Residential design & architecture, San Francisco
Your home is your outer shell, a place to celebrate and amplify the aura that is uniquely yours.
AURAX is the San Francisco residential design studio of Maryam Nassajian, working across the Bay Area. New builds, remodels and additions shaped around light, balance and the way you live.
Selected work
Homes shaped around the way you live.
Each project begins with the people who will live there and with what already exists: the site, the neighbors, the way the light moves. From there, it shapes a home that feels grounded, personal and connected to its place.
In Light
A home organized around a single column of daylight that marks the passing of the day.
The Vault & Light
A new two-family home in Noe Valley where vaulted ceilings and skylights draw the sky inward.
Gathered
A warm, wood-lined family level in a historic Victorian, tied back to the original house.
Outside In
A 1,000 sq ft ADU that opens to its courtyard and looks out to the Pacific.
The studio
A home should reflect the soul of its resident.
At AURAX, residential design goes beyond function and form. It is an intimate process of listening, understanding, and crafting spaces that resonate deeply.
AURAX is led by Maryam Nassajian, an architectural designer who trained at California College of the Arts (M.Arch) and American University in Dubai, and practiced with Sutro Architects, William Duff Architects and Rossington Architecture before founding the studio. Her credited work has been featured in Dwell and recognized with Houzee, Master Design and International Architecture & Design awards. The studio works on homes across San Francisco and the Bay Area, from new two-family buildings in Noe Valley to whole-house remodels.
Questions
Before you reach out
What kind of projects does AURAX take on?
Residential architecture in San Francisco and across the Bay Area, including Marin and the East Bay: new construction, whole-house remodels, additions, and interior remodels. Most projects are single-family homes and two-unit buildings where light, flow and a calm material palette matter to the owners.
Do you handle permits and planning?
Yes. AURAX prepares the permit drawing set and manages the planning and building permit process with the City of San Francisco and neighboring jurisdictions, including Planning Department review where a project needs it.
Do you also do interior design?
Maryam holds degrees in both architecture and interior design, so interior material, lighting and fixture direction is part of every project. For larger scopes AURAX collaborates with independent interior designers, as on The Vault & Light and From Within.
How does a project start?
With a conversation. Send an inquiry through the Connect page, and Maryam will reply within two business days to schedule a 30-minute call. If the project is a fit, the next step is a site visit and a written proposal for the design phases.
Where do you work?
San Francisco is home base, with projects in Noe Valley and across the city. AURAX also works across the Bay Area, including Marin County and the East Bay.
How are fees structured?
Fees are proposed by phase after the first site visit, so they reflect the real scope. Depending on the project, the fee is either fixed or hourly with a cap, so you always have a clear sense of the cost from the start.
Do you stay involved during construction?
Yes. AURAX stays involved through construction, visiting the site, answering contractor questions and reviewing submittals so the built home carries the same intention as the design.