--- title: "I-KANDA ARCHITECTS — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/i-kanda-architects-pfvwus-pf~1007159621 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1007159621.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "I-KANDA ARCHITECTS" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/112353550631383f_0112-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States" phone: "(646) 228-1040" website: http://www.i-kanda.com rating: 5 review_count: 3 followers: 46 last_updated: 2026-08-22 --- # I-KANDA ARCHITECTS Original Houzz profile: [I-KANDA ARCHITECTS](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/i-kanda-architects-pfvwus-pf~1007159621) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Charlestown, MA - **Serves:** Boston, New England, New York - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (3 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - 1,000 Ideabook Saves I-Kanda Architects is an award-winning architectural design practice founded by Isamu & Marley Kanda, following graduation from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. The Boston based firm’s work has graced the covers of Boston Home Magazine and Boston Globe Magazine, as well as being published in Dwell, Dezeen and Azure. In 2017 the firm received the AIA Design Honor Award by the Boston chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In 2018 the firm received the Best of Boston Home Award for Urban Architect, and was selected as "Next Progressives" by Architect Magazine. The firm approaches each project as a new array of needs and desires out of which to conceive uniquely enhanced structures. Their aim is to turn constraints into possibilities - to work with clients, builders and sites to realize ideas far beyond initial hopes. The firm creates buildings and spaces that are modern, yet enduring – equal parts purpose and sculpture; broadly ranging from lofty barn conversions to Back Bay penthouses, boutique storefronts to mountain-side cabins. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Custom Homes - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes ### Areas Served - Boston - New England - New York ### Typical Job Cost $1 million - 4 million $1 million - 4 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | I-KANDA ARCHITECTS | | Address | Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, United States | | Phone | (646) 228-1040 | | Website | http://www.i-kanda.com | | License Number | 50402 | | Followers on Houzz | 46 | **Social profiles:** - LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/isamu-kanda-aia-40a860b/ - Instagram — ikandaarchitects ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [I-KANDA ARCHITECTS](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/i-kanda-architects-pfvwus-pf~1007159621) - **Website:** http://www.i-kanda.com - **Phone:** (646) 228-1040 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - AIA, NCARB **Affiliations** - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) - [NCARB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/ncarb-pfvwus-pf~1477640315) - [The Boston Society of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-boston-society-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1888823119) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 3 reviews** ### All 3 reviews **★★★★★ — Chris Joyce, Aug. 2016** > We were extremely happy with the work that Isamu and his firm, I-Kanda Architects did for us on our renovation project. The project entailed a significant renovation of a 8 bedroom Victorian build in 1900. We put in a new kitchen, new Master Bedroom, 2 1/2 new baths and more. Also an entirely new front porch on outside. Isamu is easy to work with, came in under budget. and always delivered drawings and such on time. He was creative with ideas and worked well with designer and contractor. I would use him again without question. My highest recommendation for I-Kanda Architects! Chris Joyce **★★★★★ — mark\_rusch, Oct. 2015** > We built our dream home in Western MA using an existing 1860's barn as the building envelop. I-KANDA worked very closely with us to create an outstanding space in which to live. Form, function, workflow and aesthetics were seamlessly combined to create a juxtaposition of modern and antique, intimate and open. > > We are going on 10 years in our space and I still appreciate the thoughtfulness in space and form. I see timeless design everywhere I look. **★★★★★ — mnorkus, March 2015** > Isamu Kanda is an extraordinarily gifted architect. He designed and supervised a complete gut renovation of a large penthouse in an older, multistory building. He has a beautiful vision, especially of contemporary/modern, elegant, sleek design that gets the essence and is warm and liveable. Isamu listens very well (rare in an architect) and worked with our ideas and suggestions while offering his own perspective. > Harvard trained, Isamu has deep structural expertise and can handle complicated technical issues. He and the builder worked well on solving many problems arising from an old (1928) building. > We interviewed 5 top architects and he was by far the most creative, thoughtful, and ultimately competent. > The project was long and complicated, but working with Isamu Kanda made us feel confident and happy. ## Selected projects - [CABIN ON A ROCK](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cabin-on-a-rock-pj-vj~1395612) - Location: Lincoln, NH - Photos: 10 - Description: The cabin is perched on a granite outcropping in the White Mountains. It was sited to project precariously over a steep drop-off, allowing dramatic views across the valley at several prominent peaks. Instead of leveling the granite ledge, the topography is embraced; the structure is lifted up on 9 hand-poured concrete footings - a system selected in order to tread lightly on the sloped site. Working with Fire Tower Engineered Timber and Bensonwood, all framing elements were engineered and pre-cu… - [PROW HOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/prow-house-pj-vj~6088480) - Location: Newton, MA - Photos: 7 - Description: The curved forms of this residential addition and garage were inspired by the client’s love of yachts and wood hull construction. The rainscreen cladding of these sculptural volumes re-interprets traditional rooflines by streamlining elements such as trim, moldings, soffits, fascia and overhangs into a single fluid profile. This project challenges conventional facade construction by pushing a material traditionally understood to be hard (wood planks) to take on a soft appearance via geometric fo… - [PENTHOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/penthouse-pj-vj~1384362) - Location: Boston, MA - Photos: 10 - Description: A gut-renovation of a floor-through penthouse unit in a 1928 Back Bay building. The challenge was to create new out of old. The original floor-plan was organized around a long, dark service corridor. A centralized servants quarters separated formal rooms in the front from private bedrooms in the rear. A renovation in the 1980s did little to improve this compartmentalized layout. The new plan removes all unnecessary partition walls, allowing circulation to flow and re-connect freely around the fe… - [CHAMFER HOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chamfer-house-pj-vj~6088439) - Location: Newton, MA - Photos: 13 - Description: The existing 6100 sf Chestnut Hill residence was like a diamond-in-the-rough; a grand 125 year-old house conflicted by floor plans that were congested and lacked clarify. Formal rooms at the front of the house including the living, study and dining rooms were large in proportion but essentially dead ends for circulation. High traffic rooms at the back of the house including the rear entry, mudroom, kitchen and den were effectively separated from the rest of the house except via narrow service co… - [CIRCLE HOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/circle-house-pj-vj~2812388) - Location: Brookline, MA - Photos: 7 - Description: This project is a renovation of a 2,400sf floor-through unit in a 1915 brick apartment building, located in Brookline, MA. The design was conceived in motion, exploring what happens when spaces are shaped by the activities occurring within them, rather than vice versa. All walls defining “rooms” were removed from the common areas allowing unhindered interactions throughout. Communal activities that naturally gravitated toward the curved, south-facing bay windows were emulated as circular coffers… - [BARN HOUSE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/barn-house-pj-vj~1384426) - Location: Sterling, MA - Photos: 11 - Description: The clients were looking for loft living, but with all the modern day comforts: bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, walk-in closets, polished concrete floors with radiant heat. Rather than build new, a second life was bestowed to an abandoned, 150-year-old horse barn. The design leaves the timber frame structure fully exposed and loosely weaves all interior walls around this framework, thus preserving the original scale and sense of openness while creating habitable spaces. The result is a 4-br, 4.… [See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/i-kanda-architects-pfvwus-pf~1007159621) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-22.*