About Us - Arcane Valquint Architecture

How We Got Here

Look, we didn't start this firm because we wanted another cookie-cutter architecture studio. Back in 2015, three of us were sitting in a cramped Vancouver cafe, sketching on napkins and complaining about how sterile modern buildings had become. We kept asking ourselves - where's the soul? Where's that sense of wonder you get when you walk into a space that just... gets you?

That's when Arcane Valquint was born. The name came from an old building we were obsessed with - this mysterious, ornate structure that somehow felt timeless. We wanted to capture that enigmatic quality but strip away the excess, blend it with clean lines and honest materials.

Fast forward to today, we're still that same scrappy team (just with better coffee and an actual office). We've learned that sustainable design isn't about checking boxes - it's about creating spaces that breathe, adapt, and honestly respect the environment they're part of.

Our Philosophy

It's simpler than you'd think

Listen First

We're not gonna shove our vision down your throat. Every project starts with us shutting up and actually hearing what you need. Your space, your story.

Design Honestly

No fake facades or trendy gimmicks that'll look dated in five years. We design buildings that own what they are - material, structure, purpose. It's all there, nothing hidden.

Build Smart

Sustainability isn't a buzzword for us. It's passive solar that actually works, materials sourced locally, systems that don't waste energy. Common sense stuff, really.

Stay Curious

The moment we think we've figured it all out is when we've failed. Every project teaches us something new. We're students as much as we're architects.

How We Work

No two projects follow the same path, but here's the rough map

01

Discovery & Dreams

We grab coffee (or beer, we're not picky) and talk. What do you actually want? What keeps you up at night about this project? We dig into site constraints, budget realities, and those wild ideas you think might be impossible.

02

Concept Sketching

Here's where it gets fun. We explore different directions - sometimes literally sketching on site. We're looking at light patterns, wind flow, how the building sits on the land. Lots of iteration here, lots of "what if we tried this?"

03

Design Development

Things get real. We're refining spatial relationships, picking materials, working out structural logic. This is where sustainability gets baked in - not added on. We're constantly testing our assumptions and making sure everything actually works.

04

Documentation & Permits

The unglamorous part, but crucial. We handle all the technical drawings, navigate permit processes, and make sure contractors actually understand what we're trying to build. We've learned the hard way that details matter.

05

Construction Support

We don't just hand off drawings and disappear. We're on-site regularly, solving problems as they come up (and they always do), making sure the vision translates to reality. This is where good relationships with builders really pay off.

The Team

The folks who make it happen

Elena Hartwick

Principal Architect

Started drafting blueprints at her dad's construction company when she was 12. Got her master's at UBC and spent five years in Copenhagen learning how Scandinavians do sustainable design right. She's the one who'll challenge your assumptions and usually she's right about it.

Marcus Chen

Design Director

Former structural engineer who got tired of being told his ideas were "too ambitious." Turns out he just needed the right team. He's our resident problem-solver and the guy who figures out how to make the impossible actually buildable. Also makes terrible jokes.

Sienna Moreau

Sustainability Lead

Grew up on Haida Gwaii and brings that deep connection to landscape into every project. She's got certifications out the wazoo but what matters more is her intuition about how buildings should interact with their environment. Won't let us spec anything that doesn't make ecological sense.

Dev Kapoor

Interior Design Specialist

Joined us three years ago after working in set design for film. That background shows - he thinks about how people actually move through and experience space. He's obsessed with material textures and probably has more sample boards in his office than the rest of us combined.

Why We Do This

Honestly? Because there's nothing quite like seeing a space come to life and watching people actually use it. That moment when a client walks into their completed building for the first time and you see it click - that's why we put up with the late nights and permit headaches.

We're not trying to win awards (though we won't say no if they come). We're trying to create buildings that make people's lives better, that sit lightly on the land, that'll still feel right in 50 years. That's the goal, anyway.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Our Approach to Collaboration

We've learned that the best projects happen when egos take a back seat and everyone brings their expertise to the table.

That means we work closely with engineers who keep us grounded in reality, contractors who know what's actually feasible, landscape architects who understand how buildings connect to earth, and most importantly - you, the client who'll be living or working in the space.

We're not the kind of firm that designs in a vacuum and expects everyone else to just execute. Good architecture is collaborative, messy, iterative, and way more interesting when multiple perspectives shape it.