Darshan A

Studio KDA

Studio KDA is a 27‐person, award‐winning practice of residential and commercial architecture, with particular expertise in the design of multi‐family buildings, retail centers and restaurants. Our practice is diverse in project type but unified in its mission, with each project responding to our clients' goals with warmth, intelligence and precision. Our office is known for its engaging, thoughtful architecture and a very high level of service to clients. We believe that good design is true to its social, historical and cultural context. For all projects, from remodels to new commercial buildings, we work to identify and express the character of the building, business or space. We use a variety of tools – historical research, mood boards, community outreach — to elicit the essential values and qualities and represent them through warm, engaging design. Our firm is highly service-oriented; every client relationship is unique and every design solution specific to the site, budget, brand vision, customer demographic, and schedule. We believe in the power of collaboration to find the best result and welcome input from clients, staff and the greater community to enrich our ideas. We are highly adept at working the local municipalities to get projects quickly entitled, permitted and built. Founding Principal Charles Kahn is the Chair of Berkeley's Zoning Adjustments Board and Vice-Chair of the City's Design Review Commission. Our Hospitality studio, headed up by Keith Morris and Marites Abueg, is best known for the design of dozens of award winning restaurants and bars throughout the Bay Area. Recent additions to the Bay Area culinary landscape include Protégé (Palo Alto), Flour & Water Pizzeria (San Francisco), Comal & Comal Next Door (Berkeley), Cholita Linda (S.F. Ferry Building), and Bar Shiru (Oakland).