Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 08:17 am
Thousand Oaks is an affluent community in Ventura County. Due to its close proximity to Hollywood, Thousand Oaks is a preferred address by celebrities and public figures alike. Britney Spears, Sylvester Stallone, and Hailee Steinfeld reside in the city among dozens of entertainment industry professionals. This vibrant neighborhood is an enviable location. Those who plan to build a home should consider working with an architect that brings an equally gorgeous home to Thousand Oaks.
This list of residential architects showcases the best in the Thousand Oaks area. These firms garnered local awards, distinctions, and publication features. To come up with this list, our editorial team gathered a number of local architects and assess each based on a pre-determined set of criteria. We considered work history, established relations in the city, and overall quality of work.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
Aarons Architects
1014 S. Westlake Blvd. Ste. #14-266, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Ronald Aarons is a distinctive figure in the local residential architecture scene. An industry veteran of over 25 years, he has garnered design awards including the Valley Development Forum for Outstanding Design for the Stonehaus and the design of the Westlake Village Inn. Aarons has also amassed extensive experience working with a national engineering and architectural firm HNTB. Aarons developed a niche in high-end residential and hospitality design. His commitment to the local community led to the development of Aarons Architects. The firm emphasizes function and the client’s personal style in the design process.
Aarons has designed traditional, modern, and contemporary homes all over Westlake and nearby areas. These homes were tailor-fitted to the lifestyle of each homeowner. The firm’s strong background in premium residential projects serves well in doing projects such as the Spanish home in the photo. The home fuses Spanish Colonial and more contemporary elements. Spanish design elements such as red-tile roof, clay, and wood blend seamlessly with the circular column in the center of the home. This home encapsulates Southern California living today.
Alan Bernstein Architect & Landscape Architect
5706 Corsa Avenue, Ste. 200-B, Westlake Village, CA 91362
Alan Bernstein Architect & Landscape Architect is an architecture firm known for tailor-fitting its processes and works to customer needs. Alan Bernstein, the company’s leader and namesake, wanted to set his company apart from the competition by streamlining the design process. Bernstein also believes that the pricing should go hand-in-hand with the design and budget. Alan Bernstein is a recipient of multiple American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honors Awards and Merit Awards, including AIA Firm of the Year. He has also been distinguished by the Sunset Magazine with an award of excellence.
His residential works show fluency in technical aspects. This modern California home is packed with progressive details such as exposed steel beams, floor-to-ceiling windows, and smooth stucco. The firm processes government papers, handles mechanical systems design, and integrates structural design and engineering.
arc Design Group
175 E Wilbur Road, Ste. #202, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Founded in 1992, arc Design Group is a residential architecture firm dedicated to making time-tested residences. The full-service design firm’s process involving planning, schematic design, design development, and construction drawings. Brian Lerman and Sean Trujillo head the company operations.
The arc portfolio is a sight to behold. Spanish, Tuscan, and Contemporary homes are common to the arc arsenal. The company’s HGTV Million Dollar Rooms-featured portfolio showcases Spanish, Mediterranean, and Contemporary homes with a distinctly modern touch. The featured photo displays one of the firm’s Mediterranean homes with a sophisticated silhouette. California Palm Trees accentuate the classic appeal of the residence.
Biglin Architectural Group
31312 Via Colinas, Ste. #110, Westlake Village, CA 91362
Biglin Architectural Group is a Southern California architectural firm specializing in high-quality custom homes. Brian Biglin’s mission is to design homes that celebrate the owner’s lifestyle. An alumnus of Southern California Institute of Architecture, Biglin studied under modernist architects Ray Kappe, Dean Nota, Eric Moss, and Michael Rotondi. He also received architectural training from the New York Institute of Classical Architecture and Art.
Brian Biglin’s versatile architectural training resulted in a highly diverse portfolio sporting Classical, French Beaux-Arts, Italianate, Mediterranean, Craftsman, Contemporary and Modern homes. Thanks to Brian Biglin’s exceptional training in classical architecture, his firm designs stylish and one-of-a-kind homes. The featured home is an elaborate French-style mansion placed in a massive property in the Westlake Village. The home takes full advantage of the scenic backdrop and the lush gardens.
ENR architects
2000 Campbell Ave., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
ENR architects is a familiar name in the Ventura County residential architecture scene. Eric Neahr Rohlfing has been working since 1984. Rohlfing worked in the areas of architecture and biotechnology. His experience in architecture spans from planning, design, and building of custom homes and commercial buildings. Rohlfing wants his business to have the independence and creativity of a small business and the collaborative nature of a larger one.
ENR has a footing in Southern California and Texas. The company developed a keen sense of doing contemporary, traditional, and ranch home styles. The Barnhouse in the photo values practical design and simplified layout. ENR maximized the home’s interactivity with the SoCal environment through the use of bi-fold window walls, combination windows, and French doors to make the home feel lighter and well-ventilated. The home also has multiple garages, breezeway, and a second dwelling unit. This project shows that homes do not need to be overelaborate to be beautiful.
Horwitz A+D
274 Arcturus St. Thousand Oaks CA, 91360
Horwitz A+D is a residential and commercial architecture firm ran by Dulce Horwitz. One of the few female principal architects in the list, Dulce Horwitz created the firm after working for famed architects Paul Holt and Marc Hinshaw. Horwitz is known for the emotional and aesthetic value of each project. Residential projects designed by Horwitz exhibit these values in varying styles. This 2,975 square-foot home, for example, packs clean and cozy details that make the estate unique to the homeowners. The home follows the homeowners’ love for breathtaking views and a warm atmosphere. This is achieved through the generous use of windows and the subtle use of neutral colors.
John Anthony Lewis Architect Inc.
3625 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. #229, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362
With a long history tracing back to over 40 years, John Anthony Lewis Architect is a formidable name in the local architectural industry. He is an alumnus of the University of British Columbia and a native of Vancouver. Later on, he moved to the East Coast and eventually in England in pursuit of his professional career. Lewis has awards and distinctions that trace back to the 80s and 90s. He won the IDB award for a commercial project and an International Steer Award. Lewis is also a frequent feature of magazines including the Interior Design Magazine, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Ad Week Magazine, Boulevard Magazine, and Canadian House and Home.
John Anthony Lewis is a master of refined design and taste. His array of modern, Pacific, and Eclectic homes captivate both homeowners and passersby. The Mandeville Canyon home displayed in the photo is a good example of this sensibility. Lewis maximized the lush green environment of the Los Angeles neighborhood and built a forward-thinking home without sacrificing comfort and warmth needed in a home.
Schneider Architects
2282 Townsgate Road, Suite #3, Westlake Village, Ca 91361
Since 1988, Schneider Architects has been a go-to architect by residents of Westlake Village and surrounding areas. Founded by Bren Schneider, a three-decade industry veteran, the company takes cues in his lengthy experience in single-family and multifamily home design. The firm knows its neighborhood and local engineering experts necessary to achieve the best result. Schneider cultivated ties with multiple engineers, allowing a streamlined process that efficiently spans from drawing to construction proper.
True to its California roots, the firm knows Spanish and Mediterranean homes well. The house dubbed as The Presidential is an elegant piece of Spanish Colonial architecture in modern-day California. The firm brought out a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere by adding a massive swimming pool and spacious greenery in the surroundings of the home. This gives a nice blend of comfort and elegance.
Todd B. Spiegel/architects
31822 Village Center Rd. Ste. #202, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Todd B. Spiegel/architects is a Southern California-based architectural firm that has over 30 years of industry experience. The firm has experience in large-scale commercial and residential projects. He has also completed projects in the areas of multi-family homes, senior housing, and commercial tenant improvements. The firm’s projects are recognized on a national and local scale. Todd Spiegel garnered design awards from the AIA and the Green Building Award from the City of Costa Mesa. The firm merges both aesthetic and technical considerations. Since Spiegel is also a licensed General Contractor, he has a real-world understanding of construction practices. The firm addresses the clients’ needs on-schedule and on-budget.
The clients for this contemporary home wanted their family to enjoy a lifestyle of understated luxury on Lake Sherwood. Designed to incorporate portions of the historic original foundations, this iconic home provides light-filled views of the lake at each level. Large open interiors and glass railed decks abound providing a seamless transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Van Parys Architecture + Design
960 S. Westlake Blvd. Ste. 201, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Featured in major publications such as Barnes Luxury Homes and Luxe, Van Parys Architecture + Design is a leading name in premium residential architecture in the area. The company is headed by the husband-and-wife team of Michael and Rosa Van Parys. The boutique firm represents the professional and literal marriage of the couple.
Michael has a strong background in sustainable design and energy-efficient homes. He was listed in the 40 Under Forty Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce award in 2017. Rosa is an alumnus of Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, France, and the University of Southern California where she met Michael.
The interesting background of the firm is matched with an equally interesting portfolio. The two have worked on multiple LEED platinum-certified projects and are both Accredited Professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP). Van Parys has an outstanding selection of contemporary residential homes under its belt. The 7,000 square-foot home in the photo is an elegant display of neutral colors and simple shapes. On top of that, it is also a LEED-gold project.
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
