About Us - Zephyron Alquinth Architects

Our Story

Look, we didn't start this firm just to add another name to Vancouver's architecture scene. Back in 2012, a couple of us were sitting in a cramped studio apartment, sketching designs on napkins and wondering why so many buildings seemed to fight against their environment instead of working with it.

That's when things clicked. We realized there's gotta be a better way - a way where structures breathe, where spaces actually make sense for how people live, and where we're not just borrowing from nature but genuinely partnering with it.

Fast forward to today, and we've worked on over 200 projects across BC and beyond. Some days we're deep into LEED certifications, other days we're convincing clients that yes, that living wall really will change everything. It's messy, it's challenging, and honestly? We wouldn't have it any other way.

What Drives Us

These aren't just pretty words on a website - they're the principles we argue about over coffee

Environmental Honesty

We're not into greenwashing. When we say sustainable, we mean it - from material sourcing to long-term energy performance. Every choice gets questioned, every material gets vetted. Sometimes it's annoying (ask our suppliers), but it's necessary.

Human-Centered Spaces

Buildings exist for people, not portfolios. We've walked through enough sterile, award-winning spaces that nobody actually enjoys being in. Our designs need to work for real life - messy families, busy offices, actual humans doing actual things.

Contextual Innovation

There's this temptation to just copy-paste what worked in Copenhagen or Tokyo. But Vancouver isn't those places. We dig into the specific climate, culture, and constraints of each site. Innovation means solving the problem in front of you, not importing someone else's solution.

Long-Term Thinking

What looks good today but falls apart in five years? Not our jam. We're designing for decades, not just the Instagram post at ribbon-cutting. That means thinking about maintenance, adaptability, and how the building ages - hopefully like fine wine, not milk.

Our Journey in Green Design

How we got from "what's LEED?" to where we are now

2012

The Beginning

Started with three partners and one big question: why aren't more buildings in Vancouver taking advantage of our climate? First project was a residential renovation that went full passive solar. The client thought we were nuts until their first winter heating bill came in.

2015

First LEED Platinum

Completed our first LEED Platinum commercial building in Richmond. Learned a ton about what works in theory versus practice. Also learned that documentation is like 40% of the battle - not glamorous, but essential.

2018

Expanding the Team

Brought on specialists in biophilic design and building science. Finally had the capacity to do proper thermal modeling before breaking ground. Game changer. Also moved into our current studio on Granville, which we designed ourselves (obviously).

2020

Net-Zero Milestone

Delivered our first net-zero energy building - a mixed-use development in Burnaby. Took two years longer than planned and went over budget, but we learned exactly what NOT to do next time. Those lessons have been worth their weight in reclaimed timber.

2022

Heritage Meets Green

Launched our heritage restoration division. Turns out old buildings can teach us a lot about sustainability - they were basically doing passive design before it had a name. Now we're combining heritage preservation with modern building science.

2025

Looking Forward

We're pushing into mass timber construction and exploring how AI can help optimize building performance without sacrificing design quality. Also mentoring the next generation of sustainable architects because this industry needs more people who give a damn.

The Humans Behind the Drawings

Meet some of the folks who make this happen

Marina Kovač

Principal Architect & Founder

Marina's the one who got us all into this. She spent five years in Copenhagen studying Scandinavian approaches to sustainable living before bringing that knowledge back home. These days she's usually elbow-deep in building codes or convincing municipalities to try something new.

David Chen

Director of Building Science

David's our resident nerd (said with love). He actually gets excited about thermal bridging calculations and vapor barriers. Formerly worked in building envelope consulting, so he knows exactly where projects typically fail. Saved us from some major headaches over the years.

Sophia Ramirez

Lead Designer & Sustainability Coordinator

Sophia bridges the gap between beautiful and responsible. She's got this ability to make green features look intentional rather than tacked on. Also runs our LEED certification process, which means she's basically the queen of documentation and detail.

James O'Sullivan

Heritage & Restoration Specialist

James came to us from heritage consulting work across Canada. He's passionate about proving that old buildings don't have to be energy hogs. Give him a century-old structure and he'll find ways to modernize it without losing its soul.

Priya Mehta

Interior Environments Lead

Priya makes sure our interiors are as thoughtful as our exteriors. She's all about biophilic design and creating spaces that actually improve wellbeing. Also has an encyclopedic knowledge of sustainable materials and finishes - seriously, try stumping her.

Alex Wong

Urban Planning & Design

Alex thinks at the neighborhood scale. He's constantly looking at how our projects fit into larger urban contexts and pushing for better public realm connections. Used to work in city planning, so he knows how to navigate municipal processes like nobody's business.

Working With Us

Here's the honest truth: we're not the cheapest option out there, and we're definitely not the fastest. What we are is thorough, thoughtful, and pretty obsessive about getting things right.

Our process involves a lot of questions upfront - like, a LOT. We need to understand how you actually live or work, not just what you think you want in a building. Sometimes that means pushing back on initial ideas. Most clients appreciate it eventually, even if it's frustrating in the moment.

We're collaborative but opinionated. We'll listen to your vision, but we'll also tell you when something won't work or could be better. That's what you're hiring us for, right?

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Got a project in mind?

Whether it's a home renovation or a commercial complex, let's talk about how we can make it sustainable, functional, and actually enjoyable to be in.

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Who We Are