Business Details
21 Years
experience
Custom Residential Architecture & Passive House Design Experts
At Ogawa Fisher Architects, we specialize in creating custom environments that reflect our clients' unique visions and lifestyles. Our collaborative process begins with active listening to understand your priorities, communication style, and goals. With over 20 years of experience, we combine architectural and interior design expertise to deliver detail-oriented projects tailored to your needs. Our team employs a modern design language to craft spaces that are warm, light-filled, and timeless, ensuring functionality and beauty coexist seamlessly. We prioritize thoughtful schematic design, hands-on construction observation, and integration of green building principles to create resilient, energy-efficient homes.As a diverse, international team inspired by nature, art, and culture, we approach each project with creativity and technical precision. Our commitment to excellence extends to navigating local planning regulations and optimizing spatial relationships, natural light, and storage solutions. Certified Passive House designers, we specialize in reducing energy consumption by up to 90% while maintaining superior indoor air quality. From initial concept to final move-in, we remain dedicated partners, ensuring every detail aligns with your vision for a personalized, joyful living environment.
Services
Architectural Design
Interior Design
Passive House Design
Sustainable Architecture
Project Management
Space Planning
Construction Documentation
Design Consultation
Green Building Certification
Residential Renovations
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in detail-oriented residential architecture.
- Our collaborative process prioritizes client vision and communication style.
- We integrate Passive House principles for maximum energy efficiency.
- Our international team brings diverse perspectives to every project.
- We provide hands-on construction oversight from concept to completion.
Associations and certifications
- Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD)
What people say
Innovative designs
Attention to detail
Sustainable solutions
Collaborative approach
Timely delivery
Services
Architectural Design
We create custom residential designs tailored to client lifestyles and site conditions. Our process combines modern aesthetics with functional innovation, focusing on spatial relationships, natural light optimization, and intuitive storage solutions. Each project receives hands-on attention from concept through construction.
Passive House Design
Specializing in certified Passive House standards, we design ultra-energy-efficient homes that reduce heating/cooling costs by up to 90%. Our approach maintains superior indoor air quality through airtight construction while achieving environmental sustainability without compromising comfort.
Interior Design
Our interior design services focus on creating cohesive, functional living environments that reflect client personalities. We coordinate material selections, lighting design, and custom finishes to enhance spatial flow and daily living experiences within architecturally significant homes.
Sustainable Architecture
We integrate eco-conscious practices into every project through material selection, energy-efficient systems, and site-responsive design. Our approach balances environmental responsibility with modern aesthetics, creating homes that minimize ecological impact while maximizing occupant well-being.
Project Management
From schematic design through construction completion, we provide comprehensive project management. Our team coordinates with contractors, ensures code compliance, and maintains design integrity while navigating local planning regulations and addressing technical challenges.
People
Hiromi Ogawa
Principal
Licensed architect and Certified Passive House Designer with over 20 years of experience. B.Arch from Cornell University, fluent in English and Japanese. Combines technical expertise with passion for creating joyful living spaces that reflect client lifestyles.
Lynn Fisher
Principal
Licensed architect and Certified Passive House Designer with expertise in sustainable residential design. Holds M.Arch from Rice University and B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford. Focuses on creating fun, resilient spaces that enhance daily living experiences.
Olena Vodetska
Associate, Job Captain
Architect with a Ukrainian heritage and California experience. Holds M.Arch and B.Arch from Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. Brings diverse perspectives to design challenges while maintaining commitment to technical precision and client satisfaction.
Anna Zamora
Project Designer
Project designer with BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley. Combines Philippine cultural background with California design sensibilities. Specializes in creating photogenic spaces that balance aesthetics with practical living requirements for modern families.
Sharanya Shivashankar
Project Designer
Architect with a B.Arch from India, bringing attention to detail and international perspective. Focuses on enhancing residential functionality through thoughtful material selection and spatial organization that responds to both client needs and environmental context.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialize in?
We specialize in custom residential architecture, interior design, Passive House standards, sustainable design, and comprehensive project management for new construction and renovations.
How do Passive House designs benefit homeowners?
Passive House designs reduce energy consumption by up to 90% through superior insulation, airtight construction, and efficient ventilation while maintaining optimal indoor comfort and air quality year-round.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Palo Alto, San Mateo County, and Northern California, with experience in diverse architectural contexts from urban infill to rural retreats.
How does your design process work?
Our collaborative process begins with understanding client goals, followed by schematic design, development, documentation, and hands-on construction oversight to ensure design integrity through project completion.
What makes your firm unique?
Our international team combines 20+ years of experience with Certified Passive House expertise, creating timeless, energy-efficient homes that prioritize both aesthetic beauty and functional innovation.
How do you incorporate sustainability?
We integrate green building principles through material selection, energy-efficient systems, and site-responsive design while offering certified Passive House options for maximum environmental performance.
Reviews (4)
Chris Brooks
Apr 22, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
I cant say enough about Ogawa Fischer, their designs are well thought out and creative. The entire staff is detail oriented, have a great sense of design and are problem solvers not creators. They are an excellent team.
I cant say enough about Ogawa Fischer, their designs are well thought out and creative. The entire staff is detail oriented, have a great sense of design and are problem solvers not creators. They are an excellent team.
H. Cho
Apr 17, 2021
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Without hesitation, we recommend OFA for their professionalism, integrity, vision and creativity. They are wonderful with creating space that is beautiful and modern, yet feels warm and welcoming. They demonstrate an understated elegance in their style both on a professional level as well as finished design. We also appreciate that they stay with you from design to the end of construction.
Lily Wang
Feb 15, 2021
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Hiromi, Lynn and the entire Ogawa-Fisher team is professional, understanding, OUTSTANDING, Above & Beyond in how they walk with their clients from start to finish and even after the entire house is complete! Most architects that we interviewed told us that their job would be done after the plans are drawn and approved, but the Ogawa Fisher team informed us during our first meeting that they are committed to helping us build our dream home from design to finish! And after the plans were drawn and approved, Hiromi & team continued to meet with us and our contractors weekly to inspect & provide feedback
Carolyn S.
Dec 02, 2016
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I enthusiastically recommend Ogawa Fisher Architects! Their level of professionalism, architectural expertise, design aesthetics, reliability, and integrity are top notch. We hired Ogawa Fisher Architects to remodel the primary bathroom and laundry area in our mid-century modern Eichler home and could not be more pleased with the results. The new bathroom and laundry area are aesthetically pleasing, extremely functional, and meld perfectly with the style of our home. I also truly appreciate how they oversaw our construction and interfaced with our contractor, making the whole process enjoyable
