunny lot, the residence has large fold-away doors on two sides of the living and dining room that connect the front and back yard.
Aside from bringing in more natural light, these doors allow for a smoother transition between the indoors and outdoors. With any type of home, the firm focuses on basing the designs on natural elements and light patterns seen at the site. Homes like these highlight a close relationship with the indoors and outdoors and have earned the firm recognition from publications like the San Francisco Chronicle, Diablo magazine, Brava Casa, and Sunset magazine.
ODS Architecture
5895 Doyle St., Emeryville, CA 94608
ODS Architecture has worked on a variety of projects, including whole house renovations, unique office and museum spaces, and new custom residential homes. Despite the difference in projects, they are all commonly simple and efficient in their own unique ways. The Loma Vista residence in Orinda, in particular, is a notable example of the firm’s unique design approach. Originally a modern home designed by architect Lee Stuart Darrow and featured in the 1958 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, the old 2,500-square foot home was transformed into a 6,000 square foot residential complex connected by a floating glass bridge. This bridge was created to avoid uprooting the grown redwood tree set in between the original set of two houses. Another notable architectural achievement is the conversion to an open plan with new and remodeling construction that allows for spacious 12-foot ceilings expanding through the new addition and through strategic parts of the old house like the kitchen. With a wide array of homes as beautiful as the Loma Vista home, ODS Architecture gained features in publications like Dwell, San Francisco Architects, Residential Design magazine, and Marin Home magazine, among many others.
Modern House
1265 Indiana St., San Francisco, CA 94107
For Modern House, architecture blurs the line between the indoors and outdoors through traditional modernist architecture. In this sense, the firm allows its clients to experience 21st-century green architecture that is not only eco-friendly but also holistic in its environment.
So far, its projects have garnered attention from publications like Architectural Record and California Home & Design. Its portfolio includes several notable residential homes like the renovated historical home of renowned architect Julia Morgan and public projects like the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
CAW Architects
455 Lambert Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306
Known for designing new structures in well-known campuses, downtown areas, and high-end neighborhoods, CAW Architects has been in the industry since 1994. Over time, it has been recognized for revitalizing old, existing buildings and turning them into reusable structures for present times. Among its projects is a notable residential home in Palo Alto. A 6,000-square foot structure, the Lincoln Avenue residence is a Dutch colonial home transformed to bring new light and openness to the design.
This was done by creating an inviting addition that connects the house and the gardens—integrating a flow between the interior and exterior. After years of completing projects like this, CAW Architects was able to win honors like the AIA California’s Award of Excellence, the AIA’s Merit Award, and many other design recognitions.
Studio S Squared Architecture
1000 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
A team of diverse and dynamic architects, Studio S Squared Architects is experienced enough to complete a wide range of projects from modest home renovations to completely new commercial buildings in different sizes. This work has brought it recognition from publications like Palo Alto Online and Silicon Valley Business Journal. Meanwhile, the firm’s portfolio showcases beautiful homes that carry various styles, including modern, mid-century, colonial, and ranch.
Among its many projects is the Los Altos Contemporary Ranch remodel and addition. Apart from its warm and classy contemporary design, this residence has a great room that showcases a butterfly roof and uses large expanses of glass roofs to incorporate a natural indoor and outdoor flow.
Knorr Architecture
1120 Palm Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401
From villas that portray the traditional and classic styles, Knorr Architecture manages to provide its clients with full attention to their needs. Though it is a small boutique firm specializing in both residential and hospitality projects, Knorr Architecture has won awards like the Gold Nugget Award, Sunset Awards for Home of The Year, and the AIA San Mateo County 20-Year Firm Award.
Among its many projects, its most notable one is a Spanish-style Santa Barbara villa in Los Altos. This home best exemplifies a warm and inviting theme harmonious to the home’s surroundings. Regardless of the project type, the firm sticks with its clients from the initial design meeting all the way to construction. With this type of design and work approach, the firm limits its projects to two or three new homes per year for quality assurance.
M. Designs Architects
4131 El Camino Real Suite #200, Palo Alto, CA 94306
A veteran in all aspects of management for designing, documentation, and construction support, M. Designs Architects has completed a wide variety of commercial and residential projects. As an internationally recognized firm, it has been honored with many awards. From 2011 to 2015, it has been featured in NARI’s Business Hall of Fame for the Best of Los Altos.
In 2016, it won NARI’s META Entire House Award Judges Choice Award and the Gold Award. In 2019, it received the World Architecture & Design Awards’ 2019 First Award for Residential private home. Most recently, in 2020, the firm received 5 more prestigious awards from NARI including the Judges Choice Award. With such awards, it has crafted estates, villas, and townhouses with styles ranging from mid-century, modern, and rustic designs. Learn more about their work at www.mdesignsarchitects.com.
