We're not your typical studio

And honestly, we're kinda proud of that.

Our Story

Look, we started this thing back in 2011 because we were tired of seeing buildings that just... existed. You know what I mean? They took up space but didn't really do anything for anyone.

The three of us - Silva, Renth, and Quinth - met during a sustainability workshop in Vancouver. We bonded over bad coffee and this shared frustration that architecture had lost its soul somewhere between the drafting table and the final handover.

So we figured, why not try something different? Start fresh. Build spaces that actually matter to the people who use 'em.

Our team at work

What We Actually Believe In

Buildings should work with nature, not against it. They should make people feel something - comfort, inspiration, connection. And yeah, they should still be standing strong fifty years from now.

Sustainable design approach

Design That Lasts

We're not chasing trends. We're creating timeless stuff that'll age gracefully.

Real Collaboration

We don't just hand you blueprints and disappear. You're part of this process - your ideas, your concerns, your vision. We're just here to make it work structurally and sustainably.

Environmental responsibility

Planet First

Every material choice, every system we spec - it's gotta make sense environmentally.

How We Work

First off, we listen. Like, really listen. Not just nodding along while thinking about our next meeting.

Then we dig into the site - the sun angles, the wind patterns, what's already growing there. Nature's been doing its thing for way longer than we've been around, so we figure we should probably pay attention.

Our design process is pretty iterative. We'll show you sketches, models, 3D walkthroughs. You'll tell us what's working and what's not. We'll adjust. Repeat until it feels right.

And during construction? We're there. Not hovering annoyingly, but making sure what we drew actually gets built the way it should be.

Our design process

"They actually got what we were trying to achieve"

That's what one client told us after we finished their live-work space in Leslieville. Honestly, that's the kind of feedback that keeps us going.

The Humans Behind the Drafting Tables

Yeah, we're actual people. With hobbies and everything.

Maria Silva

Principal Architect

Has a thing for passive solar design and grows her own vegetables. Connects those dots more than you'd think.

James Renth

Design Director

Former carpenter turned architect. Gets genuinely excited about joinery details. Weekend rock climber - says it helps him think about structure differently.

Aiko Quinth

Sustainability Lead

Materials geek. Can tell you the embodied carbon of like every building product ever. Also makes really good sourdough bread.

Our Toronto studio

Find Us in Toronto

We're set up in Queen West - great neighbourhood, decent coffee nearby, and we've got this corner office with killer natural light. Come by if you wanna chat about a project. Or just architecture in general. We're kinda nerdy about it.

Let's Talk