Who We Are
Real people designing spaces that actually make sense for how you live
Founded in 2011, built on the idea that your home shouldn't cost the earth
Look, I started this practice after spending way too many years at big firms where sustainability was just a checkbox on a form. You know what I mean? Clients would come in wanting something green, and we'd slap some solar panels on the roof and call it a day. That never sat right with me.
Vancouver's always been ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental stuff, and I figured there had to be a better way to design homes that actually work with nature instead of fighting against it. Started small - just me and a drafting table in a shared office on Granville. Now we've got a team of eight, and honestly, every single person here is smarter than me in at least three different ways.
What drives us? Creating spaces where families can grow without compromising what we're leaving for the next generation. Sounds cheesy maybe, but when you see a kid running through a house you designed, breathing cleaner air because of the materials you specified... that's the good stuff right there.
Marcus Velronthos
Founder & Principal Architect
Opened our doors with one mission - prove that residential design could be both beautiful and genuinely sustainable. First project was a laneway house in Kitsilano that's still performing 30% better than code requirements.
Became one of the first studios in BC to achieve Passive House certification. Expanded the team to five architects. Started getting calls from across the province.
Won the SAB/BC Green Building Award for our West Vancouver project. That one was special - a complete heritage restoration that ended up being Net Zero. Clients still send us Christmas cards.
Pandemic hit hard, but we pivoted to remote consultations and discovered clients actually appreciated the flexibility. Launched our 3D visualization service that same year - turned out people needed to really see their future homes when they couldn't visit sites.
Completed our 150th residential project. Started mentoring emerging architects through the AIBC program. Still learning something new on every build - that's what keeps it interesting.
Not rules, just principles we try to live by
Not just the trendy stuff. We're talking materials that last, systems that work, and designs that make sense 20 years from now.
If something won't work, we'll tell you. If your budget needs adjusting, we'll have that talk. No surprises halfway through construction.
New tech is cool, but only if it serves the design. We don't add complexity just because we can - it's gotta earn its place.
We work with BC craftspeople, source materials regionally when possible, and support the community that supports us.
Nice to be noticed, but the real reward is homes that work
2017, 2021
Recognized for pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient residential design in Western Canada
2019
For sensitive restoration work that preserved character while achieving modern performance standards
2022
Acknowledged for integrating emerging building science with practical residential applications
2014
Earned credentials that actually mean something when it comes to building performance
2020
City recognition for projects that enhance neighborhood character while raising environmental standards
Multiple Projects
Verified third-party certification proving our homes produce as much energy as they consume
Eight people who actually get along
We've got architects who moonlight as carpenters, a project manager who used to build sets for theatre productions, and an intern who knows more about building codes than most veterans. Everyone here brings something different to the table.
What bonds us? A shared frustration with cookie-cutter design and a genuine belief that residential architecture can be better. Also, way too much coffee consumption and heated debates about window placement.
Work With Us
Let's talk about what you're trying to build
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