My name is Caroline Nassif and I’m the founding Architect at Studio Ovo. I am an Egyptian American architect with over 19 years of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After spending seven years designing student and multi-family affordable housing at Oakland-based Pyatok Architects, I embarked on a life-changing ten-year apprenticeship at Lundberg Design with Olle Lundberg, where I led a range of award-winning projects including single family homes, restaurants, office remodels, wineries, and spas.
I believe that great design is the result of curiosity, empathy, and finely honed listening skills. This is born out of my professional experience as well as my own story. My family immigrated from Cairo to Houston when I was nine, and I entered into an unfamiliar world where I had to find (and often create) the language necessary to make myself understood.
For some clients, starting a new architectural project — obtaining permits, developing budgets, and even reading drawings — feels like a trip to a foreign world. I’m invested in demystifying the design process, finding a shared language, and collaborating closely with clients to realize their visions.
I am a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin 5-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree program, and I also hold a dual B.A. degree in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors degree program. I am a licensed Architect in the State of California, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Outside of my design practice, my other creative hobbies are knitting, watercolor, and playing ukulele. I love cooking with my toddler and going for urban hikes throughout San Francisco while listening to audiobooks or podcasts. I look forward to getting to know you.
Misa Grannis, Studio Director / Project Manager
Misa brings with her 9 years of experience managing high-end residential, restaurant and retail projects, most recently at Lundberg Design where she met Caroline. Her passion is in managing complexity in support of beauty. To Misa, design involves a constant interplay of detail and vision, carefully wading through a labyrinth of considerations and problem-solving exercises without losing the central idea, all while ensuring her clients have a trustworthy and compassionate guide to help them through the process.
When she is not at her desk, she is usually chasing around her two young children, teaching herself how to garden, or dreaming of long hikes through the redwoods.
At Studio Ovo, successful design is experiential, connected to nature, non-toxic for people and the planet, accessible to all, and supportive of local artists and communities. We’re passionate about creating gorgeous spaces, but it’s just as important to us to make the process of architecture and design easy, engaging, and smooth for our clients.
Let’s talk about the word experiential for a second: we want to design spaces that feel good to be in, that make sense to move or eat or read or think in. Materials — what to use or how to re-use what exists — are one of the most significant pieces of this puzzle.
Why Ovo?
When thinking of how to name our firm, we were inspired by the most elegant, elemental design we could imagine: the egg.
Symbolically, all of life starts with an egg, which grows into something more. It’s our first home — a beautiful and perfectly-designed structure whose purpose is immediately understandable. To hold an egg is to know flawless design, to admire its coolness as well as its warmth. This is how we imagine great architecture to be, too: elegant, simple, easy to understand and navigate while possessing that magical raw quality that connects us to nature and to our roots.