Who We Really Are

It's not just buildings - it's about how people actually live in them.

How This All Started

Honestly? We got tired of seeing cookie-cutter developments that looked good in renderings but felt cold when you walked through them. Started this practice back in 2011 because we believed Vancouver deserved better - structures that actually respond to the rain, the mountains, and yeah, the way light hits differently here in the Pacific Northwest.

Nordic design principles made sense to us. Not the Instagram version, but the real deal - functional spaces that don't waste materials, buildings that age gracefully instead of falling apart. We've learned most of what we know from projects that didn't go as planned, which taught us way more than the successful ones ever did.

The People Behind the Drafts

Drakar Quinthorin

Principal Architect & Founder

Spent five years in Oslo freezing my butt off but learning how Scandinavians actually build for their climate. Came back to BC and realized we've got similar challenges - just wetter. My obsession's always been thermal performance, though my team jokes I care more about wall assemblies than aesthetics. They're not entirely wrong.

Marina Holstrom

Design Director

Joined us in 2014 after doing commercial work that left her soul-searching. Residential's her thing now - she's weirdly good at figuring out how families actually move through spaces. Brings the human side to projects when I get too caught up in building science. Also makes the best coffee in the office, which matters more than you'd think.

James Corrigan

Heritage Specialist

The guy who actually reads historical building codes for fun. He's saved more heritage projects from bad renovations than anyone I know. Gets genuinely upset when people cover up old-growth timber with drywall.

Keiko Tanaka

Sustainability Coordinator

Keeps us honest with the green stuff. She'll call out greenwashing faster than anyone and won't let us spec materials just because they look cool. Her life-cycle assessments have changed how we approach everything.

David Mercier

Project Architect

Fresh energy, which we need. Dave's great at the coordination stuff that makes or breaks projects - keeping contractors and engineers talking to each other, making sure what we drew can actually get built. Less glamorous, totally essential.

What We Actually Believe In

Buildings Should Last

Not talking about forever, but longer than 30 years would be nice. We detail things so they can be maintained, repaired, eventually renovated. Throwaway architecture's just wasteful.

Context Actually Matters

A design that works in Arizona probably won't work here. We pay attention to local climate, local materials, local building culture. Sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how often it gets ignored.

Sustainability Isn't Optional

Every project gets the same scrutiny - energy modeling, material sourcing, water management. It's not an add-on service, it's just how we work now. The planet's kinda on fire, y'know?

Listen More Than We Talk

Clients know how they live better than we do. Our job's translating that into built form, not imposing some grand vision. Best projects happen when we shut up and pay attention.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for good conversations about interesting projects. Even if you're just exploring ideas, let's talk. No pressure, no sales pitch - just architects who actually care about making things right.

Get In Touch