Homes designed for
how you actually live.
A full-service residential architecture firm handling everything from first sketch through DOB permitting and construction — without handing you off between teams.
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Explore our work
Founded by Ana Kurtsikidze
16+ Years Experience
23 U.S. States
NYC · RESIDENTIAL
EST. 2009
About the Studio
Founded on the idea that one team should handle everything.
ArcheA Studio was founded by Ana Kurtsikidze — an architectural designer with 16+ years of experience and a Master’s in Architecture and Design. The firm designs custom homes, renovations, additions, and multi-family buildings across all five boroughs and beyond.
Whether the project is a brownstone gut renovation in Brooklyn, a new-construction home in Staten Island, or a multi-family building in Queens, one team manages the full scope from the first sketch to the certificate of occupancy.
“Architecture is a service profession. The client’s life is the brief.”
— Ana Kurtsikidze, Founder & Principal Designer
16+
Years of practice
23
U.S. states served
5
NYC boroughs
What we design.
Six practice areas, one team. The work ranges from single-family homes on vacant lots to landmark brownstone renovations — each with its own regulatory texture and design language.
Custom Home Design
Your home, designed from scratch.
Single-family homes, duplexes, and luxury residences tailored entirely to your site, your zoning envelope, and the way you want to live. From conceptual design through full construction documentation and DOB permitting — the full arc, managed by one team.
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Renovation & Addition
Transforming what you already have
Reconfigured floor plans, new floors, basement conversions, full gut renovations. We handle design, DOB NOW filings, engineering coordination, and construction administration with a team that already knows how to avoid plan examiner objections.
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Brownstone & Townhouse
Historic character, modern performance
Narrow lots, party walls, aging infrastructure, and often an LPC landmark overlay on top of standard DOB requirements. We’ve done this work extensively — modernizing performance without losing the character that makes these buildings worth owning.
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Multi-Family
Walk-ups to mid-rise
Three-unit walk-ups through mid-rise apartment buildings — designed to maximize unit count within the zoning envelope and coordinate fully with structural and MEP engineering.
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Luxury Homes
Where details define everything
Upper East Side apartments, Westchester estates, Todt Hill custom homes. Custom millwork to the inch, material palettes selected for actual light conditions, bespoke detailing at every scale.
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New Construction
Building on a vacant lot
Every new construction project begins with a full zoning analysis — establishing exactly what the lot allows before any design decision is made. Then we design a building that maximizes its potential.
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Not sure which service fits your project? Start here.
The first consultation is free — a genuine conversation, no obligation.
How a project unfolds.
Every residential project follows the same six-phase arc — though pace and specifics vary with scope, budget, and regulatory context. Here is what working with ArcheA looks like from the first conversation to the finished home.
01
Consultation & Site Review
Week 1
Site visit, goals conversation, and review of zoning constraints. You leave with a clear picture of what’s possible, what a realistic budget looks like, and whether we’re the right fit.
02
Schematic Design
Weeks 2–6
Preliminary floor plans, massing studies, and design concepts. The home starts taking shape — you see it in drawings and 3D and give feedback until the direction feels right.
03
Zoning & Code Review
Week 6
We verify compliance with the NYC Zoning Resolution, building code, energy code, and landmark regulations before design development begins. Catching a conflict in a sketch costs nothing.
04
Design Development
Weeks 7–14
We refine schematic design into a fully detailed architectural set — materials, interior elevations, custom millwork, lighting, structural and MEP coordination — all documented before CDs.
05
Permitting
Weeks 15–22
Full architectural drawing set for DOB NOW filing and permit approval. We handle agency submissions, track application status, and respond to plan examiner objections.
06
Construction Admin
During build
Having the architect of record present during construction is what ensures the built result matches the approved design. Site visits, submittals, change orders, inspections, CO.
What sets us apart.
NYC’s regulatory system — inside out.
In 2024, the NYC DOB processed over 175,000 permit applications. Projects with incomplete filings or wrong zoning calculations face stop-work orders and fines of $2,500–$25,000 per violation.
We handle DOB NOW submissions, zoning analyses, energy compliance, and agency expediting — and we design around the objections that derail projects from the very start, not after they’ve already cost you months.
$25K
Maximum per-violation fine for incomplete filings
02
One team, one point of accountability
Design, zoning, code compliance, DOB filing, interior design, and construction administration all pass through the same team. No intent lost in translation, no design change missing from the permit drawings.
03
Engineering coordination from day one
Our structural, MEP, and energy partners know how we document. Conflicts get resolved in the design phase, not during construction when they cost five times as much.
04
Full residential range experience
Single-family homes to mixed-use buildings, brownstone restorations to luxury custom residences. A Carroll Gardens landmark renovation requires different expertise than a Queens vacant-lot build. We bring both.
67.5M
Square Feet Filed · NYC DOB · 2025
In 2025 alone, the NYC DOB received 1,972 new building permit filings proposing over 57,000 residential and hotel units across the five boroughs. The difference between smooth permitting and a months-long delay almost always comes down to the quality of the architectural filing.
1,972
New filings
57,000+
Residential units
513
Brooklyn permits
26%
Of all NYC filings
MANHATTAN
BROOKLYN
QUEENS
S.I.
BRONX
N
Where We Work
Across all five boroughs — and 22 states beyond.
ArcheA’s core practice is in New York City — Manhattan neighborhoods including the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Tribeca, and SoHo; Brooklyn from Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights to Williamsburg, Bed-Stuy, Carroll Gardens, and Crown Heights.
Work extends across Queens (Astoria, Long Island City, Forest Hills), Staten Island (Todt Hill, Lighthouse Hill), and the Bronx (Riverdale, Pelham Bay, City Island) — and beyond NYC into Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Staten Island
The Bronx
Westchester
+ 17 more states
Common questions.
The questions that come up most often in first consultations. If yours isn’t here, ask it directly — we’ll answer honestly, including when the answer is “that’s going to be harder than you think.”
What does a residential architect actually do?
A residential architect designs homes and living spaces — floor plans, construction documents, building permit filings, material selections, and construction oversight. In NYC that also means navigating DOB permitting, zoning compliance, and building code requirements specific to the five boroughs. The architect is the professional legally responsible for making sure the project is legal, buildable, and built correctly.
How much does a residential architect cost in NYC?
Fees vary by scope. Most firms charge either a percentage of construction cost — typically 8–15% — or a fixed fee. ArcheA Studio provides a detailed fee proposal after an initial consultation, once we understand the project’s scope, complexity, and permitting requirements. We’re direct about what drives the cost and why.
Do I need an architect for a home renovation?
For most renovation work, yes. The NYC DOB requires professionally prepared and sealed architectural drawings for any alteration that changes layout, structure, or use. Even work that seems cosmetic — opening a wall, changing a bathroom, adding a room — often requires permits. Skipping this step creates liability, can stop future sales, and may trigger stop-work orders that are expensive to resolve.
What’s the difference between an architect, a designer, and a contractor?
A licensed architect has completed a professional architecture degree, passed the Architect Registration Examination, and is authorized to stamp and seal construction documents for permit applications. Interior designers and building designers cannot file for permits in NYC without a licensed architect or engineer. Contractors build what’s on the drawings — they don’t design or take regulatory responsibility for code compliance.
How long does the process take?
A typical NYC residential project takes 3–6 months for design and permitting, then construction time depending on scope. Projects requiring LPC landmark approval, zoning variances, or Board of Standards and Appeals hearings can extend the pre-construction timeline to 9–18 months. We give you a realistic timeline estimate at the initial consultation — including when a project is likely to take longer than you expect.
Can you work on landmarked buildings?
Yes. We have direct experience with projects requiring Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approval — Certificate of Appropriateness applications for renovations, additions, and new construction in historic districts across Brooklyn and Manhattan. We prepare LPC application packages, attend community board and Commission hearings, and design solutions that satisfy LPC’s criteria while meeting our clients’ actual goals.
What is DOB NOW and how does permitting work?
DOB NOW is the NYC Department of Buildings’ electronic platform for filing building permits, scheduling inspections, and submitting applications. All new building and alteration filings must go through DOB NOW. We file all applications directly in DOB NOW, track status in real time, and respond to plan examiner objections on your behalf — unanswered or incorrectly answered objections can stall a project for months.
Let’s talk about what you’re trying to build.
The first conversation is free — no obligation, no sales pitch. Just an honest discussion about what’s possible, what it takes, and whether we’re the right team for your project.
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Call +1 929 327 8002
Email
info@archea.us
Phone
+1 929 327 8002
Web
archea.us
ArcheA Studio · Residential Architect NYC · Custom Home Design · Brownstone & Townhouse · Multi-Family · All Five Boroughs
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