Our Story
Where Nordic tradition meets Vancouver's rain-soaked reality
Look, I'll be honest with you - starting an architecture firm focused on Nordic design in Vancouver seemed kinda crazy at first. People kept asking "aren't we wet enough already?" But here's the thing: there's something about Scandinavian approaches to light, space, and nature that just clicks with our climate.
We started back in 2018 with a simple idea: what if we could design homes and spaces that didn't just survive winter, but actually made you look forward to it? Sounds ambitious, maybe even a bit naive, but we've learned a ton since then.
The whole "winter garden" concept came from watching too many Vancouver gardeners struggle with the grey months. We figured there had to be a way to keep growing, keep that green connection alive when everything outside looks pretty miserable.
Projects completed across BC
Average energy reduction in our builds
Year-round growing in winter gardens
Not the greenwashing kind you see everywhere. We're talking passive solar design, locally-sourced materials, and buildings that'll last generations. Our grandkids should be able to use these spaces without tearing 'em down.
Living in the city doesn't mean you gotta disconnect from the seasons. We design spaces where you can watch snow fall while your tomatoes ripen, where natural light does most of the heavy lifting.
Wood looks like wood, concrete looks like concrete. We're not big on hiding what things actually are. There's beauty in authenticity, and it ages way better than fake finishes.
We've spent years figuring out how to make buildings perform in harsh conditions. Turns out, Vancouver winters aren't that different from Nordic ones - just wetter. Those lessons translate perfectly.
Every project starts with listening. Seriously - we spend more time in the first month just talking and understanding what you actually need versus what you think you want. They're often different things.
Then comes the site. We'll visit at different times of day, different weather conditions. You can't design for light if you haven't seen how it moves through a space. Can't plan drainage if you haven't watched where water pools during a proper Vancouver downpour.
The technical stuff - energy modeling, material selection, structural engineering - that's all crucial, but it comes after we understand the soul of what we're trying to create.
People sometimes think Nordic design is just minimalism and white walls. That's IKEA marketing, not reality. Real Scandinavian architecture is about responding to limited daylight, long winters, and the need to create warm, inviting spaces when it's cold and dark outside.
Sound familiar? Vancouver's got nearly the same latitude as Stockholm. We deal with similar challenges - just swap snow for rain. The principles of maximizing natural light, creating thermal comfort, and building a relationship with the seasons? They translate perfectly to our West Coast context.
We're always up for a coffee chat about architecture, gardening in winter, or why your heating bills are so high. No pressure, just conversation.