---
title: "Yama Architecture — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/yama-architecture-pfvwus-pf~755051101
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~755051101.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Yama Architecture"
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4fd3aa080435fa38_4055-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "619 7th Street, San Francisco 94103, United States"
latitude: 37.7725
longitude: -122.4147
phone: "(510) 541-0556"
website: http://yamaarchitecture.com
rating: 5
review_count: 6
best_of_houzz_awards: 12
followers: 758
last_updated: 2026-09-02
---

# Yama Architecture

Original Houzz profile: [Yama Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/yama-architecture-pfvwus-pf~755051101)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** San Francisco
- **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, Albany, Alameda, South San Francisco, San Bruno, El Cerrito, Mill Valley, Emeryville, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Piedmont, Tiburon, Sausalito, Belvedere, Brisbane, Broadmoor, Marin City, Colma, Alto, Muir Beach, Belvedere Tiburon
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 100,000 Ideabook Saves

Yama Architecture is an urban-minded residential design firm with expertise in transformative remodels. We meet rigor with play, building off the precepts of good design—site specificity, access to daylight and views, proper flow, indoor/outdoor connection, healthy materials, and resource conservation. Our goal is to uncover the latent qualities of place and make it distinct. For us, architecture begins with people. Our clients often come with a strong point of view. In response we ask questions and we listen. Together, we craft a vision for transformation.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Building Design
- Custom Homes
- New Home Construction
- Home Additions
- Sustainable Design
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Historic Building Conservation
- Prefab Houses
- Construction Drawings
- Custom Home
- Custom Home Design
- New Home Design

### Areas Served

- San Francisco
- Oakland
- Berkeley
- Daly City
- Albany
- Alameda
- South San Francisco
- San Bruno
- El Cerrito
- Mill Valley
- Emeryville
- Tamalpais-Homestead Valley
- Piedmont
- Tiburon
- Sausalito
- Belvedere
- Brisbane
- Broadmoor
- Marin City
- Colma
- Alto
- Muir Beach
- Belvedere Tiburon

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Yama Architecture |
| Address | 619 7th Street, San Francisco 94103, United States |
| Phone | (510) 541-0556 |
| Website | http://yamaarchitecture.com |
| License Number | C32627 |
| Followers on Houzz | 758 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Yama Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/yama-architecture-pfvwus-pf~755051101)
- **Website:** http://yamaarchitecture.com
- **Phone:** (510) 541-0556

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- 2012 AIA East Bay Exceptional Residential Bay Area Regional Design Award,Holley House 2004 SF AIA Design Excellence Award, Damore Johann BuildingLEED®AP, AIA

- **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews**

### All 6 reviews

**★★★★★ — Alessandro Magnani, Feb. 2020**

> I had the pleasure to work with David Yama and Christian Tipping on my full house remodel.
> The final result speaks for itself and both me and my wife love it.
> They were really able to create something that we fully enjoy everyday and fulfills our dream.

**★★★★★ — Brad Bugdanowitz, Aug. 2016**

> I've had the pleasure of working with David and Karen at YamaMar twice now:  once for a family extensive remodel/redesign of my house, including moving the kitchen from one side of the house to the other, combining several rooms and creating a new bathroom/mudroom/laundry room in a 90 year old house in San Francisco.  That was five years ago, the experience was terrific - professional, stylish but tailored to my tastes, and the design and construction has held up perfectly/as new since.  The second was a unique project: design construction and installation of an off the grid, 40' hunting cabin on a remote property out a shipping container.  None of us had done anything like it, we all jumped in and had a blast with it - and it not serves as my weekend getaway.  Check out their website for photos, difficult to describe.
>
> I have and will continue to recommend David and Karen to friends and colleagues for a wide range of projects.

**★★★★★ — gtinoco, July 2016**

> My husband and I have worked on four projects with David over the past 20 years! Some have been huge remodels while others have been smaller projects. He has always met our tight deadlines and budgets and has come up with amazing design ideas. We absolutely love working with him and his team!

**★★★★★ — Derek Holley, July 2016**

> We had a truly wonderful experience with Yamamar, and specifically with David Yama. He really took time to understand our wishes and our tastes, and he designed a remodel that reflected those but incorporated a unique aesthetic that we would never have been able to envision ourselves. In addition, he really helped us manage the project despite the fact that we were living in Italy most of the time. He sent us samples, designs, drawings, 3-d representations, and was always available at a moment's notice. The result is what has become our dream house. I really never thought I would feel this way about a house, but I would not sell it for 3 times it's market value. David Yama and Yamamar have our sincere thanks and our highest recommendation.

**★★★★★ — Natalie Walrond, July 2016**

> We have worked with YamaMar twice, and have been thoroughly delighted with their partnership.  Our first project was a redesign/renovation of the flow of the upstairs of our home.  Our second (current project) would involve lowering and upgrading the foundation of the first floor of our home, and redesigning/renovating the space.
>
> David Yama and his team expertly balance careful listening with thoughtful advice.  They shepherded us through the process of renovating our home so that we were clear on the opportunities and the obstacles of our project.  Our new space is gorgeous - designed to the way we live, with details that we love.  David is responsive, witty, and a joy to work with.  We recommend him whole-heartedly.

**★★★★★ — tlow, Dec. 2015**

> We are currently working on our third project with Yamamar because of their design sensibilities, attention to detail and project execution acumen.
>
> We started many years ago with a small project remodeling our first home. The second was a kitchen remodel and now we're working on a major remodel of our house, an Eichler. Through it all we've grown to think of Yamamar like incredible partners, almost like a part of the family.

## Selected projects

- [Laverne as Shirley House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/laverne-as-shirley-house-pj-vj~2187228)
  - Location: Mill Valley, CA
  - Photos: 22
  - Description: Tucked into a low valley, next to a creek, this Mill Valley modern home was in need of some serious design love. Our clients, an environmental attorney, his wife and two kids purchased the house knowing they wanted to do an extensive renovation of both the house and grounds. The house had a frumpy exterior and an interior that was dominated by a massive, faux finished steel skylight, and a teal green polished concrete floor. Our clients were looking for a fresh vision that didn't require extensi…
- [Holley House - Berkeley Hills](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/holley-house-berkeley-hills-pj-vj~105810)
  - Location: Berkeley Hills, CA
  - Photos: 13
- [Randall Street](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/randall-street-pj-vj~1733942)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 28
- [Eichler's Disco](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eichler-s-disco-pj-vj~372252)
  - Location: Palo Alto, CA
  - Photos: 27
  - Description: Following an elegant renovation by Yamamar Architecture that brought light and openness to this 70’s-era Eichler came the hot pink furniture, metallic wallpaper and pop art that reflect this client’s unique sense of play and adventure, and her love of music. A design soul sister makes for a good client; this project was truly about having sparkly fun all day long.
- [Palo Alto Eichler](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/palo-alto-eichler-pj-vj~311728)
  - Location: Palo Alto, CA
  - Photos: 23
- [Mill Valley House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mill-valley-house-pj-vj~17808)
  - Location: Mill Valley, CA
  - Photos: 21
- [Dolores Park House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dolores-park-house-pj-vj~104507)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 7
- [Manzanita Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/manzanita-residence-pj-vj~104489)
  - Location: Manzanita, CA
  - Photos: 11
- [Berkeley Hills House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkeley-hills-house-pj-vj~104457)
  - Location: Berkeley, CA
  - Photos: 19
  - Description: Remodel and restoration of a mid century modern home in the Berkeley Hills.
- [Portola Valley Garage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/portola-valley-garage-pj-vj~44282)
  - Location: Portola Valley, CA
  - Photos: 5
- [Tamalpais house](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tamalpais-house-pj-vj~44280)
  - Location: Berkeley, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [Noe Valley House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/noe-valley-house-pj-vj~17734)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 22
- [Berkeley Hills House \#2](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkeley-hills-house-2-pj-vj~1424621)
  - Location: Berkeley, CA
  - Photos: 15
- [Urban ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-adu-pj-vj~6859050)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 18
- [Amber Eichler](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/amber-eichler-pj-vj~7687685)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 25
  - Description: This is a model U-1 designed by architect Claude Oakland for Joe Eichler in 1961, and the floor plan is repeated 17 times up and down Amber Drive. We wanted the house to have a fresh and distinctive look, so we riffed on the original 'peninsula' painted plywood siding by using UV PVC Azek® siding in varying widths, using a rainscreen application. At the interior, we opened up the main level floor plan, and used folding doors for indoor- outdoor flow between courtyard and kitchen. Many of the ori…
- [Blue Ribbon House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/blue-ribbon-house-pj-vj~7687680)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 23
  - Description: Originally the site of the Gray Brothers quarry (1899), Corona Heights is a neighborhood with ringed streets that surround Corona Heights Park and the Randall Museum. The rear yard of this (1925 b.) home backs up against Corona Park, creating a feel more wild than urban. We were asked to re-envision the house top to bottom for a more open floor plan, a more welcoming entry, more natural light and framed views of the park. A distinctive 'blue ribbon' wraps the entry stair and creates an abstract…
- [Lyra](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lyra-pj-vj~7687683)
  - Location: Orinda, CA
  - Photos: 24
  - Description: This custom home sits on a ridge in Orinda, and was code named 'Lyra', after Lyra Erso in the Star Wars universe. When we were developing options for the hilltop site, we named each scheme after a Star Wars character (Lyra, Galen, Saw, Benthic, Moroff, Pao, Bistan). Our client eventually fell in love with Lyra after a brief infatuation with Moroff. The distinction between schemes/ personalities was driven by variations in folded roof shapes. We like Lyra for her graceful lines, gentle raising of…
- [Greenmeadow Eichler](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/greenmeadow-eichler-pj-vj~6070588)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 19
  - Description: A classic Eichler in a neighborhood of classic Eichlers, this house was in a state of extreme disrepair when the owner purchased it, but everything was original. In other words, it hadn’t been screwed up but it needed a top to bottom overhaul and facelift. We like to transform these iconic homes, rather than simply restoring them, so in addition to upgrading all of the building systems, we created an open floor plan, and visually separated the private bedroom and bath areas from the communal spa…
- [Wisconsin Street](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wisconsin-street-pj-vj~6489570)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 23
  - Description: Radical make over and rethink of a humble, San Francisco home in Portrero Hill. The original house was identical to the neighbor home with an elevated entry and street stair. There was only one floor to the house with living, dining, sleeping all packed together above the street. We created a new street level entry, put Kitchen and dining on the main floor, which allowed the upper floor to be dedicated to bedrooms for the family of four. A new garden level family room was added, along with an el…
- [Dolores Street House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dolores-street-house-pj-vj~5938169)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 14

[See all 22 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/yama-architecture-pfvwus-pf~755051101)

## Community Q&A

**Q: How did you install the recessed lighting?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Did you have to go through the roof?

A: yes, typically w Eichler homes, the exposed T&G 2x wood ceilings require low profile IC recessed cans installed from above, new plywood boxes are built over the housings, then a new foam roof is sprayed down. The light trims need to be able to navigate the extra thickness of T&G + new 1/2" plywood sheathing- so 2" of travel for the trim ring.. that's the tougher part!

**Q: Can we share this photo?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Hi Yamamar Design. Could we share this photo on our social media? It angles looks pretty nice!
Thank you.

A: Yes of course- we love Doug Mockett!!

**Q: Where is the rug from?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Peace Industries (SF)

**Q: Love the cabinets!  Where are they from?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: they are custom. Designed by us, and custom fabricated by Leo Claudio Cabinets here in San Francisco.

**Q: Where did this tub come from?!?!** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Victoria + Albert (manufacturer), 'Edge' tub.

**Q: Cabintery** *(in Photo Questions)*

Where is the cabinetry sourced? Wood and orange both. Thanks so much

A: counter is solid Walnut, sourced from Evan Shiveley (Arborica, Marshall CA), wood veneer is reclaimed Eucalyptus from Presidio of San Francisco

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-02.*