About Us - Ember Quillantor Architecture

How It All Started

Back in 2011, we kicked things off in a cramped shared office with more coffee cups than square footage. The idea wasn't revolutionary or anything - just a belief that buildings shouldn't cost the earth, literally.

What started as three architects sketching ideas on napkins over lunch has grown into a full studio that's tackled everything from tiny laneway homes to commercial towers. We've messed up, learned a ton, and somehow convinced clients to trust us with their biggest investments along the way.

These days, we're still that same crew who gets way too excited about thermal bridging and passive solar orientation. We just have better coffee now.

Our Approach Isn't Complicated

We listen more than we talk in those first meetings. Your space, your needs, your budget - that's where design begins, not with some award-winning concept we're trying to force into every project.

Real Sustainability

Not the greenwashing kind. We're talking actual energy modeling, material lifecycle assessments, and designs that'll still make sense in 30 years. Less sexy marketing, more science.

Budget Reality

We've never understood architects who design first and cost later. Your budget's part of the brief from day one. No surprises, no awkward conversations when the estimates come in.

Collaboration

You'll actually like your contractor by the end of this - that's the goal anyway. We work as one team with engineers, builders, and trades who get what we're trying to do.

Meet The Team

A slightly chaotic mix of designers, problem-solvers, and people who care way too much about window details.

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

15 years wrestling with building codes and still finds it fun somehow. Specializes in heritage projects.

Marcus Thompson

Sustainability Lead

Former engineer who switched sides. Obsessed with passive house standards and proving net-zero is doable.

Priya Desai

Interior Design Director

Makes sure the inside's as thoughtful as the outside. Has strong opinions about lighting that she's usually right about.

James Rodriguez

Project Manager

Keeps everything on track and on budget. Former contractor, so he knows when we're designing something impossible.

12+

Years Running

What We Actually Believe In

Good architecture shouldn't be a luxury reserved for massive budgets and magazine spreads. It's about solving problems - sometimes complicated ones, sometimes simple ones that just need someone to think 'em through properly.

We're big believers that sustainable design pays for itself. Not in some vague future sense, but in actual utility bills and comfort that you'll notice within the first year. The math works, you just need someone who'll do it.

And honestly? We think the whole process should be kinda enjoyable. Stressful moments happen, but you're investing serious money and time into this - might as well work with people who return your emails and explain things without the jargon.

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What We're Good At

Services that cover you from initial sketches to final walkthrough

Residential Architecture

Custom homes, renovations, and additions that actually fit how you live. We've done everything from laneway houses to full estate designs.

Commercial Building Design

Office spaces, retail, and mixed-use projects that make financial sense and environmental sense at the same time.

Sustainable Building Solutions

Energy modeling, passive house consulting, and green building certifications. We know the programs inside out.

Interior Space Planning

Making sure the inside works as hard as the outside. Flow, lighting, materials - all the stuff that makes spaces feel right.

Construction Management

We stick around through the build. Site reviews, contractor coordination, and making sure what gets built matches what we designed.

Heritage Building Restoration

Bringing old buildings into the 21st century without losing what made them special. It's tricky, but that's what makes it interesting.

Ready to Start Something?

Whether you've got detailed plans or just a vague idea you've been mulling over, let's have a conversation about it. First consultation's on us - just coffee and honest talk about what's actually possible.

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