Oakland & East Bay
Architecture & Design
in the East Bay.
YCD Studio designs homes, ADUs, restaurants, and commercial spaces across Oakland, Moraga, Walnut Creek, and the greater East Bay. We bring the same design rigor and permit expertise to every project — whether it is a 640 square-foot ADU in Moraga or a full commercial build-out in downtown Oakland.
What We Do in the East Bay
Design and permit expertise across the region.
From Oakland to Walnut Creek to Contra Costa County, we bring full-service architecture to the East Bay's diverse communities and jurisdictions.
ADUs & Residential
Custom homes, ADUs, and renovations across Oakland and the East Bay. We work with local building departments in Oakland, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Concord, and Contra Costa County to navigate permit pathways, including California's streamlined ADU provisions.
Tenant Improvement
Restaurant, retail, and office build-outs. Oakland has streamlined review for small commercial projects, with full plan check for change-of-use applications. We handle design, documentation, and permit coordination.
Restaurant & Hospitality
Full-service restaurant design including kitchen layout, exhaust hood coordination, health department requirements, and guest flow. We have completed hospitality projects across the East Bay market.
Commercial Architecture
Office renovations, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects across Oakland and the East Bay. We coordinate with local planning departments on zoning, design review, and construction documentation.
East Bay Projects
Recent work in the East Bay.
A selection of completed and in-progress projects across Oakland, Moraga, and the surrounding communities.
Moraga ADU
A compact modern accessory dwelling unit with clean lines, clerestory windows, and an open-plan layout. Designed under California's streamlined ADU provisions with zoning analysis and setback optimization for a Contra Costa County residential property.
- Detached ADU under AB 2221 / SB 897
- Zoning analysis and setback optimization
- Open-plan living with clerestory light
Bird Residence
A hillside residence blending sleek modular forms with warm natural materials. Two interconnected pavilions step down the terrain, creating a layered relationship between the home, its pool terrace, and the surrounding landscape.
- Hillside site with panoramic valley views
- Corten steel, stone, and timber material palette
- Infinity-edge pool integrated into the landscape
Hawaii Fluid Art
A vibrant retail-to-art-studio tenant improvement that transformed a standard commercial shell into a workshop, gallery, and retail space with bold colors, neon signage, and flexible workshop stations.
- Retail-to-studio conversion
- Workshop, gallery, and retail in a single footprint
- Storefront design for maximum visibility
Portfolio
All East Bay projects.
Every project we have designed in Oakland, Moraga, and the surrounding East Bay communities.
Bird Residence
A futuristic residential design blending sleek, modular forms with warm natural materials and panoramic hillside views.
Hawaii Fluid Art
A vibrant retail-to-art-studio tenant improvement with bold colors, neon signage, and workshop stations.
PiddeG Restaurant
A Turkish pide restaurant with green accent walls, gold decorative elements, and a warm dining atmosphere.
Moraga ADU
A compact modern accessory dwelling unit with clean lines and an open-plan layout.
Permitting
East Bay permit landscape.
Every East Bay jurisdiction runs its own review process. Here is what to expect across the cities and counties we work in most.
Oakland
Oakland permits residential and commercial work through its Planning and Building Department. Over-the-counter permits are available for minor interior work, with standard plan check running 4 to 8 weeks. Oakland has been proactive on ADU policy and offers fee waivers for ADUs under 750 square feet. Projects in the Oakland hills may trigger Wildfire Urban Interface requirements including enhanced fire-resistive construction.
Contra Costa County
Moraga, Walnut Creek, Concord, and surrounding cities each maintain their own building departments. Walnut Creek and Concord typically process standard residential permits in 4 to 6 weeks. Contra Costa County unincorporated areas have their own building division with generally faster turnaround. Hillside lots across the East Bay often require geotechnical reports and grading permits.
Berkeley
Berkeley's design-review process for visible additions can add months to the timeline. Use permits are required for most commercial changes, with additional review for historic districts. We help clients navigate these requirements and set realistic expectations from the start.
Planning a project in the East Bay?
Whether you are building an ADU in Moraga, renovating a restaurant in Oakland, or designing a home in Walnut Creek, we will help you understand costs, timelines, and local permit requirements. We respond within 24 hours.