About White Oaks Studio
Collaborating to Create the Details that Bring Your Home to Life
We are a residential architecture firm focused on sustainable design. We build a framework to support your dreams, while drawing inspiration from the natural world. Our aesthetic approach is centered around simplicity, elegance and a deep understanding of your visions.
Our key values:
- Listening to your vision
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
- Respecting Nature
- Honoring History
We Listen
At White Oaks Studio, we believe our job is to LISTEN. We are here to build a framework for you to inhabit. Let us make that framework one that functions to support and expand the lifestyle of your dreams, not constrain it. Let us make you a place that is uniquely yours. Let us listen to you.
We Design for Sustainable Building
Sustainable design, green building, high performance building, natural building, by whatever name you choose to call it, designing with sensitivity to the environment in all aspects is our second philosophical pillar. This field is in its adolescence, and we are constantly educating ourselves to stay on top of the latest innovations in design strategies and newest (or oldest in the case of natural building) building materials. We are a Certified Passive House Consultant and a Certified Permaculture Design Consultant company. Learn more about our approach to sustainable design here.
We Consider the Land-Building Connection
We view the building and the land as a whole system, working in symbiosis. Our designs reflect this, incorporating the natural resources and inherent beauty of the land into each design. We work to bring the outside in and the inside out.
Sara Mallio, Owner, White Oaks Studio
My Professional Journey
“I have been working in the architecture field since graduation from Wellesley College in 2000. I started White Oaks Studio in 2018. In 2020 I went back to school for my Masters of Architecture at UMass Amherst.
There, I deepened my knowledge of sustainable building especially in relation to self-sufficiency and looking at the complex systems tying together buildings, people and the land."
Why I Am an Architect
"My interest in architecture started as a child, always diligently exploring any house I entered. It wasn’t until I took a fun hands-on studio class in college that I realized Architecture was my passion and started pursuing it as a career.
My not-so-hidden-geek is thrilled to delve deep into the technical knowledge and analysis needed to design a comfortable, resilient and functional home. While my nonlinear creative side thrives on the artistry and problem solving architecture demands.”
Favorite Things in My Life
“I live outside of Boston in a well-lived historic home with my husband, two kids, and a few cats. I take advantage of the large conservation land behind my house to go running and sit in the forest (while my daughter takes advantage of the swamp and stream to catch salamanders and frogs.)
My hobbies include cross stitching, and reading WAY too many books. And someday I dream of having the time to tend to a big fruit and vegetable garden, some goats and other assorted farm animals. Until then I’m focused on my family and designing beautiful and functional homes for my clients.”
How to Begin
Please use the link below to schedule an exploratory call to see if we would be a good fit for your project. During that call we can speak together about your ideas, design goals and the next steps forward.