Love and Obsession with Architectural Design & Design Process
First steps/ Beginnings
Zita Design Studio was born out of necessity and has continued to grow due to the demand for “difficult to approve” projects in Santa Barbara. Zita, the principal designer, moved to Santa Barbara because she fell in love with the town, its architecture, the beach, and the hills. Despite having an impressive portfolio that included participation in projects such as Sheraton hotels, restaurants, small shopping centers, and institutional hospital projects, where she served as the lead designer and drafting group leader, she found it challenging to obtain a permanent position.
To stay afloat, Zita began taking on side projects and working nights. Her reputation grew as the word spread about her quality of work, dependability, and success in obtaining permits,. The rigorous training and diplomatic skills she acquired in her home country proved invaluable.
Challenges along the way
Starting anything new often presents obstacles and challenges. We must adapt to new skills and test the theories we’ve learned. Architecture is a collaborative effort involving architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape designers, builders, and building department officials. Scaling a business can be a significant challenge as well.
Architecture, particularly residential design, is highly responsive to market trends. While many architectural firms today have evolved into corporations, ZitaDesign remains a boutique practice. This allows us to maintain a strong focus on architectural detail while staying updated on new developments in materials—whether for exteriors or interiors. We also prioritize green alternatives and explore various building materials. In today’s environment, it is essential to consider fire-retardant construction methods and use
Our Vision & Mission
“Private homes have the most profound influence on people’s everyday lives. It is crucial to live in a home that offers comfort and enhances daily living. A home should make us feel good, plain and simple. At ZitaDesign Studio, we are dedicated to creating design solutions and space layouts that provide comfort, inspiration, shelter, and energy.”
Andrea Palladio, an architect of the 16th century, is the most imitated architect in history. Among his projects, he is also known for his books, namely “The Four Books of Architecture.”
Society admired the buildings he designed then, and people still appreciate them today. We can go back four hundred years and study the works of many architects who came after him and strived to develop something extraordinary and appropriate for their times.
However, the best-known quote attributed to architecture is by Winston Churchill: “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” which he said in his speech requesting the House of Commons, bombed out in May 1941, be rebuilt exactly as before.
