We are an award-winning architecture and design firm based in San Francisco dedicated to creating healthy, sustainable spaces that promote wellness, bring joy, and improve overall quality of life…

We provide tailored architectural and engineering services for residential, commercial, educational, and civic/cultural projects, of all sizes and complexity, with an overarching commitment to innovation, sustainability, and exceeding client expectations…

Residential

There’s nothing more personal or intimate than your home.  It’s a place where you nurture and grow, work, rest, and play and have the most emotional and often financial investment. We understand the importance of creating a home that truly reflects your unique journey and aspirations.

We offer a comprehensive range of services for high-end residential projects of all types including new builds, renovations, interior remodels, additions, and ADUs, specializing in revitalizing and modernizing historic Victorian-era single and multi-family homes in San Francisco, reenvisioning early Bay Area suburban ranch-style tract homes, and sensitively updating and future-proofing classic mid-century modern homes. With decades of experience throughout the Bay Area, we are adept at solving the unique challenges of problematic building sites and existing buildings, and navigating complex approvals processes.

As experts in designing environmentally friendly, sustainable homes that blend modern aesthetics with warm, inviting spaces, prioritizing functionality and elegance while capturing your individuality, our meticulous attention to detail ensures your home becomes a sanctuary that reflects your values and nurtures your well-being.

Invest in a living experience that embodies your values and passions. Reach out to us today and take the first step toward creating a home that meets your needs, adds value to your property, and enriches your life in meaningful ways.

We integrate cutting-edge technologies in our practice while upholding human-centric design principles, preserving personal touches in every project, and nurturing social and interpersonal connections through the built environment…

Commercial - Educational - Civic/Cultural

Commercial spaces foster business growth and collaboration, embodying financial investment and entrepreneurial passion.

Educational spaces foster learning, critical thinking, and the development of future leaders, advancing both societal progress and personal growth.

Civic and cultural spaces nurture community engagement, cultural expression, and well-being.

These spaces are the backbone of a thriving society, driving economic activity, preserving culture, and fostering intellectual growth. They are essential for creating vibrant and prosperous communities.

We partner closely with developers, entrepreneurs, and institutional clients to design spaces that are both practical and visually appealing. With a focus on functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability, our designs promote productivity, creativity, social interaction, and maximum returns on investement. By understanding the diverse needs of our clients and end users, we create environments that enhance the overall human experience, whether in a tenant improvement, mixed-use project, collaborative work environment, educational institution, or public space.

What our clients are saying…

  • -Milley L.

    Ojanen Chiou Architects worked on our house renovation and addition project in Mill Valley. We added a master suite, upgraded the entire kitchen and a bathroom and also converted the garage to a studio/office. The design is very functional and pleasant. They presented several design options with computer study models that were very helpful. They also did a good job controlling the given budget. Mill Valley has a reputation of difficult to get a permit but our permit was approved pretty smoothly. We had a contractor that was a little hard to work with. OCA helped us communicated and negotiated with them and we really appreciated that. My husband and I really like the end results. I will hire them again for our next project.

  • -Isabelle N.

    We worked with Ojanen Chiou Architects for remodeling our house adding a suite in our unfinished garage and a staircase from the first floor down to the suite. We also added a bathroom in the master bedroom and opened some space in living room. We love our house now and we feel we are utilizing all the space now. OCA was really good at listening to us about what we wanted, quick in delivering plans, and had a great sense of style. We had a great experience working with OCA and would do it all over again.

  • -Wendy C.

    When we bought the Menlo Park ranch style home, we knew that we will remodel it to fit our life style. After looking at Ojanen Chiou Architects' projects we gave them a "wish list" on the things we would love to have. Shen and Marc came and take a look at the house and later gave us 3 options within a couple of days. After a few discussion, we were able to pick out a plan we liked and get started with the process. They were very helpful in guiding us through the permits and interviewing contractors, always quick to respond, and, most importantly, very good at helping us to control the budget. OCA was able to help me to create a simple, functional, children friendly and party friendly home - with a bit of fun touches. I like very clean line no fuss style and luckily that's also OCA's specialty. We are very happy with the end result!