Gast Architects

We had an outstanding experience working with Gast Architects on our home renovation. Dennis Budd and Jamey Albert were incredible partners throughout the process—thoughtful, creative, and deeply collaborative. They took our initial ideas, elevated them in ways we hadn’t imagined, and brought them to life with precision and care. Interior designer Camilla Blomqvist was also a joy to work with—her eye for detail and cohesive design tied everything together beautifully. Communication was clear and consistent every step of the way, and the entire team was a true pleasure to work with. We couldn’t be happier with the results and would recommend Gast Architects without hesitation.

We had the pleasure of working with the Gast team on a renovation of a 3-unit building in the Lower Haight / Duboce Triangle area. The project was originally envisioned as a limited interior renovation and targeted building envelope changes. However, due to a combination of on-site conditions that were discovered as the project progressed and the evolution of our needs, the final project included a near-gut renovation of a top-floor unit, a near-gut renovation of a middle-floor unit, exterior building envelope changes and some minimal changes to an existing ground floor unit. The project was administratively challenging from the get-go, as it included in-unit changes for different owners across two units as well as some shared portions of the renovation which required the team to track both architectural designs and administrative expenses across two units as well as shared designs and expenses. The Gast team (consisting of Dennis Budd and Priscilla Ng as architectural leads, Camilla Blomqvist as interior design liaison and Eric Hartz and Lee Kempf as additional administrative support) were all a pleasure to work with. This was our first time undertaking any kind of home renovation, and Dennis was an invaluable resource throughout. Dennis and Priscilla were both very responsive to our requests and wishes for the interior changes and presented very detailed and thorough initial drawings that helped us visualise the end result. The Gast team is adept at moving their projects through the approvals maze and keeping clients updated on progression, which was extra challenging at a time when the usual process had been altered by COVID-19 protocols. Priscilla was diligent/thorough in her drawings and we were impressed by her strong attention to detail and quick turnaround time. We also thoroughly enjoyed working with Camilla as we embarked upon the renovation without an end-to-end understanding of or experience in all the design details and choices that go into selecting final finishes and fittings for a project. The two units across the projects had different visions and approaches to the respective unit interiors and Camilla was excellent at understanding what each unit owner was looking for and guiding us with a lot of thought and care. The in-office team of Eric and Lee were also wonderful to work with - in particular, Lee was instrumental in handling fixture/fittings orders and handling returns on our behalf while Eric’s kitchen/bathroom stone layout recommendations were stellar. Dennis and Priscilla attended all our on-site meetings and were excellent at keeping the project moving forward while coming up with creative solutions for any design or building issues that came up along the way. We felt that they were true team-players who were invested in helping the project through to a satisfactory completion. We enjoyed working with the entire Gast team and have been very happy to recommend them to friends who are undertaking similar projects.

I had the opportunity to enjoy spending a few years with David, Matt, and Matthew at Gast Architects working on our house. They endured my unique brand of humor without complaint and were friendly and communicative folks. Having lived in the new spaces for a couple years now, I find myself daily appreciating the serene feel and carefully considered details we achieved. Put simply, we love the house.

Matthew, Camilla, and John have been working with my family for years. With each project, they bring new ideas and fresh perspectives. They are attentive listeners and always find the right solution.

We wanted to enlarge a gathering area adjacent to our kitchen, remodel the kitchen, and reorient it to take batter advantage of a spectacular view. David Gast knows our house well - he advised us when we bought it some years ago, so we asked him to be our architect. The firm was terrific from the get-go, starting with a very complete, multi-page program form to guide us, which we then went over together (along with wonderful project architect Shireen Tehranian) so that we could identify all the details. Shireen and David then worked up a plan which we revised several times, mostly by teleconference. By using a 3-D visualiser, we could see how the project would look from the outside and the inside -- any angle we wanted, actually. They always gave us plenty of time to think through the details. Anyone who has worked with an architecture firm before (and I did that a lot in my work life) knows that the architect and the contractor really have to work together well, and respect each other for what each brings to the project. Our contractor had done a lot of smaller maintenance and improvement projects before, and he and David and Shireen really complemented each other, enabling all of us to work together to produce a truly marvelous project. We've rediscovered our love of cooking, and the new space is so welcoming and comfortable.

A few years ago, we worked with Gast Architects to remodel two bathrooms in our home and are delighted with the result. We own a pair of Edwardian flats which we wanted to modernize. We had limited space and needed to add powder rooms in both flats. We also wanted to add light. Gast Architects developed affordable, practical solutions. They worked with us to find finishes and colors which enhance the flats. In both flats, Gast removed the wall between the classic Edwardian dining room and the large kitchen making a well-lighted, open and welcoming space, while retaining the historic character of the building. In both flats Gast reconfigured the space to replace an unnecessary pantry to enlarge the bathrooms. In the upper flat they cantilevered the powder room to create a roomy, naturally-lit space. It is rare to complete construction projects and to have unqualified praise for the architects' work, but we have that view of Gast Architects. We thoroughly enjoyed working with them on all three projects and would happily do so again.

I couldn't say enough to adequately recommend Gast Architects. We started working with Gast shortly after we bought an Eichler and discovered that it was in desperate need of attention. We loved working with Dennis, David and the rest of the team. Dennis heard our rough ideas and took them to a new level in creating a house with both warmth and functional livability for a young family. This was a particular challenge given the eccenticities of Eichlers and our desire to modernize the house while staying true to its mid-century modern roots. Throughout the engagement, we enjoyed the Gast Team's professionalism and ease to work with. Dennis was happy to let us lead in areas that were of interest or guide us when we needed help. It felt like real teamwork.

I worked with Gast Architects when remodeling my entire home in St. Francis Wood. Gast Architects helped me to design my dream home and then bring it to life. I recommend them to anyone considering a home project. I found the entire team at Gast to be responsive and professional. No question or request was too small. My project was particularly challenged due to a less than professional contractor and a pregnancy. David and Dennis had to pick up a lot of the slack to ensure my project adhered to a timeline. That included big tasks like helping to manage the GC’s sub contractors to small tasks like ordering door hardware. They offered to attend weekly meeting with me and the contractor which I found to be invaluable. Given David and Dennis’ experience in construction they were able to speak to and push the GC in ways I was not. I am always happy to talk more on the phone about the team at Gast. A decision to hire Gast Architects is one of the best decisions you can make when starting a home project!

Working with the team at Gast Architects is a real joy! They are creative designers whose plans are in synchrony with modern lifestyles while still being timeless. And they are true professionals who understand the residential construction from start to finish and have the disposition to masterfully guide all the players through a process that can easily become unpleasant with leaders who are less skilled. The people at Gast Architects and their work are truly top notch!

It was a true pleasure working with the team at Gast Architects. Through our extensive renovation which required gutting the entire apartment, the team at Gast was professional, knowledgeable, resourceful, supportive and patient. It was our experience that the team at Gast takes that extra step to get to know its clients, valuing the clients opinions and working collaboratively to bring a project to fruition. Each project is personalized, and they go above and beyond to meet the clients expectations. We are very happy with our home, and if we were going to have another renovation, we would not hesitate to work with the team at Gast Architects again.

I am the owner of a small residential remodel company in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have had the pleasure of working with Gast Architects on a variety of projects over the past 20 years, both when I worked for a previous construction company as a project manager, and more recently with my own firm. The last project we did with Gast Architects was a small one, but with some tricky and meticulous installations. It included: the reconfiguration of an attic storage room to a dressing and sewing room with two walk-in closets, two new skylights, two banks of high-end custom cabinets, reconfiguration of a fire suppression system, application of foam insulation in a vaulted ceiling, modification and installation of two existing bookshelves, new electrical and hvac components; the installation of large format stone tiles on an existing roof deck with floating pedestal supports; refinishing of all granite, stone, and tile throughout the home; refinishing of the hardwood floors; correction of the exterior roof drainage; miscellaneous carpentry repairs; miscellaneous utility installations such as plumbing and electrical fixtures; and a complete interior paint job. Having worked with many architects over the past 20 years, I can state with absolute certainty that Gast Architects exemplify the highest level of professionalism and quality design found in the industry today. I clearly remember my first project with them when I was a younger and much less experienced project manager. My boss at the time advised me that I needed to be on my A game at all times because Gast had a reputation for being meticulous, and nothing less than my best performance would be acceptable. Although a bit intimidated, I figured I could rise to the challenge and hopefully learn something along the way. The absolute best compliment and endorsement that I can give Gast Architects is that my first project with them, followed by a few others soon after, were absolutely critical in developing my own confidence as a builder and teaching me many lessons about construction that I use every day in my current business. As the remodel process can be complicated and stressful, especially for the homeowner, I feel that the single most important element of of project is seamless cooperation and teamwork among the architect, builder, engineer, contractor and client. The architecture firm is critical in fostering this relationship, and no one does it better than David Gast and his team. It is a privilege to work with them. I become a better contractor every time I do. Dave Frain Transbay Design Build, LLC

After buying a home in the Marina, we hired Gast Architects for an extensive remodel. The house was completely gutted. David Gast was able to rearrange walls, creating a better design for a guest room and our master suite, giving us a floor plan that we love. It was a fun project, Gast Architects were wonderful to work with.