Alda Capi Architecture is an Award Winning Architecture and Design Studio based in Danville California.

STUDIO

Alda Capi Architecture designs exceptional spaces that elevate experiences. Led by Harvard Graduate School of Design alumna Alda Çapi, the award winning practice brings over 20 years of expertise to Danville, Northern California, and beyond. The studio maximizes the value of client investments through an efficient system that unifies architecture and interior design into one streamlined process.

Recognized with prestigious honors like the AIASF Merit Award and Europe’s 40 Under 40, the portfolio spans custom residential builds, modern additions, transformative remodels, and commercial developments. Whether designing a transformative home remodel or a complete indoor-outdoor modern sanctuary, the practice blends a rigorous academic foundation with design led collaboration. From initial concept through permitting and final construction, Alda Capi Architecture is the project design advocate and assists clients throughout the process, delivering elevated design.

PRINCIPAL

Alda Çapi is a licensed architect and visionary designer who founded Alda Capi Architecture to bring world class design excellence to every project. With two decades of experience across diverse project types, Alda has consistently delivered outstanding architectural quality that has gained international recognition and publication.

Her commitment to design innovation has been celebrated with prestigious honors, including the AIASF Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects San Francisco and the GADA First Place Award. She was also named a recipient of the Europe 40 Under 40 Architecture and Design Award, recognizing her as a leader shaping future environments, and was shortlisted for the WAN Female Frontiers Emerging Architect of the Year.

Alda holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where her work was nominated for the Thesis Award. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture Summa Cum Laude from Lawrence Technological University as the top graduate of the university. Before founding her practice, she honed her expertise at acclaimed national studios including NADAAA, Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Lowney Architecture, and Studios Architecture. She is licensed to practice in California and Massachusetts.

VALUES

Connecting Nature and Architecture Seamlessly blurring the lines between interior environments and the natural world.

Creating Poetic and Functional Spaces Designing personalized spaces around how owners uniquely live, work, and socialize.

Context and Site Specificity Designing with a deep respect for the local culture, climate and unique landscape of each property.

Meticulous Detail Protecting the integrity of the design from the macro architectural scale down to the finest details.

PROCESS

The practice delivers integrated architecture, interior design, and permit/construction package. Every project is guided from initiation to final built reality. The process and approach follow professional AIA architectural standards while remaining collaborative, ensuring unique goals, budget, and schedule are aligned. To convey the vision, a mix of hand sketches, physical models, material samples, and 3D visualizations are utilized. Communication blends convenient online sessions with in-person meetings at the project site, local showrooms, or at the Danville studio.

Schematic Design This phase is all about the big picture vision. Creative concepts, spatial layout options, and multiple plan iterations are explored. By listening closely to client needs, ideas are narrowed down to one solution that defines the plan layout and design intent of the future space. Code review is conducted concurrently to ensure full compliance with local zoning and municipal planning regulations as the design advances. Depending on the project, it may also be guided through the local planning department, entitlements, or HOA review, if applicable, either in Schematic Design or Design Development.

Design Development This phase integrates the interior design with architecture and refines the project. All fixture and finish material selections are made at this stage and represented through drawings, models, or 3D views, with recommended selections and options. Some owners prefer to follow the guided design, while others prefer to select their own finishes. The studio tailors its working style to each client within an established framework. While the practice maintains disciplined phases, deliverables, and milestones, it provides purposeful flexibility to ensure an exceptional client experience. Some clients prefer one curated best option, while others prefer heavy involvement and iterative charrettes. Regardless of the approach, the services offered rely on rigor to arrive at the best architectural solutions.

Design Development is also the phase where the architect coordinates consultants and their work to prevent unforeseen surprises at the jobsite during construction, such as costly change orders, ensuring everything aligns with the design intent and is fully prepared for the technical phase.

The studio takes pride in using human intuition, talent, expertise, and experience to provide authentic solutions. Design is not done by AI at any stage of the process.

Construction Documents and Permitting The approved design is translated into a highly detailed and coordinated set of technical drawings used for accurate contractor bids and construction. Simultaneously, the drawing set is submitted for permitting to the local jurisdiction and applicable agencies. The studio acts as the direct project advocate with local municipal departments, guiding the project through to obtain the building permit, and assists with the bid leveling process if owners invite contractors to bid. By the time the contractor is selected through competitive bidding, the project has received approvals and is ready for material ordering and construction.

When clients prefer early contractor collaboration over the traditional design-bid-build approach, the studio adapts agilely to alternative project delivery methods, maintaining the same high standard of professionalism as the advocate for design intent and coordinator of drawings and consultants.

Construction Administration The partnership continues long after drawings are complete and construction begins. Focused site observations are conducted at key milestone moments during construction, collaborating directly with the general contractor. The role of the architect is to protect the integrity of the project, ensuring craftsmanship aligns with the design intent.

Other Project Phases The studio offers Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E), Exterior Landscape Planning and Plant Selection, Site and Project Feasibility Study, and Existing Conditions Measurements and Documentation, as optional phases available upon request.

COLLABORATION

Projects thrive on strong professional partnerships built on trust, respect, and kindness. Exceptional design emerges from a collaborative process where project goals and site constraints transform into big ideas and a clear architectural vision. The practice focuses on active listening, directness, and proactive problem-solving through design. Over two decades, the studio has built strong relationships with many trusted consultants and custom contractors, providing recommendations upon request while remaining entirely open to collaborating with new consultant and builder teams. A successful project process requires direct communication, a positive attitude, and shared dedication to the project.

TESTIMONIALS

★★★★★ Rating on Google Reviews

Recognized by clients for: Creative Thinking • Unique Ideas • Meticulous Attention to Detail • Rigorous Organization • Seamless Design Process

"Alda's process is thorough and thoughtful, and we never felt rushed. Her attention to detail in drafting our permit set led to a quick 5 day permit approval from the city with no comments. She completely pours her heart and soul into her projects, and her work is beyond our expectations. I can't wait to see our vision completely come to life." Mary | Residential Client

"Alda Capi is fabulous. Her organizational skills and attention to detail are truly remarkable. She became deeply familiar with all the complex laws and regulations governing our school, so that she could intelligently design a space that meets state regulations as well as city and fire codes. She is a creative thinker with unique ideas, and she made the entire process smooth and enjoyable." Sonna | Commercial Preschool Client

"Alda is a great architect who is incredibly organized, detail oriented and a pleasure to work with. She not only provided the design for our addition but also helped us through the contracting processes and general contractor selection. She took many of our concepts and made them even better, and she was always accommodating to our busy schedule. We would recommend her to anyone." Maury | Residential Client

"Working with Alda Capi Architecture on our home addition was a wonderful experience. Alda is thoughtful, patient, and incredibly attentive, making the entire design process smooth and collaborative. Her ideas were practical, creative, and perfectly aligned with our priorities. She helped us envision how our home could function better for our family and supported us through every step with quick responses and proactive guidance. We're thrilled with the final design. Alda is truly exceptional, and we recommend her without hesitation." Yvette | Residential Client

"Alda Capi Architecture was exceptional from start to finish. Alda handled our Danville home addition with remarkable attention to detail, and a clear understanding of how our family uses the space. Her creativity elevated the project and every idea she brought made the design stronger. Alda consistently went above and beyond, refining layouts and solving issues before they surfaced. She exceeded our expectations. If you want an architect who listens, thinks deeply, and genuinely cares about the final result, Alda is the one." Ivan | Residential Client