About Us - Halvryon Forge Quint Architecture

Our Story Ain't Your Typical One

Look, we started Halvryon Forge Quint back in 2011 because we were frankly tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter designs everywhere. Vancouver deserves better than that, y'know?

The name? Yeah, it's a bit unusual. "Halvryon" comes from old Norse - roughly translates to "half-guardian" because we see ourselves as guardians of both our clients' vision AND the environment. "Forge" is pretty straightforward - we literally forge spaces. "Quint" was our founding partner's dog's name, and honestly, that pup had better design instincts than most architects we knew.

We're not here to win awards (though we've snagged a few). We're here to create buildings that actually work for the people using 'em, that don't trash the planet, and that look damn good while doing it.

What Drives Us Every Morning

Aside from coffee, obviously

01

Industrial Meets Beautiful

We've got this thing for raw materials - steel, concrete, reclaimed timber. But we soften 'em with natural light and green spaces. It's about balance, not just throwing exposed brick everywhere and calling it industrial.

02

Planet First, Period

Climate change isn't a debate in our office. Every project starts with "how can we make this carbon-neutral or better?" Passive solar, green roofs, recycled materials - that stuff's non-negotiable for us.

03

Real Talk With Clients

We're gonna tell you when your idea won't work. Not to be jerks, but because we've seen it fail before. On the flip side, we'll fight for your vision when it matters. That's the partnership you're signing up for.

The Humans Behind The Blueprints

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Marcus Halvorson

Sustainability Director

Priya Sharma

Urban Planning Lead

James O'Connor

Heritage Restoration

Featured Work That We're Pretty Proud Of

These projects showcase what happens when you mix industrial aesthetics with sustainable practices and actually listen to what the space needs to be.

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Gastown Warehouse

Turned a 1920s warehouse into mixed-use space without losing its gritty character. Still has the original timber beams.

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Burnaby Net-Zero Hub

First net-zero commercial building in the region. Solar panels, geothermal, the works. Pays for itself in energy savings.

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Victory Square Bank

1912 building that was falling apart. Now it's condos with the original facade intact. Took forever but worth it.

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North Shore Residence

Private home that's basically a glass box in the forest. Passive solar design means minimal heating costs year-round.

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Strathcona Brewery

Designed a craft brewery where the tanks ARE the decor. Exposed systems, polished concrete, reclaimed wood everywhere.

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Main Street Infill

Squeezed retail and housing into a weird-shaped lot everyone said was unbuildable. Proved 'em wrong.

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How We Actually Work

We're not gonna sugarcoat it - good architecture takes time. But here's roughly how we roll:

1. Real Conversation

First meeting's just us getting to know what you actually need versus what you think you need. Sometimes they're the same, sometimes not.

2. Concept Phase

We sketch, we model, we throw out bad ideas. You'll see everything from napkin drawings to 3D renders. This is where the magic happens.

3. The Technical Stuff

Once you're happy with the design, we do all the boring but crucial work - permits, engineering coordination, material specs, contractor selection.

4. Building It

We're on-site regularly making sure your vision actually gets built right. Contractors hate us (kidding, mostly).

Ready To Build Something Together?

Let's grab coffee and talk about your project. First consultation's on us.

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