Your Team
ARI
Ariel Gessler is passionate about design that addresses how we live and share space with our family and friends. His substantial and varied body of work embodies his beliefs that architecture must respect its context. As a LEED Accredited Professional, Ari designs beautiful buildings that are responsibly built. He and his team are very skilled at navigating the approvals process, and they have a reputation for design excellence and the successful management of highly complex projects. When he’s not in Studio, Ari enjoys sailing the San Francisco Bay and traveling with his wife and two children.
CHRIS
Before joining AGA, Chris practiced designing traditional custom homes for over a decade in Chicago. Looking to experience a different style of architecture, he then moved to Seattle and joined a team specializing in modern residential design. Through the years, Chris has committed to helping clients with their design needs. He firmly believes that a successful project is always a product of good team effort between the client, architect, and builder. He is a California Registered Architect, LEED Accredited Professional for Homes, and NCARB certification. On weekends, Chris usually spends time with his wife and daughter exploring beautiful California.
ANH
Anh joined AGA after receiving a BARCH from California College of the Arts in San Francisco. To thoroughly understand the practice world, she worked voluntarily with SF Planning Department and CCA Design Build Lab while studying at CCA. Anh is a creative designer with a passion for art in all its form - especially photography - where she can express dramatic landscapes (nature and urban) through the artistic lens. When not busy with work, she can probably be found hiking across the wilderness.
MICHAEL
Michael has over a decade of professional experience specializing in sustainable design throughout Monterey, California, and the Bay Area. He applies his diverse academic background in Engineering, Art History, and Communication to his passion for architecture. Outside work, he enjoys racing sailboats professionally, participating in surfing events, coaching beach soccer in international competitions, and serving on the Board of Directors for Mountains 2 Sea: an organization that develops at-risk youth into community leaders. Michael's dedication to his craft and community highlights his passion and commitment to making a positive impact.
DEBRA
Debra is a San Francisco native and has been with Ariel Gessler Architects since its inception. Leveraging her background in Project Management, Debra supports several critical business operations at AGA. Debra brings a detail-oriented perspective to the projects she takes on in a bright and fun way. She helps AGA develop strategies for streamlining processes and growth. Debra enjoys spending quality time with family, visiting local art exhibits and events, being in nature, iphonography, and coffee.
WILLOW
A native of Southern California, Willow relocated to the Bay Area in 2018. She’s been an active member of the AGA team since then. Snacks are a real motivator for her; she’ll perform tricks for just the right treat. Willow isn't shy to let people know she’s the top dog around the Studio. She is always up for a walk around town with her family or for car rides with the windows down.
Legacy Team Members:
Geoffrey Gregory
Siqi Guo
Fenella Nyoto
Marianna Munguia Chang
Tiffany Stakem
Tristan Warren
The Approach
It's not our intention to just satisfy our clients, nor to simply to please them... Our intention is to amaze them!
What we do…
We design beautiful buildings
Ari Gessler founded AGA with a vision of beauty. Our goal is to design beautiful houses for the families and friends that live within them. Simple materials - concrete, stone, wood, glass, and metal - are thoughtfully considered, composed, and detailed to create timeless spaces which raise the spirit. Tasteful design compliments the context of each unique site, from urban to rural. We promote sustainable building practices because we take responsibility for our work. Honest care is given to the design process and the way we connect and interact with our clients. Most of all, we want our clients to live in beauty.
How we do it…
We provide full service to our clients
Clients come to us because they want to improve their home and enhance the way they live and share time with their family and friends. We listen to our clients to help them clarify and balance their goals within the necessary constraints of their building project. With a focus on design excellence, we offer creative solutions and guidance to our clients throughout the entire project, from initial concepts through the end of construction. Drawing from our education and experience, AGA's team provides prudent and professional management to the process of strategic planning and building of residences and estates.
Who we work with…
We work with talented craftspeople and artisans
Collaborative partnerships are the key to each project’s success. We often assist our clients in assembling the project team of consultants, designers, builders, and fabricators so each member can provide their unique expertise and perspective. Because we work hand-in-hand with highly skilled industry leaders, the ideal solutions quickly materialize with precision and care. We then leverage our collective experience to address any challenges which may arise on a full range of project types: from renovations and remodels to new multi-building construction and custom furnishings.
PHILANTHROPY
ADVOCACY • PARTNERSHIP • COMMUNITY
Ariel Gessler Architects is committed to advocacy, serving, and partnering with organizations that align with our core values, helping to make our community and world a better place.
As we continue to grow, we will continually develop our charitable programs, contributions, and collaborations with nonprofit organizations: charitable giving wherever and whenever we can.
We like these organizations which focus on supporting homeless children and families in the Bay Area.
Children of Shelters
The mission of Children of Shelters is to connect some of the 2,500 children living in or being supported by family transitional shelters to the enrichment and educational opportunities they need to better their chances at ending a life of poverty.
Compass Family Services
The mission of Compass Family Services is to help homeless families and those at imminent risk to achieve housing stability, economic self-sufficiency, and well-being.
Homeless Children’s Network
The mission of Homeless Children’s Network is to decrease the trauma of homelessness and domestic violence for children, youth, and families; to empower families; and to increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among service providers to end homelessness and poverty.