We purchased an older, fixer upper on a hillside in Portola Valley with the hopes of rebuilding it…read moreinto our dream home. We aimed to generate income by converting the former primary bedroom into a rentable, attached JADU. This mean building a new primary BR on the back, downhill side of the house, along with creating a new family room, and office. The front of the house was definitely old style, and did not, in any way, match our vision of a contemporary, hi-tech, look. I had interviewed other architects who had suggested we add a new front foyer, but I wasn't thrilled about the look presented, which was basically to add a gable roof addition ("A" frame shape add-on) at at the front, that would be harmonious with the rest of the house. In my first meeting with Davide, he suggested something that changed the whole dynamic of the house. He suggested that rather than be constrained by trying to harmonize the new entry with the old architecture, we could add a new layer to the front of the house, and change the look completely. This also creates a new corridor at the front that greatly improves the flow/circulation from the front to the back. It was a genius idea! This new layer at the front of the house gives us a spectacular new front entrance, plus a new corridor with tall ceilings. He also very skillfully raised the ceiling heights in many parts of the house so it feels like the rooms were expanded (when only the height changed). I am attaching a photo of the original house and Davide's concept for the new design. I want to add that we are not demolishing any part of the old house so we are not losing any existing square footage. We are just adding and "splicing the old with the new". For the new room additions at the back, he integrated the complex siting of the hillside PBR & family room to flow seamlessly into the same level of the existing house on. I have very strong ideas of what I want in terms of design, and Davide has been very patient in working through my ideas. He uses his critical eye and design experience to guide me so I don't get off track, and we can get to where it is I want to end up. We are now in the building permit process, and I can't wait for construction to start. I will be updating this post when the house is finished with more photos, because I want to show off the dramatic transformation between the "before" and "after". If you are looking for a miracle transformation, Davide Gianella is the architect who can make this dream come true for you! I can recommend him 100%

I reached out to Davide about two or three months ago to see if I could hire him to help design my…read moreremodel. He was really polite and so friendly and VERYYYY transparent that he was inundated with some work at the moment and that he gives his all to 1-2 projects at a time, so that they get the best out of him. He then gave me a suggested timeline, which unfortunately didn't match with what we had in mind - but no worries! I enjoyed the interaction and his work is beautiful, and I truly appreciate the communication and friendliness that transpired in our conversations.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Eyal. He demonstrated incredible skill and expertise…read moreand went above and beyond to deliver an outstanding result which got me access to an over the counter permit with SF's building department - which saved a lot of headache! His attention to detail and ability to understand and translate my vision into reality was truly remarkable. He took the time to listen to my ideas and requirements, and then used their expertise to create a design that got though the approval process without any delay. Throughout the entire process, he maintained a high level of professionalism and communication and kept me informed every step of the way Eyal's work truly speaks for itself, and I loved working with such a skilled, talented and reliable architect!

Working with Prestin Ravid Architects on our home addition and renovation has been amazing…read more Navigating the City of Palo Alto's complex permit process could have been stressful, but Eyal and his team made it smooth and enjoyable. With Eyal's extensive experience, his strategic, efficient approach and clear communication helped us get our permit in about half the expected time. His designs are thoughtful, detail-oriented, and perfectly balance aesthetics and practicality. Highly recommend!

I will recommend the service of QuickenPlans , they are professional what they do , really on time…read more, is exactly what I was looking for , efficient service, thanks QuickenPlans Best. Ernesto

I had a consultation for my room addition project with Quickenplans recently- they were recommended…read moreby my neighbour who did his addition with them. Those guys really know their stuff, very detailed and have a lot of experience with design and permitting in SF Bay. We're still deciding on the project but if we move forward we would go with them.

GKW Architects has a wonderful team ready to help and serve you. I have worked closely with them…read morefor the last year designing and developing my project. I have had nothing but a positive experience. Everyone is professional, helpful, and easy to communicate with. The commitment to seeing the project through with a strong background in working with the City of Los Gatos was extremely helpful . Homeowner

One of the worst service I've ever experienced. My partner and I are in the search for an…read morearchitectural firm to help us with design and get through permitting in the city of San Jose. One of the firms we reached out to was GKW architects and we had a meeting scheduled for 6/19 with them to go over the project. Not only were they late, but they abruptly left the meeting 17 minutes into the call and midway through conversation without any word. I assumed something must have happened with their connection, but they never followed up after to explain what happened which makes me believe that they hung up on purpose. As someone who works in the industry, this was extremely unprofessional and disrespectful.

Working with Samah has been amazing. We sought her expertise for our 570 sq.ft. tiny home (ADU)…read moresince we required a custom plan because the available area to build in our backyard isn't rectangular. Samah met with us, surveyed the site, and drafted a plan based on our wants and also gave recommendations from her experience. We went with her experience! The architectural plans and structural calculations (we used her referral) were delivered to our city and county in such detail, everyone was surprised. This detail is what we want to highlight. It makes the build much easier, almost like lego, and the inspection process smooth. We had to go through various inspections: - Underground plumbing - Rebar - Foundation - Exterior shear wall - Exterior lath - Rough framing - Roof - Wall insulation - Window flashing - Drywall - Shower and backing - Exterior slats - Electrical meter - Planning final - Solar - Final Absolutely wonderful.

Working with Samah Nasser was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This is our second…read moreproject with her, and once again, she exceeded our expectations by combining creativity with practicality in a way that made the entire process feel seamless and inspiring. From the initial concept discussions, she took the time to truly understand our vision, lifestyle, and priorities. Her ability to translate our ideas into a design that was both beautiful and highly functional made every detail feel intentional, bringing together aesthetics, efficiency, and comfort perfectly. Communication was clear and consistent throughout the project. She was responsive, patient with our questions, and proactive in offering thoughtful solutions when challenges arose. Her professionalism and attention to detail gave us complete confidence at every stage. What stood out most was her ability to balance big-picture thinking with meticulous execution. The final result is a space that not only looks incredible but also feels tailored specifically to us. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, reliable architect who is genuinely invested in delivering exceptional work. It was an absolute pleasure working with Samah.

We found our way to Winder Gibson through our realtor and could not be more grateful. We worked…read moreclosely with Geoff and Daniel to design our dream home. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and took on all details at every stage, including handling a difficult neighbor. At the same time, they were efficient and budget conscious, helping us stay on track both financially and time-line wise. They made what could be an overwhelming process move smoothly and enjoyably. We unreservedly recommend Winder Gibson.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Geoff and his team on a full demolition and new…read moreconstruction of a single family home with ADU in San Francisco. We loved our experience and wholeheartedly endorse Winder Gibson to anyone looking for a full service architecture firm. From the outset, Geoff and his team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our family's needs, which they transformed into a beautiful house design that resonates with our aspirations and lifestyle. We are currently transitioning to the construction phase, and are excited to raise our family in such a thoughtfully designed space. Also, Geoff and team are true experts at navigating the San Francisco permitting process. They efficiently moved us through permitting, both reacting to feedback from the city and helping us manage our neighbors. Honestly, we could not have permitted the house without their guidance. In a city where building homes can be difficult, the one two punch of beautiful design + the knowledge and skill to get it across the line was invaluable. We are so appreciative of Geoff and team.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with this architect has been very disappointing…read more It has been over two months since I I signed the contract and paid the initial deposit. Despite multiple follow-ups via text and email, I have still not received any architectural drawings or meaningful progress updates. Communication has been slow and inconsistent; timelines were not adhered to, and I had to constantly chase updates. This lack of professionalism is not acceptable. I strongly recommend considering other professionals. Avoid at all costs.

I would not recommend this firm to anyone. Unable to communicate effectively, doesn't respond to…read moreemails regularly, no show for phone meeting, will take your deposit and you will walk away with nothing to show. Incredibly frustrating!