Where History Meets Innovation
We're not your typical architecture firm. And honestly? That's exactly how we like it.
We're not your typical architecture firm. And honestly? That's exactly how we like it.
Look, we've been doing this for over two decades now, and what started as a small studio above a Queen West coffee shop has turned into something we're genuinely proud of. Back in the early 2000s, everyone was either obsessed with tearing down old buildings or creating sterile glass boxes. We thought... why can't we do both? Not literally both at once, obviously - that'd be chaos.
What gets us out of bed in the morning isn't just drawing pretty buildings. It's that moment when we're standing in some forgotten Victorian warehouse, looking at the exposed brick and thinking "okay, how do we make this work for a modern family without losing what makes it special?" That's where the magic happens.
Every building's got a story, right? Even the new ones we design from scratch. Our job isn't to impose some grand vision - it's to listen. To the space, to the neighborhood, to what our clients actually need (not just what they think they want at first).
We've learned that the best projects happen when you respect what came before while still pushing forward. Sounds contradictory? Maybe. But that tension between old and new is where interesting architecture lives.
We've restored everything from 1880s row houses to mid-century commercial buildings. It's detective work, really - figuring out original details, working with heritage committees, and making sure the building can handle another hundred years.
When we're designing new builds, we're thinking about how they'll age. Not just physically, but how they'll fit into their context twenty years from now. Clean lines, sure, but with character that'll last.
Sometimes we're brought in to consult on bigger picture stuff - how a whole block might develop, how to keep neighborhood character while allowing growth. It's complicated, and there's no perfect answer, but we try to bring some common sense to the table.
Here's the thing - the greenest building is often the one that's already standing. We work hard to make old buildings energy-efficient and new ones responsible. No greenwashing, just practical solutions.
We're a team of fifteen - architects, designers, heritage specialists, and a couple folks who somehow keep track of building codes (bless them, seriously). Some of us came up through traditional architecture programs, others took the scenic route through engineering or historic preservation.
What we've got in common? We're all a bit obsessed with buildings. Like, we'll walk around neighborhoods on weekends pointing at corbels and arguing about fenestration patterns. Our families think we're weird, but whatever - we're passionate about this stuff.
We've worked on projects across Ontario, though Toronto's obviously home base. Each project teaches us something new, which keeps things interesting even after all these years.
First meetings are really conversations. We want to understand not just what you need, but why. Then we dig into the site, the context, the constraints.
We'll show you options, not just one "perfect" solution. Then we refine based on your feedback. It's collaborative - you're living or working in this space, not us.
We stick around through construction because that's when the real challenges pop up. We're problem-solvers, not just paper architects.
This city's got layers, y'know? Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Brutalist, Postmodern - it's all here if you look. Queen West, where we're based, perfectly captures that mix of gritty history and creative energy we're drawn to.
Toronto's changing fast, sometimes too fast. That's exactly why heritage preservation matters - not to freeze the city in amber, but to make sure we're building on our foundation, not bulldozing it. Every neighborhood's got its own character, and we try to respect that in everything we design.
Whether you're restoring a heritage gem or dreaming up something completely new, we'd love to hear what you're thinking.
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