THE FIRM
Since 1976, Bernard Stein has provided a full range of architecture, planning, and interior design services for small projects that involve new construction, remodeling and renovation in Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Francisco.
With a diverse clientele including residential, commercial, corporate, food service and educational entities, Stein Architects has the expertise and experience to undertake a variety of projects at any given time. For principal Bernie Stein, having an on-going variety of projects makes for a dynamic practice that is challenging, self-renewing and extremely gratifying. His clients benefit through the cross-fertilization of design ideas and services stemming from the interplay of different project types.
Stein Architect’s longevity is probably best explained by the fact that each project receives Bernie’s personal attention and commitment. Responsible for all client contact and intimately involved with every aspect of a project from initial design through post-construction, he makes sure that each client’s goals and needs are consistently met. It is his direct project involvement that has enabled Stein Architects to provide a level of design and service generally not found in small architectural practices.
Bernie believes that an architectural office that undertakes projects in the San Francisco Bay Area should respect and understand California’s rich architectural heritage in order to achieve inspired design work. His work is rooted in California modernism, but his architecture moves seamlessly into 1st and 2nd Bay Area Traditional styles because of the many opportunities he has had to design projects in structures created by some of the Bay Area’s most noted architects. He aims to create an architecture that balances contemporary and traditional design sensibilities while honoring the unique interests and tastes of each client. He feels that the real design challenge for a small office is to be able to move seamlessly into contemporary or traditional design approaches as options for clients. This ability to successfully bridge diverse design traditions and approaches has garnered the office recognition for excellence in both historical and modernist design work by the architectural community, the construction industry, and, most importantly, its clients.
Years of hands-on design work and the execution of small projects carry through to the office’s current workload. Bernie believes the selected projects stand the test of time and illustrate the creativity, diversity and technical capability of his firm.