Custom Residential Architect
in California & Montana

Tobias Architecture offers custom residential design, permitting, and full project management in California and Montana. Led personally by Lester Tobias, NCARB certified, 40 years of experience, every project from concept to completion.

About Lester Tobias Residential Architect in California & Montana

For nearly 40 years, Lester Tobias has been designing and managing custom homes that balance creativity, precision, and lasting value.

Over 40 Years of Architectural Excellence: Custom Homes, Remodels, Permitting, and Full Project Management in California & Montana

As the founder and principal architect of Tobias Architecture, Lester personally leads every project from concept to completion. NCARB certified, licensed in California and Montana, he brings a rare combination of design excellence, technical understanding, and deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape. Each home reflects his commitment to structure, beauty, and buildability: whether it’s a modern coastal residence in Malibu or a mountain retreat in Bigfork. With a boutique approach and a talented production team, he can ensure every client receives a thoughtful design process and a finished home that exceeds expectations.

Over 40 years of architectural and project management experience
Licensed and insured in California, Montana, and nationally
Personally oversees every project with a select team of architects
Expertise in design, permitting, and construction coordination
Proven results navigating complex jurisdictions and challenging sites

Our Custom Home Design Process in California & Montana

Every project is custom. Every client is unique. At Tobias Architecture every approach is tailored to these two realities. There is nothing cookie cutter about our designs or process.

Consultation & Site Review

A direct conversation with Lester to discuss your vision, site conditions, and goals. Early guidance ensures a realistic plan and a smooth start.

Design & Development

Our State of the Art design process integrates conceptual design, design development, and detailed drawings into a combined process. It is no longer linear. It is organic and embedded.

Permitting & Coordination

All regulatory work is managed in-house to streamline communication with agencies and consultants for faster, compliant approvals.

Project Management & Oversight

Hands-on involvement continues through construction to protect design integrity, resolve challenges, and deliver a finished home that exceeds expectations.

Architectural Services

Architecture Design

Diverse architectural designs combine beauty, function, and structural clarity. Each plan is crafted to reflect the client’s vision and lifestyle while maintaining timeless design integrity.

Structural Architecture

Integration of structural, mechanical, and plumbing systems into the design from day one. Every detail is considered to ensure the home is both efficient to build and enduring in quality.

Architecture Regulatory & Permitting

Full coordination with city, county, and state agencies to navigate complex approval processes. Decades of experience in variety jurisdictions ensure projects move forward with confidence.

Architectural Project Management

Comprehensive oversight through all phases, design, permitting and construction. Lester stays directly involved to protect design integrity, coordinate with contractors, and deliver exceptional results.

Site Design & Master Planning

Planning for the full property, including grading, access roads, hardscape, drainage, pools, and accessory structures. Every site is organized for natural flow, usability, and aesthetic cohesion.

Fire Rebuild Architect

Fifteen successful Woolsey Fire rebuilds (including Lester’s personal home), and several Palisades Fire rebuilds currently in the office set Tobias Architecture apart as a proven, tested architect for any fire burnout project.

Why Choose Tobias Architecture for Your Custom Home

Tobias Architecture provides custom residential design led directly by a licensed architect at every stage. With over 40 years of experience and licensure in California and Montana, the firm delivers technically precise, code-compliant homes across coastal and mountain environments, managing each project with clear oversight and disciplined execution.

Personally Led by a Licensed Architect

Lester oversees every project, no hand-offs

Licensed in California & Montana

Full regulatory expertise in both states

40 Years of Residential Experience

From coastal Malibu to mountain Montana

Proven Fire Rebuild Track Record

15+ successful Woolsey Fire rebuilds

Custom Home Projects in California & Montana

Grayfox

Smith

Kelln

Hoberman

Zumirez

Lindeman

Cusack

Kloeris

Big Chadwick

Broad Beach Ranch

Cavalleri Road

Kootenai Lodge

Tobias Architecture Client Reviews & Testimonials

I have been involved with Lester for years on private residences for my family, development projects built on spec, and bringing his invention (the shelf shark) to market. The fact that I have worked with him on several projects over the years is testament to his talent and integrity.

As a builder and developer in Malibu I have worked with all types of architects and designers. I have built all types of projects in all types of environments. I can say without equivocation that my experience working with Lester was the best design and construction experience I have ever had, and the home we built together is the best home I have ever built.

When we lost our house in the Woolsey fire I knew we had to move quickly. We would be competing against hundreds of other home owners for materials, contractors, skilled workers. I knew NOTHING about building a home. And we would be at the mercy of a City infamous for planning log-jams and red tape. So we hired the guy who literally wrote the book on building in Malibu. Hiring Lester was our first and probably smartest decision. He took our ideas and gave them an architectural reality check, and incorporated our suggestions whenever he could. When friends ask me how we got back into our house so fast when everyone else was floundering, I tell them, “Because I hired the best f*****g architect in Malibu!”

Our Offices: Malibu, California & Bigfork, Montana

Tobias Architecture — Malibu, California

Malibu, California

22227 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite F, Malibu, California 90265

OFFICE

(310) 317-0507

MOBILE

(310) 801-5241

Lester@TobiasArchitecture.com

NCARB #101162

California Architect’s License C22552

Tobias Architecture — Bigfork, Montana

Bigfork, Montana

547 Electric Avenue, Bigfork, Montana. 59911