Who We Are

We're not your typical architecture firm - and honestly, that's kinda the point.

Our Story

Started back in 2011 when three of us got tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter designs being pushed out across Toronto. We wanted to do things differently - buildings that actually made sense for how people live, not just how they look in glossy magazines.

The name? Yeah, it's a bit unusual. Quinthale was actually the street where our first office was - this tiny second-floor space above a Portuguese bakery. The smell of fresh bread every morning was... let's just say it made early client meetings more bearable. Cinder came from our obsession with raw materials and honest construction. No hiding the bones of a building behind unnecessary fluff.

What started as weekend projects for friends who trusted us enough to let us experiment has grown into something we're genuinely proud of. We've done everything from laneway houses to commercial office retrofits, always keeping that same energy - question everything, waste nothing, make it count.

These days we're a team of 12, still in Toronto (though we upgraded from above the bakery), still pushing for designs that respect both people and planet. It's not always easy convincing clients that sustainable doesn't mean compromise, but when you see a building perform exactly how you envisioned it? That's the good stuff right there.

Team member

Marina Chen

Principal Architect

Licensed since 2009, Marina's the one who'll catch structural issues before they become expensive problems. Her background in environmental engineering means she thinks in systems, not just aesthetics.

127

Projects Completed

89%

Energy Reduction Avg

12

Team Members

Team member

David Okafor

Design Director

The creative brain who somehow makes passive solar design look effortless. David's spent time in Copenhagen and Vancouver, picking up ideas about how cities can actually work for humans instead of just cars.

Our Approach

We start by listening - sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how rare that is. Every site has a story, every client has a vision, and our job is finding where those things intersect with what's actually possible.

Collaboration

We work with engineers, contractors, and trades who share our values. No egos, no blame games - just people who care about getting it right.

Team collaboration

What Drives Us

Look, we're not gonna pretend we're saving the world one building at a time. But we do believe that every project is a chance to do better - use less energy, create healthier spaces, consider the full lifecycle of materials.

Climate change isn't some abstract future problem. It's here, it's real, and the built environment is a massive part of it. So yeah, we take sustainability seriously - but we also know that preachy doesn't work. Show people how good design can save them money, make their spaces more comfortable, and happen to be better for the environment? That's the conversation worth having.

Team member

Sofia Ramirez

Project Manager

The person who keeps everything on track when chaos threatens. Sofia's background in construction management means she knows what's realistic and what's wishful thinking.

Recognition & Credentials

  • LEED Accredited Professionals on staff
  • Ontario Association of Architects members
  • Toronto Green Building Award 2019, 2021
  • Passive House Institute certification
  • Featured in Azure Magazine, Canadian Architect
Team member

James Wu

Senior Associate

James handles most of our commercial work and has a knack for navigating building codes like it's second nature. Fifteen years in the field means he's seen it all - twice.

What We Stand For

These aren't just words on a website - they're the stuff we argue about in meetings and measure our work against.

Honest Materials

We're into materials that don't pretend to be something they're not. Wood, steel, concrete, glass - used in ways that make sense structurally and environmentally. No fake stone facades or vinyl pretending to be wood siding.

Long-Term Thinking

Buildings last decades. We design for durability, adaptability, and eventual disassembly. What happens in 50 years matters just as much as what happens on opening day.

Context Matters

Every site's different - the light, the neighbors, the street character, the local climate. Copy-paste architecture ignores all that. We don't.

Real Budgets

Fantasy architecture that costs three times the budget helps nobody. We work within real-world constraints and find creative solutions that don't break the bank.

Human Scale

Buildings are for people, not Instagram. We design spaces that feel good to be in - proper daylight, fresh air, acoustics that work, proportions that make sense.

Continuous Learning

Building science keeps evolving. New materials, better methods, lessons from completed projects - we stay curious and keep updating our approach based on actual data.

Our workspace

Work With Us

If you're thinking about a project and this all resonates with you, let's talk. We're always up for interesting challenges - residential, commercial, renovations, new builds. The common thread is clients who value thoughtful design and are willing to think beyond the conventional.

Fair warning though: we ask a lot of questions. We push back on ideas that don't make sense. And we're probably gonna suggest things you haven't considered. That's kinda the point of hiring architects who actually care.

First conversation's always free - usually over coffee, sometimes over site visits if you've already got a property. No pressure, just seeing if there's a fit.

Let's Start a Conversation