We're Not Your Typical Studio
Just a bunch of folks who got tired of seeing the same glass boxes everywhere
Look, we started this thing back in 2009 because we were honestly fed up with the whole 'form over function' parade happening in Vancouver. Too many buildings that looked great in magazines but made zero sense for actual people living in them.
Our founders - Maria and Henrik - met during a project in Reykjavik and had this lightbulb moment: what if we took that no-nonsense Nordic approach to building (you know, where stuff actually works in harsh climates) and mixed it with West Coast sensibility? Not just copying Scandinavian aesthetics, but really getting into the mindset of building things that'll last and won't wreck the planet.
Fifteen years later, we're still at it. Still sketching by hand first. Still arguing about window placements. Still obsessing over how light moves through a space at 4pm in February.
"Architecture isn't about making statements - it's about making spaces where life actually happens, and making sure those spaces don't cost the earth."
- Maria Frosthal, Co-Founder
We skip the fancy jargon and just talk. What's bugging you about your current space? What makes you happy when you walk into a room? What's your actual budget - not the 'impress the architect' number?
We hang out on your site. A lot. Morning, noon, evening. We need to see how the light hits, where the wind comes from, what your neighbors are up to. Can't design for a place you haven't really experienced.
Our team throws ideas around - sometimes literally sketching on napkins over coffee. We challenge each other's assumptions. The best solutions usually come from the fifth or sixth heated discussion.
We're involved until the last nail. Not because we're control freaks (okay, maybe a little), but because details matter. A beautiful design executed poorly is just... not beautiful anymore.
Co-Founder & Lead Design Architect
Grew up in a drafty farmhouse in Alberta, which probably explains her obsession with proper insulation and thermal efficiency. Spent a decade working in Copenhagen before moving back to Canada with way too many ideas and a minor addiction to Danish pastries.
Maria's the one who'll fight contractors over vapor barriers and get genuinely excited about triple-pane windows. She's also weirdly good at convincing clients that yes, you really do need that mudroom.
Can't shut up about: Passive house standards, why south-facing windows matter, her sourdough starter
Co-Founder & Principal Architect
Born in Bergen, Norway, which means he's genetically programmed to design for rain. Henrik came to Vancouver and felt immediately at home - same weather, better sushi. He's got this annoying talent for seeing spatial relationships that the rest of us miss.
He's the guy measuring shadow angles at 7am on a Saturday. His sketches look deceptively simple until you try to build them and realize there's not a wasted inch anywhere.
Usually ranting about: Why we need more wood in modern construction, the lost art of real craftsmanship, his vintage Saab
Senior Architect & Sustainability Lead
Vancouver born and raised, Sophie joined us right out of UBC and basically never left. She's turned into our sustainability guru - knows every green building certification inside out and actually enjoys reading building code updates (we're a bit worried about her).
Sophie's projects have this knack for coming in under budget while somehow exceeding energy performance targets. Her secret? She actually reads the engineer's reports and asks uncomfortable questions early.
Passionate about: Embodied carbon, reclaimed materials, urban food gardens, competitive rock climbing
Architect & Heritage Specialist
James moved here from Lagos via London, bringing an interesting perspective on how buildings age and adapt. He's the one we call when we're working with existing structures - he can read a building's history like it's telling him stories.
His restoration projects manage to honor the original while making spaces actually functional for today. No fake historic recreations, just honest interventions that show respect for what came before.
Known for: His collection of vintage architectural journals, knowing every building's history in Gastown, making terrible puns
Not talking about making everything look like a bunker, but c'mon - if we're using this many resources, let's make sure it's here for the long haul. Quality over trends, every time.
Your building's gonna sit somewhere real, with actual neighbors and weather and light conditions. Ignoring all that to chase some aesthetic you saw on Pinterest? That's just lazy.
It's 2024. We don't get to pretend climate change isn't happening. Every project needs to pull its weight - lower energy use, thoughtful materials, designed to adapt as needs change.
Our clients know their own lives better than we ever will. Our job's to listen, translate those needs into space, and explain the tradeoffs honestly. No architect-speak necessary.
We're probably a good fit if you care more about how a space works than how it photographs. If you're willing to challenge conventional thinking. If you get that sustainable design isn't about sacrifice - it's about being smart.
We're definitely not a fit if you've already decided exactly what you want and just need someone to stamp the drawings. Or if you're looking for the cheapest option (we're fair, but we're not cheap). Or if you think green building is just a marketing gimmick.
Let's Talk