Real projects, real challenges, real solutions. Here's what we've been up to lately.
Chilliwack, BC | 2023
When the clients came to us, they wanted something that didn't scream "look at me" but still pushed boundaries. We designed this net-zero home to sit gently in the Fraser Valley landscape, using passive solar design and local materials wherever possible.
The challenge? Achieving zero energy consumption without compromising on the open, light-filled spaces the family needed. Triple-glazed windows, a killer insulation strategy, and solar panels that actually blend into the roofline did the trick.
Awards: 2024 BC Green Building Excellence Award
Vancouver, BC | 2024
This one was interesting - the city wanted to activate an underused block in the innovation district, and we saw it as a chance to rethink what a tech office could be. No sterile glass box here.
We mixed retail on the ground floor with flexible office space above, added a public courtyard that actually gets used, and designed the facade to reduce solar gain without feeling like you're working in a cave. The building breathes with operable windows and natural ventilation - yeah, people still like fresh air.
Surrey, BC | 2023
The community center concept needed a serious upgrade, and we thought - why not make the building itself part of the park? The living walls aren't just for show; they actually help with air quality and cooling.
The rooftop garden's become this unexpected gathering spot. People grow veggies up there, host workshops, just hang out. Sometimes the best design moves are the ones that give the building back to the community in unexpected ways.
Vancouver, BC | 2022
Heritage work is tricky - you're basically doing surgery on a building that's seen over a century of life. This 1908 warehouse had good bones but needed everything else. The brick was deteriorating, the structure needed seismic upgrades, and the interior was... let's just say it had character.
We kept the original brick facade and timber beams, then inserted modern systems that don't compete with the historical elements. Now it's mixed-use retail and office space that actually honors what came before while being totally functional for today.
Vancouver, BC | 2024
Laneway houses are having a moment in Vancouver, and for good reason - they're a smart way to add density without changing neighborhood character. These five homes pack a lot into small footprints, and honestly, the constraints made us more creative.
Each unit's got two bedrooms, high ceilings to avoid that cramped feeling, and we positioned windows to grab light while maintaining privacy. The clients wanted rental income that didn't feel like an afterthought tacked onto their property - mission accomplished.