Look, we're not gonna pretend we've got all the answers. But what we do know is that every building we create should leave the world a bit better than we found it. That's not marketing talk—it's just how we think architecture should work.
Honestly? Because we've seen what happens when buildings are designed without thinking about their impact. Spaces that waste energy, materials that won't last a decade, designs that fight against their environment instead of working with it.
The Nordic approach has taught us something valuable—buildings can be beautiful AND responsible. They can keep people comfortable without draining resources. They can last generations if you do it right.
We've been at this for years now, and every project teaches us something new. Sometimes we mess up, learn, and do better next time. That's the real work of sustainability—constantly improving, questioning assumptions, and never getting too comfortable with "that's how we've always done it."
Here's the concrete stuff—not just ideas, but what goes into every project
We position buildings to capture winter sun and avoid summer heat. Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how often this gets ignored. It's free heating and cooling if you plan it right.
We source materials from BC and the Pacific Northwest when possible. Wood from managed forests, stone from local quarries. Less shipping, lower carbon footprint, and materials that actually belong in our climate.
Rainwater collection, greywater systems, and native landscaping that doesn't need constant watering. Vancouver gets plenty of rain—we might as well use it smartly.
Cross-ventilation, thermal chimneys, operable windows placed where they'll actually catch a breeze. Sometimes the old ways work better than mechanical systems running 24/7.
The greenest building is often the one that's already there. We love restoring heritage structures and transforming existing buildings instead of starting from scratch whenever possible.
We're talking serious insulation values here. Triple-pane windows, thermal breaks, airtight construction. Your heating bills will thank you, and so will the planet.
We track this stuff because it matters. Here's what we've achieved across our portfolio over the past five years:
Carbon emissions avoided annually through our building designs
Restored and repurposed instead of demolished
Clients who come back for their next sustainable project
In energy costs over 20 years per residential project
How we turned a challenging site into a net-zero home
Our clients wanted a year-round mountain retreat that could handle serious weather—we're talking heavy snowfall, freezing temps, and summer heat—without relying on the grid. The site was steep, heavily treed, and had minimal southern exposure. Not exactly ideal conditions.
They'd already been told by two other architects that net-zero wasn't realistic given the constraints. That just made us more determined to figure it out.
We positioned the building on the most level section but cantilevered the main living spaces to capture southern light through the tree canopy. Worked with an arborist to selectively thin trees for solar access while maintaining the forest feel.
Used exposed concrete floors and a stone accent wall to absorb heat during the day and release it at night. Paired this with radiant floor heating powered by solar-thermal collectors. The house basically heats itself most of the year.
Triple-pane windows on north, east, and west. Larger double-height glazing on the south with automated exterior shades for summer. Every window serves a purpose—views, light, ventilation, or solar gain.
"We haven't paid a heating bill in two years. The house is comfortable year-round, and honestly, we forget it's 'green'—it just works." - Homeowners
We're not standing still. There's always more to learn, better ways to do things. Right now we're diving deep into mass timber construction, which is pretty exciting—basically using engineered wood for structures that'd normally be concrete and steel.
We're also working on developing our own carbon tracking methodology that's actually usable. Most existing systems are so complicated that nobody uses them. We want something architects can actually implement without needing a PhD in environmental science.
And we're partnering with UBC's School of Architecture to mentor students who want to focus on sustainable design. The next generation's gonna need these skills way more than we do.
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