OUR OBSESSION: We are crazy about building community. It's our reason for being and it's what fuels us as designers and architects. Our focus on Eat, Shop, Live and Play is the result of an extreme bias toward using design to foster interaction. We're not interested in the austere or the exclusive.
We were the kids in school who were on the dance committee. A QUICK HISTORY: Our practice was started when architects Charles Kahn, Marites Abueg and Keith Morris merged firms to create a single studio offering services ranging from customized restaurant design to large multifamily buildings and united by a passion for craft and, of course, community.
PHILOSOPHY: 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.
We were the kids in school who were on the dance committee. A QUICK HISTORY: Our practice was started when architects Charles Kahn, Marites Abueg and Keith Morris merged firms to create a single studio offering services ranging from customized restaurant design to large multifamily buildings and united by a passion for craft and, of course, community.
PHILOSOPHY: 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.
Services
Your restaurant's design should be unique to you and your vision. Customers should immediately feel your brand, your inspirations, and your food concept when they walk in the door. Our designs focus on all senses: textures and materials, comfort and ergonomics, acoustically-balanced sound, and beautiful, warm lighting (we let you shower them with taste pleasures).
We love creating retail environments - we see them as the social hubs in a modern city. We believe that people visit stores and centers not just to purchase but to be entertained and engaged. Our aim is to create retail environments that are authentic, alluring and offer opportunities for discovery.
We began our practice designing and building custom homes in the Bay Area. Our early years as builders still influence the way we design both single family homes and large mixed-use buildings: we embrace the site, open the interior to the outdoors, create spaces filled with natural light, and design for ease of construction.
We design unique fitness experiences carefully tailored to support our client's workout philosophies and programs. Our work includes design of fitness centers and training facilities, yoga studios, bike stations, spa rooms, and specialty studios. While different in program, each facility benefits from our intense focus on the quality of the exercise experience and our technical expertise.
Our Workplace practice focuses on supporting work in all its forms. We design co-working spaces, large collaborative offices and boutique Class A spaces for private entrepreneurs. We design to support productive work through state of the art lighting, acoustics and ergonomic work stations. We design to reflect the mission of the business, to help businesses retain top talent, and to allow change and evolution over time.
Reviews (1)
Metro Lighting
Jun 02, 2020
Report
We've worked with Studio KDA on numerous projects, including our own showroom. The leaders of the firm (Marites, Keith, Charles and Ann) are not only extremely skilled, but they are genuinely wonderful people who care about every project and client. Each brings their own strengths to the firm and they, along with their dedicated staff, have designed a slew of beautiful restaurants, retail businesses, housing projects, and community gathering places throughout the Bay Area. We're lucky to have them in Berkeley!
