Where shadows meet structure, innovation spirals forward

The Beginning

Look, I'll be honest - starting this whole thing wasn't some grand master plan. Back in 2017, I was fed up with seeing Vancouver's development scene churning out glass boxes that nobody actually wanted to live or work in.

I'd spent years at bigger firms, watching good projects get watered down by committees and budget cuts. The sustainable stuff? Usually the first thing axed. The innovative design elements? "Too risky," they'd say. I got tired of compromising on things that mattered, y'know? So I quit, found this tiny office space on Granville, and figured I'd give it a shot on my own terms.

Our Approach

We've got a bit of a reputation for being... intense? Maybe. But that's because we actually care about getting things right. When someone comes to us with a project, we're not just sketching pretty facades and calling it a day. We're thinking about airflow patterns, passive solar gain, how the morning light hits that bedroom, whether the materials can be sourced within 500km.

The "dark modern" aesthetic we're known for? That came from necessity, honestly. Working with exposed materials, celebrating structure instead of hiding it, using shadow as a design element - it's all part of creating spaces that feel grounded and real. Not everything needs to be stark white minimalism, y'know?

The Team

We're small - intentionally so. Right now it's me, two junior architects who actually get it, an intern who's probably gonna be better than all of us in a few years, and our office manager Sarah who keeps everything from falling apart. We also work with a tight network of engineers and consultants we've built relationships with over the years.

Being boutique means we can't take on everything, but what we do take on gets our full attention. You're not gonna be passed off to some junior team member halfway through - I'm involved in every project from start to finish. That's the deal.

Our studio space on Granville - organized chaos at its finest

Working With Us

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - we're thorough, which means we're not the fastest. If you need something designed and permitted in six weeks, we're probably not your studio. But if you want something that'll still be relevant and functional in thirty years? Then yeah, let's talk.

First meetings are pretty casual. We'll grab coffee, you tell me what you're thinking, I'll tell you if it's feasible and what challenges I see. No sales pitch, just honest conversation. If we're a good fit, we'll move forward with a proper scope and contract. If not, I'll usually point you toward someone who might be better suited for what you need.

Looking Forward

We're not trying to become some massive corporate firm. The goal isn't growth for growth's sake. It's about continuing to do meaningful work, pushing ourselves to learn and improve, and maybe mentoring the next generation of architects who care about this stuff as much as we do.

Vancouver's changing fast, and honestly? A lot of that change makes me nervous. But I also think there's room for studios like ours to prove that you can do development differently - that quality, sustainability, and good design don't have to be luxury add-ons, they can be the foundation.

Anyway, that's us. If you've read this far and you're thinking "yeah, these folks might get what I'm after," then reach out. Let's see if we can build something worth building.