Business Details
11 Years
experience
Creating Spaces That Inspire and Connect Communities
Studio BANAA is a San Francisco-based architecture firm dedicated to creating spaces that foster community, joy, and belonging. Founded in 2015 by Dane Bunton and Nastaran Mousavi, we specialize in hospitality design, creative housing solutions, and non-profit architecture. Our approach prioritizes human-centered design, blending purposeful creativity with technical expertise to elevate the experience of gathering. With a nimble, collaborative team, we tackle large-scale ambitions while maintaining intimate involvement in every project phasefrom ideation to construction. Our work with developers, restaurant owners, and non-profits focuses on transforming challenges into opportunities, whether revitalizing underutilized spaces or crafting culturally significant buildings.We believe architecture shapes lives and communities, a principle rooted in our founders' lifelong exposure to design. Our commitment to quality over quantity ensures each project reflects deep listening, research, and a shared passion for meaningful spaces. From feasibility studies to final builds, we emphasize transparency, realistic goal-setting, and regular communication to meet deadlines without compromising vision. As advocates for San Francisco's built future, we donate time to community projects and offer specialized support for non-profits seeking to enrich the city's cultural fabric.
Services
Architecture
Hospitality Design
Housing Solutions
Non-Profit Projects
Feasibility Studies
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We offer 10+ years of combined experience in Bay Area architecture
- Our team specializes in hospitality, housing, and non-profit projects
- We provide personalized service through our intentionally small firm structure
- We prioritize community impact through pro-bono non-profit work
- Our collaborative process ensures seamless project execution from concept to completion
What people say
Incredibly talented
Hard working
Beautiful designs
Unique spaces
Vision realization
Services
Architecture
Studio BANAA provides comprehensive architectural services for commercial, cultural, and institutional projects. Our approach combines creative vision with technical expertise to create spaces that reflect client needs while addressing zoning regulations and construction realities. We specialize in transforming complex challenges into innovative solutions that enhance community engagement through thoughtful design.
Hospitality Design
We design hospitality environments that create memorable experiences for guests. Our expertise includes restaurant, caf, and bar spaces that balance aesthetic appeal with functional efficiency. From concept development to construction documentation, we help owners realize spaces that encourage social interaction while supporting operational success through strategic spatial planning and material selection.
Housing Solutions
Our housing solutions focus on creating dignified, functional living spaces that address urban density challenges. We work with developers to maximize site potential while maintaining design integrity. Services include feasibility studies, unit layout optimization, and code compliance analysis to deliver housing projects that balance economic viability with community needs in high-demand markets.
Non-Profit Projects
We partner with non-profits to create spaces that advance their missions through purposeful design. Our services include pro-bono consultation, facility planning, and construction oversight for community centers, cultural institutions, and support facilities. We prioritize projects that strengthen social infrastructure and create lasting public benefit through architecture.
Feasibility Studies
Our feasibility studies assess the practicality of architectural projects through site analysis, zoning evaluation, and cost estimation. We provide data-driven recommendations to help clients make informed decisions about property development or renovation. This service includes code compliance reviews and conceptual design options to establish clear project parameters before full-scale design begins.
People
Nastaran Mousavi
Co-founder/Design Director
Nastaran leads design vision at Studio BANAA, bringing expertise in conceptual development and architectural storytelling. Her background in Iran's traditional construction methods informs her approach to modern design challenges. She ensures each project maintains creative integrity while addressing practical requirements.
Dane Bunton
Co-founder/Managing Principal
Dane oversees operations and business development, leveraging his architectural and economic background. With generational construction knowledge, he ensures seamless project execution from concept to completion. He manages client relationships and strategic growth while maintaining technical oversight.
Leanne Brown
Senior Designer
Leanne contributes design expertise with a focus on spatial innovation. She plays key roles in developing design concepts and resolving technical challenges. Her work emphasizes creating functional spaces that maintain aesthetic coherence across diverse project types.
Sara Duffin
Project Architect
Sara leads architectural projects through permitting and construction phases. She ensures technical accuracy in construction documents while maintaining design intent. Her expertise includes code compliance and coordination of multidisciplinary project teams.
Alex Fellous
Intermediate Designer
Alex contributes to design development and visualization, bridging conceptual ideas with technical implementation. He assists in creating presentation materials and resolving spatial challenges through detailed analysis and digital modeling.
Questions
What architectural services does Studio BANAA offer?
We provide full-service architecture including concept design, feasibility studies, construction documentation, and project management for hospitality, housing, and non-profit projects.
Do you work with clients outside San Francisco?
While based in San Francisco, we collaborate with clients across the Bay Area and consider select projects beyond the region that align with our expertise.
How do you approach non-profit organization projects?
We offer specialized support for non-profits through pro-bono consultation and design solutions that maximize community impact while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Can you help with restaurant space planning?
Yes, we specialize in hospitality design including restaurant layouts, kitchen integration, and creating memorable dining environments that balance aesthetics with operational efficiency.
What makes your firm different from other architects?
Our human-centered approach combines creative vision with practical execution, maintaining small-team collaboration while delivering large-scale solutions through our technical expertise.
Reviews (4)
Carol G.
Jul 17, 2020
Report
As good as it gets. Dane and Nastaran are talented and great team players. They know how to tell a story in their design. They created a special place for my business called Kokak Chocolates in San Francisco, listening to the inspiration I gave them and taking it to a higher place. It's pretty incredible how they designed the space taking their cue from the lines of a cacao fruit. The design is cohesive, flowing from the counter to the walls, to the ceiling. Aside from the impeccable design, They also went above and beyond in supporting me throughout the construction phase, when needed. Kind
Ryan L.
Feb 29, 2020
Report
Studio Banaa is wonderful to work with! Both Dane and Nastaran are amazing architects, creative in how they go about design, but really just good and honest people that know what they are doing. I have worked with them twice on two big projects in Oakland. They have been nothing but great to work with and I am happy to have them in my corner. Their level of knowledge when it comes to design is truly amazing. And, to top it off, they respond to emails promptly, answer their phone and treat everything professionally. It is rare to find such a great team that truly gets how to get things done with
Lauren B.
Feb 05, 2020
Report
We started with Dane and Nastaran on a small project to redo the seating in our coffee shop. We were so impressed that we ended up having them design a complete remodel which turned out absolutely beautifully. They have now done the design work for two new coffee shops, and each one is beautiful and unique in their own way. They have always been very patient with us, and are never upset if there is something we want to change. They want every detail to be perfect, and they don't leave room for mistakes. I cannot recommend Nastaran and Dane more highly. They are incredibly talented and hard
Amanda P.
Jan 28, 2020
Report
Dane and Nastaran are wonderful people, and are very knowledgeable in the realm of commercial architecture projects. They were able to answer all of our questions and concerns about our project with confidence, and were always prompt in responding to our messages. Their entire team is completely professional, forthcoming, and easy to talk to and work with. While ultimately we weren't able to contract with Studio Banaa, they will definitely be on my shortlist of architects to work with on future architectural projects.
