Our Story

ARTISTICALLY DESIGNED - TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED - HANDCRAFTED

Noe Vista, LLC, and Buena Vista Builders, Inc, were founded  1995 in San Francisco, California, where we continue to produce artisan-crafted, design-driven homes and work spaces that enhance and preserve the rich architectural fabric of the City.  During our first quarter-century we have built and renovated 200+ residential units and historic structures in different neighborhoods throughout San Francisco.  Noe Vista is a family-owned business founded and managed by Gerry Agosta, with a second generation of builders in training to continue the creative development, construction and management of San Francisco real estate.

* WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS AND AFTERWARDS OUR BUILDINGS SHAPE US *

At its most basic level a house provides shelter against the elements. In San Francisco our biggest concerns are water and earthquakes - build a house that keeps out rain and remains structurally sound after a decent-sized temblor and the battle is half-won. There is of course the issue of several thousand pages of Building Code which set compliance standards for modern structures, including fire resistance, energy efficiency, safety, sound transmission, clearances, and so on right down to requirements for storage of bicycles in multifamily buildings.

But while Codes aim to ensure new structures achieve a uniform level of safety and efficiency, they speak nothing to the heart of what makes a house worth living in. Yet this is where the magic happens: the architect's thoughtful consideration of a site before delving into design... the experience, education, and skill he or she brings to the creative process... their deep understanding of codes, as well as the uses and limitations of materials... the skills the builder and craftspeople using hand and tool to bring 2-dimensional drawings to life... their efficiency and creativity... the dozens of decisions made daily, thousands over the course of constructing a single house... the level of commitment to the process of building the very best and durable structures possible within the constraints of time and money.

Thus - our goal as a company - to remain mindful that we are building durable places which house people to live a day at a time for generations, where meals are cooked and shared, birthdays and holidays celebrated, where children grow and learn and play, a safe place, a refuge to rest and recreate. It is our task, then, to be aware that the decisions we make are important and directly affect the stage where life is played out. Ceiling heights and spatial volumes, window size and placement, lighting, finish selections, colors of walls, even placement of switches, taken together create an environment which affects how we feel in our day-to-day lives.  It's a job we take seriously and an honor we feel for the opportunity. We aim to build homes where people may flourish and where we individually would be happy to live.

* Winston Churchill. 1924