Our Story Isn't Your Typical Origin Tale
It started with a sketchbook, late-night coffee runs, and an obsession with spaces that actually work for real people.
"Design shouldn't be about ego - it's about making spaces where life happens naturally"
How We Got Here
Back in 2011, I was sitting in yet another stuffy boardroom listening to architects drone on about "maximizing spatial efficiency" and "leveraging vertical integration" - all that corporate speak that makes your eyes glaze over. That's when it hit me: architecture had lost its soul somewhere between the blueprint and the bottom line.
So I did what any slightly crazy person would do - walked away from a comfortable position at a big-name firm and started sketching ideas in a cramped one-bedroom in East Van. The name? Yeah, it's unconventional. Windarion Thalquinth - sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, right? That's kinda the point. It represents breaking from the boring, the predictable, the "safe."
Fourteen years later, we're still here on Granville Street, still rejecting cookie-cutter solutions, and still believing that every building should tell a story worth hearing.
What We Actually Believe
Forget the manifestos and mission statements that sound like they were written by committee. Here's what really drives us:
- Sustainability isn't a checkbox - It's baked into everything we do, from material selection to how sunlight hits your kitchen counter at 7am.
- Your space should work for YOU - Not for some magazine spread or Instagram aesthetic. If it doesn't fit how you actually live, we haven't done our job.
- Beauty and function aren't enemies - They're best friends who just need the right introduction. We're basically matchmakers for design elements.
- History matters - Old buildings have character worth preserving. Sometimes the best design decision is knowing what NOT to change.
The Team Behind The Blueprints
We're not gonna pretend we're some massive operation. We're a tight crew who actually likes working together - shocking, we know.
Elena Rousseau
Senior Architect / Residential Lead
Ten years deep in residential work, Elena's got this uncanny ability to see what a space wants to become. She's saved more than one project from becoming a Pinterest disaster. M.Arch from UBC, LEED AP certified, and honestly? Makes better coffee than most baristas.
Marcus Chen
Commercial Architecture Specialist
Marcus handles our commercial projects and somehow makes building codes sound interesting. Seven years tackling everything from retail spaces to office towers. He's the guy who'll find three solutions you didn't know existed. Also grows the best tomatoes on his balcony - not relevant, but impressive.
Priya Kulkarni
Sustainability Director
Our environmental conscience with the credentials to back it up. Priya makes sure we're not just talking green - we're building it. LEED Fellow, Passive House consultant, and she'll politely destroy any argument for using non-sustainable materials. We're lucky to have her.
Thomas Bergstrom
Interior Space Planning Lead
Thomas thinks in 3D before most of us have had our morning coffee. His interior planning work turns awkward layouts into spaces that flow naturally. Six years perfecting his craft, and he's got opinions about doorway widths that'll change how you see buildings forever.
Sarah McAllister
Technical Director / Documentation
The detail master who makes sure our wild ideas actually work in reality. Sarah's construction docs are so thorough contractors actually thank us. Nine years turning concepts into buildable reality, and she's saved us from more than a few "seemed like a good idea at the time" moments.
David Kowalski
Historic Renovation Specialist
David's our time traveler - he understands old buildings like he built 'em himself. Twelve years preserving Vancouver's architectural heritage while making historic spaces work for modern life. He's got stories about heritage committees that'll make you laugh and cry.
Why People Keep Coming Back
Look, we're not gonna blow smoke about being the "best" or "leading" or whatever superlative firms throw around. What we ARE is honest, thorough, and genuinely invested in making your project succeed.
We answer emails. We explain things without the jargon. We admit when we don't know something and find the answer. We stick to budgets because we know it's your money, not Monopoly cash.
Pretty basic stuff, right? You'd be surprised how rare that is.
Let's Talk About Your ProjectThe Awards & Recognition Stuff
Since people apparently care about these things...
AIBC Design Excellence Award
2023 - Waterfront Residence Project
Vancouver Heritage Foundation Award
2022 - Gastown Building Restoration
Canadian Green Building Award
2021 - Net-Zero Commercial Building
BC Wood Design Excellence
2020 - Timber Frame Residence