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Top Residential Design Firm in the San Francisco Bay Area

Award-winning architecture for thoughtfully designed custom homes throughout Berkeley, Marin, Palo Alto, greater California, and beyond.

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Cheng Design is a Berkeley-based architectural studio specializing in custom homes. We partner with homeowners to design modern, site-responsive residences rooted in craft, material integrity, and long-term livability.

Modern Residential Architecture
& Custom Home Design

Award-Winning Architecture Studio

30+ Years of Custom Residential Design

Featured in Architectural Digest &
Dwell Magazine

Deep Expertise in Concrete & Modern Materials

Long-Term Client Partnerships

Explore our portfolio

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area & California
Berkeley • San Francisco • Marin County • Palo Alto • Los Angeles • Northern California • Palm Springs • Southern California

Creating Your Space

Not just a trend.

Meet FuTung Cheng

Modern Designer in the Bay Area Creating Sustainable Luxury Homes

FuTung brings a rare combination of fine art training and hands-on contractor expertise to every project. He is the founder and the principal design lead of Cheng Design. His innovative approach to structural concrete design, emotionally ergonomic craftsmanship, and eco-friendly architecture has earned him a place in the prestigious US Modernists Archives, and he has garnered numerous awards from professional publications such as Architectural Record Houses, Interior Design, and Dwell Design among scores of others.

With four decades of experience, FuTung has pioneered proprietary techniques that blend art, craft, and environmental stewardship with uncompromised design excellence. He loves working with clients to create residences and remodels that are as visionary as they are buildable. Each home is crafted to authentically reflect its owner's personal journey — a true sanctuary of timeless architecture.

Work With Us

Our Design Philosophy

We engage as creative partners who honor your unique vision and values. Our modern approach taps decades of expertise and experience creating environments of unexpected joy and delight.

Personalized Design Process for Homeowners

Authentic Design That Transcends Trends from an Award-Winning Modernist Master

We understand and respect the art and craftsmanship of classic timeless architecture. Our designs are rooted in the wisdom of those insights –– inherent principles that transcend fleeting trends.

The Craftsman's Advantage: Bringing Practical Wisdom into Design

Our unique background as hands-on experienced contractors with fine art training and licensed architects on our staff, provides unparalleled design and construction intelligence. This ensures your project will not only be transformational, but eminently buildable. We deliver the luxury of great design, without the excess.

"You designed our kitchen 24 years ago. It has been functional, practical, and just as beautiful today as it was when it was built. Timeless."

— @jbuchanan_pottery

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Client Stories

Transforming lives through design

"The LaFayette Remodel was worth every penny. I'm sure it brought a lot to the resale, but the most important thing was it brought us a lot of joy. It was so beautiful. The investment that we made in it through this remodeling has increased the value exponentially. It's fantastically beautiful."

LaFayette Remodel
Lafayette, CA

"It has been a little over a decade since we moved into our custom-built home. Cheng Design provided meticulous attention to every detail, superb craftsmanship and timeless style. Without fail, every time that we have guests, they remark favorably upon the design of our house."

Steve T.
Shenandoah Home
Amador County, CA

"It is always such an honor and a pleasant surprise to see House 6 in the media. Your design is truly timeless... the house photos still look stunning and amazingly fresh 8 years later. Thank you for creating a true beauty that I can call home."

Wai M.
House 6
San Francisco, CA

  • FuTung brings a unique combination of fine art training and hands-on contractor experience. This means our designs are not only visionary but also eminently buildable. We specialize in sustainable luxury that doesn't compromise on aesthetics, and we limit our number of projects to under 12 homes per year to ensure FuTung's personal engagement and attention through the life of the project.

  • We work with clients across a range of budgets. Many clients are surprised to learn that our services are more accessible than they initially thought. We offer an initial Vision Design phase for just 5% of the overall design budget. This modest initial fee allows you to explore possibilities and understand costs before committing to the full project.

  • While we're known for luxury projects, we work with clients with budgets across the spectrum--from mid-range to luxury. We've successfully completed interior remodels of a few hundred thousand dollars, to complete custom homes in the multi-million dollar category. What matters most is your commitment to great design and the desire for an authentic, well-designed space that reflects your values.

  • It depends on the project scope. A large, comprehensive project process may span 12-24 months, a small remodel may take only 6 months. We begin with a Discovery Consultation, move through Vision Design phase, a Schematic Design phase, Design Development phase and proceed to Construction Details, and finally deliver your completed sanctuary. Each phase is carefully planned to ensure the highest quality results.

  • Our Vision Design phase is a low-commitment first step in the whole process. It gives you the valuable first glimpse of the concepts, scope and aesthetic vision of your project, and what's possible within your budget. We study your property, understand your vision, and create preliminary sketches and perspectives that show you what we may be able achieve. This helps you decide whether to move forward with the full design process.

  • To begin the Vision Design phase, we need an understanding of your maximum budget, details about your property (including current conditions if it's a remodel), and your vision for the space. We handle all the due diligence with city and county requirements. This information, combined with our experience, gives you a comprehensive roadmap for your project.

  • if the project is the right fit, then we can work anywhere. We’re based in Berkeley and work in San Francisco, Marin County, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Northern California, Palm Springs, Southern California and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start a conversation with one of the leading residential architecture firms in California. If you’re searching for an architect in the San Francisco Bay Area to design a custom home or thoughtful remodel, we’d love to learn more about your project.

Schedule a 20-Minute
Design Discovery Session