• Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with large windows letting in natural light, black lower cabinets in the kitchen, white marble countertops by Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
  • Modern interior of a cafe or restaurant with wooden accents, a large TV screen, a white dining table with chairs, and a staircase leading to an upper level. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
  • Modern house with a large glass porch, white walls, and outdoor furniture, surrounded by green grass and trees under a blue sky. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
  • Modern interior of a conference room with a beige upholstered wall panel, decorative golden pendant lights, a small table with chairs, and a glass wall featuring illuminated world map and globe designs. By Cacao Studio Design Lab
  • Modern two-story white house with large windows, balconies, surrounded by greenery, during early evening. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
  • Modern white house with large windows illuminated at dusk, surrounded by trees and a landscaped yard with a small pond and outdoor seating. By Cacao Studio Design Build
  • Open-concept modern living space with a dining area, kitchen w/ large windows bringing in natural light. The dining table is decorated with flowers, and the kitchen features black cabinets, a marble island, and bar stools. By Cacao Studio Design Lab
  • Modern kitchen with wooden and white cabinets, pendant lights, and a kitchen island with wooden chairs. By Cacao Studio Design Lab
  • Interior of a modern office or conference room with a world map illuminated on the glass wall. By Cacao Studio Design Lab

ARCHITECTS + BUILDERS in PURSUIT of LIGHT

Primarily Serving DC, MD & VA

Our work begins with light: its rhythms, its presence, and its power to shape how we feel, connect, and live.

We design environments that promote well-being, support meaningful relationships, and empower people to thrive—because in the right space, people do remarkable things.

  • Design BUILD: we offer a seamless and integrated journey from the first sketch to your completed home. Our unified team works in a process rooted in collaboration and trust. This approach ensures a shared and clear vision, providing a transparent and predictable path for our clients. 

  • Modern meeting room with a light wooden wall featuring a backlit world map, a wall-mounted TV displaying aurora borealis. Large windows show outdoor greenery. By Cacao Studio Design Lab

    Design LAB is our exploratory research arm dedicated to experimentation, innovation, and continuous learning.

    We collaborate with artists, engineers, and visionary thinkers to challenge conventions, explore emerging ideas, and continually evolve our approach to design.

The pursuit of light is our guiding purpose and it acts as our compass that shapes how we design, build, and how we live. This single idea unifies our work, connecting our passion for design with a deep commitment to creating spaces in which people will do remarkable things. 
 
It is a journey - and we are just getting started. 

  • Our design process starts with a deep respect for daylight and its connection to human wellbeing. We shape architecture that follows solar rhythms, opens to the outdoors, and draws nature inside.

  • We layer light to create atmosphere, define spaces, and enhance emotion. By integrating innovative lighting solutions directly into the architectural form, we craft unique moments of glow, shadow, and focus.

  • Great architecture should stir something inside us, a sense of calm, clarity, or delight. We design spaces that invite people to feel present and connected.

  • Enduring architecture is born from collaboration. We build lasting relationships with our clients, builders, and community stakeholders based on shared vision and mutual respect.

  • Our iterative design process is rooted in listening and analysis, ensuring we achieve clarity and precision from concept to construction. 

FEATURED WORK

FEATURED WORK

MEET THE TEAM

  • A smiling middle-aged man with short dark hair, a beard, wearing a light blue collared shirt, standing outdoors in front of blurred green trees.

    Joe Harris, AIA, LEED AP

    PRINCIPAL / FOUNDER

  • JoseMi Jauregui, Co-Founder | Designer | Director of Creative Practice at Cacao Studio . Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    JoseMi Jauregui

    PRINCIPAL / FOUNDER

  • Andy Jaime, RA. LEAD ARCHITECT at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    Andy Jaime, RA

    LEAD ARCHITECT

  • Emily Andrade. DESIGNER at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    Emily Andrade

    DESIGNER

  • Heather Jauregui, AIA, LEED AP. SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    Heather Jauregui, AIA, LEED AP

    SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT

  • David Guerrero. LEAD DESIGNER at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    David Guerrero

    LEAD DESIGNER

  • Catalina Mantilla. PROJECT COORDINATOR at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    Catalina Mantilla

    PROJECT COORDINATOR

  • Carlos Guerra. TECHNICAL SPECIALIST at Cacao Studio. Primarily serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

    Carlos Guerra

    TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Cacao Studio logo
Illustration showing a cacao pod on a tree, a cut-open cacao pod revealing beans. Part of Cacao Studio.