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Border Studios

Architects, General Remodeling, Graphic Design,

About us

Mike Hamberg and Martin Tarafdar, who have collaborated on numerous projects since the early 1980’s, formed Border Studios in 1994. We have offices in Aspen, Colorado and Newcastle/Tahoe, California and we serve the greater Sacramento Area. The firm is conceived as a collective of talent that works beyond ‘borders'. That is to say, we work beyond physical and geographic constraints and do not bind ourselves to notions of architectural style or movements, but rather approach each project on its own merit. The design is allowed to evolve through an investigation and understanding of the site and its context, the budget and program objectives, while responding to the history and culture of the place. It is this connection to place that binds our work together and is the driving force of our design process. Creating and enhancing a sense of place through planning and architecture is the philosophical basis for our work. We believe our philosophy allows us to bring a much wider spectrum of resources to each project than is possible with a more traditional approach to design. Our work has focused primarily in the vernacular of high country mountain environments in the Western United States. We have been associated with creating a number of projects recognized by award in these regions. Please do not hesitate to contact our office for any additional information. We will be happy to assist in any way possible and if we are not a good fit we will endeavor to help you find a better match for your project. Thank you for visiting our page. We hope to be able to be of service.

Business highlights

38 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Full service architectural firm. I work with outside engineers / surveyors / consultants, to offer full service but my work is limited to architectural design. I do not add a consultation fee for my interaction with outside professionals. Because my work is limited to design I typically work for an hourly fee. Billing is incremental and should you become dissatisfied for any reason, you can terminate my services at any stage and keep the work I have performed to that point.

Amenities

Senior Discount

5%



Accepted payment methods

Check

Photos of past projects

Reviews

5.04 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Showing 1-4 of 4 reviews

Teri O.
06/2016
5.0
remodeling, architect
  + 0 more
Martian was on time, professional, and very helpful. there were changes that were needed to get my permit and Martian made those changes free of charge, and only charged me for the additional plans i needed.
Description of Work: Martian did a full exterior vicinity map and interior plan for my store remodel

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500

Susan W.
12/2014
5.0
architect
  + -1 more
Martin was extremely thorough, prompt, and knowledgeable. He offered very valuable suggestions to make it the perfect use of all of the space that we had available and did a top notch job at that. We would highly recommend Martin and are going to use his services in the future.
Description of Work: We have a very small area that Martin helped design a excellent living space with minimal working conditions.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$300

Richard B.
03/2014
5.0
architect
  + -1 more
See above comments and Google and quot;Bozzio Residenceand quot; to see for yourself. I highly recommend Martin and his company, Border Studios. He is artistic and has a keen eye for lines, proportion and design. He remains dedicated to the present yet is very forward thinking and up to date on materials, load concepts and alternative construction options. He is world educated, resided in several foreign countries and he speaks four languages that I know of. He interacted well with everyone on the job and especially with our builder Craig Hjelte (HJELTE CONSTRUCTION CO.) which is critical to a happy project. He made the whole process easy and exciting. Suffice it to say, I am still a close friend after the project was completed as well as exceedingly pleased with his creative choices and the end result. Bottom line: Excellent human being, creative, dedicated, resourceful and committed to project excellence and client satisfaction. Richard and Laura Bozzio
Description of Work: Martin Tarafdar, AIA, is a superstar architect. He designed our Lake Tahoe home on the West Shore with alacrity, style and a firm commitment to carry the project from inception to completion. His work ethic was tireless. He was always focused, approachable and dedicated to ensuring quality and success throughout the project. He suggested cost saving ideas and directions while working well with our builder and my wife. He was honest and trustworthy, communicated easily and frequently and produced a timeless, beautiful project. Thanks!

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Corey D.
01/2014
5.0
architect
  + -1 more
I have a home on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe that was originally built in 1966 with a carport attached which was heavily damaged by the massive snow loads of 2011. I had always wanted to convert it into a garage because of the orientation of the roof which always had bad ice dams and dumped snow directly into the driveway. I finally had the excuse I needed to get it done. I found Borders Studios to be incredibly responsive and provided me exactly what I needed. As an owner-builder it took me nearly a year just to settle with the insurance company and take care of all the Placer County and TRPA permit requirements including establishing a site plan for a required site assessment, calculating coverage changes and soil infiltration rates to comply with the strict Tahoe BMPs. I needed to be able to complete construction before the following winter so I was very pleased that Border Studios focused on my project and provided an excellent set of plans without any more delays. What sets them apart is the extra attention to a very functional and detailed custom design that considers the complete environment of the project. The existing structure had to be upgraded to comply with current county building codes and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requirements. The engineering incorporated the heavy snow and wind load requirements of Tahoe. Martin Tarafdar also took into account my preferences and kept me informed of options to improve the outcome and maintain control over costs. After the plans were completed and I got the permit process underway, I had several contractors provide estimates and settled on a contractor Martin had recommended. The county building engineer approved the plans with only a minor annotation edit. I was very happy with the construction work as well and the contractor was able to compile the lumber and supplies needed without any difficulty. I don't recall that they ever had to consult with Border Studios over the plans so I take that as sign that the plans were complete, explicit, and easy to follow. It was a real pleasure to get a product that didn't require numerous revisions and more delays. I can highly recommend Border Studios particularly if you have unusual needs.
Description of Work: Designed a remodel project which included a garage addition to an existing home. Provided all the plans, engineeering documentation, and county permit requirements.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000

    Contact information

    3599 Hector Rd, NEWCASTLE, CA 95658

    borderstudios.net

    Service hours

    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    Closed

    Licensing


    Eco-friendly Accreditations

    LEED Accredited Professional
    No
    Energy Star Partner
    No
    EPA Lead-Safe Certified
    No
    Use Green Products or Work Practices
    Yes
    State Contractor License Requirements

    All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

    *Contact business to see additional licenses.


    Service Categories

    Architects,
    General Remodeling,
    Graphic Design,
    Basement Remodeling,
    Sunrooms and Patio Enclosures,
    Kitchen and Bath Remodeling,
    Greenhouses/Nurseries,
    Interior Design and Decorating

    FAQ

    Border Studios is currently rated 5 overall out of 5.

    Sunday: Closed

    Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

    Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

    Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

    Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

    Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

    Saturday: Closed

    Border Studios accepts the following forms of payment: Check
    No, Border Studios does not offer free project estimates.
    Yes, Border Studios offers eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, Border Studios does not offer a senior discount.
    No, Border Studios does not offer emergency services.
    No, Border Studios does not offer warranties.
    Border Studios offers the following services: Full service architectural firm. I work with outside engineers / surveyors / consultants, to offer full service but my work is limited to architectural design. I do not add a consultation fee for my interaction with outside professionals. Because my work is limited to design I typically work for an hourly fee. Billing is incremental and should you become dissatisfied for any reason, you can terminate my services at any stage and keep the work I have performed to that point.

    Contact information

    3599 Hector Rd, NEWCASTLE, CA 95658

    borderstudios.net

    Service hours

    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    Closed