JASON DANIELAK
AIA, NCARB, ACP

Designing Homes That Honor Heritage, Embrace Modern Living, and Celebrate the Unique Spirit of Place

Services

Rooted in Place | Defined for Life

JAD Design Services is a full-service architectural design studio serving clients throughout Hawai‘i, Arizona, and Florida. We specialize in thoughtful, regionally grounded residential design that honors cultural heritage, embraces natural environments, and reflects the evolving needs of modern living.

Our work is shaped by deep respect—for the history of the land, the people who call it home, and the architectural traditions that have come before. With a strong foundation in the study of existing and historic structures, we design new spaces that feel timeless—seamlessly integrating past and present in a way that’s both functional and meaningful.

Design that Reflects and Responds

We tailor each project to the unique characteristics of the region:

In Hawai‘i, our designs draw inspiration from the islands’ deep cultural roots, prioritizing indoor-outdoor living, cross-ventilation, and environmental stewardship. We honor the spirit of the land by designing in harmony with it.
In Arizona, we embrace the drama of the desert—creating energy-efficient homes that balance shade and sun, respond to climate, and nestle naturally into the rugged terrain.
In Florida, we focus on resilient coastal design. Our work balances beauty and durability, incorporating hurricane-resistant strategies and flexible layouts that support both daily life and storm preparedness.

Architecture for the Way We Live Now

Homes today do more than ever—so should the architecture behind them. Our designs support:

Work-life balance, with adaptable spaces for remote work and retreat.
Outdoor connection, with lanai, gardens, and shaded courtyards that extend daily living into nature.
Multigenerational living, with thoughtful layouts that support family connection while honoring privacy.
Sustainable solutions, tailored to regional climates, site conditions, and long-term resilience.

A Collaborative, Educational Process

At JAD Design Services, we don’t just design homes—we guide our clients through the process. We believe that great architecture is a conversation, and we take pride in educating and empowering clients every step of the way. From explaining design decisions to navigating permitting and construction, we ensure the journey is as rewarding as the result.

Our Mission

We design with intention: to honor the past, enrich the present, and shape the future. Whether crafting a new home from the ground up or weaving new life into an existing structure, our work reflects the values, stories, and aspirations of the people we serve.

Let’s build something meaningful—together.

ARIZONA

HAWAI'I

FLORIDA

Residential Design and Remodel

Our architectural approach merges respect for local culture, history, and environment with contemporary needs and advanced technology. We create homes that harmonize with their surroundings, balancing heritage and modern lifestyles with climate-responsive design solutions tailored to local geographies.

Entitlements and Permit Services

Our Entitlements and Permit Services ensure efficient, compliant approvals by handling zoning, code requirements, and local coordination, streamlining your project from planning through construction.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Feasibility Studies, Design, Permitting

ADUs and Ohana Dwellings

We design Accessory Dwelling Units and Ohana Dwellings that maximize space, enhance property value, and harmonize with unique cultural and environmental context—balancing privacy, style, and functionality.

Historic Design and Adaptive Reuse

Our preservation and adaptive reuse services revitalize historic properties, respecting original character while enhancing structural integrity and adapting spaces for modern use.

Home: Illustrations

🌺 Lā Kamehameha — Honoring the Land, Legacy, and Leadership of Hawaiʻi 🌺
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Today, we honor King Kamehameha I, the aliʻi who united the Hawaiian Islands and protected their sovereignty. His legacy is one of courage, wisdom, and deep aloha for the people and the ʻāina.
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In Hawaiʻi, the land is not just a resource—it is sacred. It holds memory, ancestry, and meaning. As designers and stewards of the built environment, we have a kuleana (responsibility) to honor that truth in all we do.
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Design in Hawaiʻi must begin with respect: for place, for history, for Native ancestry, and for the ʻāina itself. Kamehameha’s leadership reminds us that true power lies in service to land and people.
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And especially for those of us who do not carry ancestral ties to this land, our kuleana is even greater. We must center the voices, knowledge, and leadership of Kānaka Maoli—Native Hawaiians—throughout every step of the process. Honoring the land means uplifting those who know it intimately through lineage, culture, and lived experience.
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We carry that mana forward, one design at a time.
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Hoʻomaikaʻi i ka Lā Kamehameha. 🌴
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#LāKamehameha #KamehamehaDay #AlohaʻĀina #DesignWithRespect #HawaiianHistory #ArchitectureAndCulture #SacredLand #IndigenousStewardship #PlaceBasedDesign #HonorTheʻĀina #DesignWithAloha #KuleanaInDesign

I had the chance to visit Luhrs Tower in downtown Phoenix to see the traveling exhibit Highrises: Art Deco, based on the stunning work of photographer @hythacg and writer @housertalks.

Hosted by @phxartdecosociety, the exhibit featured incredible visuals and rich storytelling around 1920s–30s skyscrapers. The highlight for me was hearing Mark Houser speak about the history of the Luhrs Tower right there in the space. It was the perfect backdrop to reflect on Phoenix’s own role in that architectural moment.

The exhibit supports their book,
Highrises Art Deco: 100 Spectacular Skyscrapers from the Roaring ’20s to the Great Depression — which I can’t recommend enough. The photography is incredible, and the facts behind each building are just as compelling.

Grateful for moments like these that bridge design, history, and inspiration — and for being able to share it through my work with @pabd_hi.

#HighrisesArtDeco #LuhrsTower #PhoenixArchitecture #ChrisHytha #MarkHouser #ArtDecoArchitecture #SkyscraperHistory #BuildingStories #ArchitecturePhotography #PABD

I thought I knew the @seattlelibrary.

In architecture school, it was everywhere — we studied it, diagrammed it, debated it to death. I understood the big moves: the bold structure, the dramatic glass skin, the iconic form designed by @oma.eu and @remkoolhaas.

But walking through it now — years into my practice, and alongside my husband who lives with disabilities — I realized how much I had missed.

The continuous spiral path through the stacks lets you access nearly every book without needing stairs or an elevator. Accessibility isn’t bolted on — it’s built into the experience.

The bold contrasts in colors and materials make wayfinding intuitive, even for people with low vision. Giant, striking text guides you through the building without feeling overwhelming.
It’s thoughtful. It’s generous. It’s human.

This isn't architecture designed to impress other architects — it’s architecture designed to serve everyone.

I'm grateful to finally see it the way it was meant to be seen: not through a textbook, but through lived experience.

Swipe to see a few photos from a visit that reframed everything I thought I knew. 📚🏛️

Tagging some amazing organizations and inspirations:
@seattlelibrary @oma.eu @remkoolhaas @visitseattle @seattlelocalist @archdigest @designboom @archdaily @dezeen @designforall @accessible_design @universaldesignstyle @divergentdesignstudio @disabledandhere @accessibility_advocates

#SeattleCentralLibrary #SeattleLibrary #ArchitectureForAll #UniversalDesign #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityMatters #SeattleArchitecture #OMA #RemKoolhaas #PublicArchitecture #Wayfinding #DesignMatters #ArchitecturePhotography #DisabilityVisibility #AccessibleSpaces #DesignForAll #EquityInDesign

Today, I lived a dream I’ve had since I was a kid — I went behind the scenes at the Seattle Space Needle and descended over 800 steps from the observation deck, more than 500 feet in the air. As an architect fascinated by Space Age and Googie design, it was surreal to walk through the structure that once symbolized our collective hope for the future.

But while I was inside one of America’s most iconic symbols of progress, I could hear the chants and cries of protestors outside — a heartbreaking reminder of how far we’ve drifted from the unity that once lifted us toward the stars.

In 1962, we reached upward together, dreaming of space travel and bold possibility. Today, we feel more divided and distracted, inching toward collapse not because of lack of vision, but because of loss of shared purpose.

And yet… even in the sorrow of resistance, there’s something powerful. A reminder that people still care deeply. Still fight. Still hope.
That, too, is part of the architecture of this moment.

#ArchitectInTheWild #SpaceNeedle #SeattleArchitecture #GoogieDesign #SpaceAgeDreams #SeattleProtests #AmericanArchitecture #DesignWithPurpose #TravelingHusbands #ArchitecturalReflection #HopeInResistance

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is one of Waikīkī’s most photographed and recognizable landmarks. Known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” this 1927 resort set the standard for luxury travel to Hawai‘i—but its development also reflected deeper tensions about land, culture, and tourism.

The site of the Royal Hawaiian was once part of Helumoa, a sacred coconut grove cultivated by Hawaiian ali‘i. As tourism reshaped Waikīkī, the land was repurposed for Western luxury, limiting Native Hawaiians’ access to the shoreline.

Many of the original rooms faced inward toward the lush courtyard, a design choice rooted in pre-air travel luxury. Guests arrived by steamship, and the grand interior gardens provided a welcoming oasis. The oceanfront wasn’t yet the primary attraction—Waikīkī’s shift toward beachfront tourism came much later.

At PABD, we study how Hawai‘i’s built environment reflects both its history and its future. The Royal Hawaiian remains an icon, but it also raises ongoing questions about land, tourism, and cultural preservation in architecture.

How do you think Hawai‘i’s architecture should evolve to balance history, tourism, and sustainability? Let’s discuss.

📸 Photo Credits: (1-2 Uncredited; 3-10 from @jadarchview)

Learn more: pabd.us

#HawaiiArchitecture #RoyalHawaiianHotel #PABD #HistoricPreservation #HawaiianModernism #CulturalHeritage #Waikiki #TourismAndArchitecture #IslandDesign #ClimateResponsiveDesign #HawaiiBuilt @royal_hawaiian @hawaiianhistory @historichawaii @waikikiimprovement @hawaiimagazine @gohawaiiau @dwellmagazine @archdigest @nationaltrustforhistoricpreservation @pabd_hi @archdaily @dezeen @aiasorg @ncarb_org @iida_hq @asid_hq @interiordesignmag @architectmag @archinect

Hawaiian architecture is shaped by its tropical climate, cultural traditions, and deep connection to the land. From pā hale (traditional thatched houses) to plantation-style homes and mid-century tropical modernism, design in Hawaii prioritizes indoor-outdoor living, airflow, and natural materials like lava rock (pōhaku) and native woods.

🏡 Key Elements:
✔ Lanai – Covered outdoor space, essential for gathering and shade.
✔ Mākāhā – Adjustable openings (originally in fishponds) that inspired window louvers for ventilation.
✔ Deep eaves & double-pitched roofs – Found in plantation homes, designed for passive cooling.
✔ Breeze Blocks & Cross Ventilation – Mid-century homes in Hawaii often feature decorative concrete breeze blocks, allowing for airflow while providing shade and privacy—perfect for maximizing natural cooling.
✔ Textures & Connection to the Land – Materials like lava rock (pōhaku), coral stone, bamboo, and native hardwoods create a direct link to Hawaii’s landscape, adding both texture and a deep sense of place.
✔ Ossipoff’s Tropical Modernism – Large sliding doors, breezeways, and climate-adaptive design.
✔ The Tiki Craze – Though an artificial, commercialized take on Polynesian culture, the mid-century tiki movement left a lasting impact on island aesthetics, blending exaggerated tropical motifs with modern architecture.

📸 While these photos may not all reflect traditional Hawaiian construction, they show how island architecture continues to evolve while embracing these time-tested principles. Photos courtesy of @jadarchview and @thetravelinghusbands

How has architecture influenced your experience of Hawaii? Let’s talk in the comments!

#HawaiiArchitecture #TropicalModernism #LanaiLiving #PassiveDesign #SustainableDesign #MālamaĀina #Pōhaku #IslandLiving #BuiltForTheClimate #ArchitectsOfInstagram #PABD #TikiArchitecture #MidCenturyTiki #BreezeBlocks #CrossVentilation #TropicalDesign #LavaRock #CoralStone #Bamboo #NativeMaterials #ArchitectureAndNature

The arch is one of architecture’s most timeless and versatile elements—found across cultures, styles, and centuries. Whether framing a grand entrance, supporting vast structures, or simply drawing the eye upward, its form is both functional and poetic.

From the sweeping curves of Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center at JFK (@twa_hotel) to the organic arches of Gaudí’s La Pedrera in Barcelona (@lapedrera_barcelona), these structures showcase the arch in all its glory. Historic missions in San Diego and San Antonio, the opulence of the Newport Mansions (@newportmansions), and the celestial grandeur of Griffith Observatory (@griffithobservatory) all tell different stories through their arches. Even in fantasy, Cinderella Castle and Tokyo Disneyland (@tokyodisneyresort_official, @disneyparks) embrace the arch as a gateway to imagination.

How do you see the arch? Structural necessity? Design statement? Symbol of passage? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

#Architecture #Arches #ArchitecturalDesign #ArchitecturalPhotography #DesignInspo #HistoricArchitecture #ModernArchitecture #TimelessDesign #FormAndFunction #Gaudi #EeroSaarinen #BaroqueArchitecture #Romanesque #GothicArchitecture #MidCenturyModern #DisneyArchitecture #JFKAirport #SanDiegoArchitecture #SanAntonio #BarcelonaArchitecture #NewportMansions #ArchitectsOfInstagram #TravelArchitecture #ArchitecturalDetails #DesignLover #ArchDaily #Architettura #TWAHotel #TokyoDisney #CinderellaCastle

This morning at the zoo, I didn’t just sketch what I saw—I challenged myself to see differently. As an architect, it’s easy to lean on the familiar, but to truly grow, I set artistic parameters for each sketch: capturing a scene with only light and shadow, not lifting the pen, or limiting line weights.

The zoo became my creative playground, with spaces and views pushing me out of my comfort zone. A winding trail, a bold pavilion, the texture of a distant bridge—each view was an opportunity to think beyond the ordinary and rediscover design through hand and eye.

Growth happens when we challenge ourselves to see—and create—differently.

#ArchitectAtTheZoo #ArtisticChallenges #SketchingSpaces #HandAndEye #DesignDiscovery #CreativeMindset #ArchitecturalSketching #UrbanSketchers #VisualExploration #MorningInspiration #BackToTheBasics #ArchitectureAndArt #CreativeEscape #DrawingPractice #DesignInTheWild #ArchitectureLovers #phoenixzoo @phoenixzoo

As an architect, it’s so easy to get stuck behind screens, managing deadlines and navigating digital precision. But this morning, I stepped away to escape the routine and rediscover the joy of observation. The zoo—quiet and peaceful before the crowds—became my sanctuary.

It wasn’t about the animals (though they’re fascinating); it was about the spaces around them—the light on a winding path, the symmetry of a quiet pavilion, the rhythm of trees framing the trails. Sketching these moments reminded me of why I fell in love with architecture in the first place: seeing beauty in structure, movement, and detail.

Sometimes, leaving the office is exactly what our creative minds need to reconnect.

#ArchitectAtTheZoo #SketchingSpaces #BackToTheBasics #DesignInTheWild #HandAndEye #MorningInspiration #ArchitectureLovers #CreativeEscape #ArchitecturalDesign #UrbanSketchers #NatureInDesign #phoenixzoo @phoenixzoo

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JASON DANIELAK AIA, NCARB, ACP