About Us | Onyx Valor Haven Architecture

Our Story

Look, we didn't start this firm just to add another name to Vancouver's architecture scene. Back in 2011, three of us were sitting in a cramped downtown cafe, sketching on napkins and complaining about how most buildings felt... soulless, y'know?

We wanted to create spaces that actually meant something - places where people could live and work without compromising the planet in the process. Sounds a bit idealistic, sure, but fourteen years later we're still at it, and honestly? We wouldn't have it any other way.

Based right here in Vancouver, we've watched this city grow and change. We've designed homes that capture mountain views without wasting energy, offices that inspire creativity instead of draining it, and restored heritage buildings that probably should've been torn down but deserved better.

Our approach isn't complicated - listen more than we talk, design with intention, and never forget that real people are gonna use these spaces every single day.

What We Stand For

These aren't just words on a website - they're what we actually argue about in meetings and lose sleep over.

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Sustainability First

We're not gonna design something that looks cool but heats the neighborhood. Every project starts with how we can minimize impact while maximizing livability.

🎯

Human-Centered

Architecture magazines love flashy renders, but we care more about whether your kid's gonna do homework at that kitchen counter or if employees actually want to come to the office.

🤝

Collaborative Process

It's your building, not ours. We bring expertise and ideas, but the best projects happen when clients feel comfortable saying "actually, that won't work for us."

The Team

Different backgrounds, same obsession with getting the details right.

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Twenty years in and still gets excited about passive solar design. Grew up in Toronto, moved west for the mountains, stayed for the progressive building codes.

Marcus Okafor

Senior Designer

Studied in Montreal, interned in Lagos, somehow ended up in Vancouver. Specializes in making tight urban spaces feel twice their size. Coffee snob.

Jennifer Wu

Sustainability Lead

Former engineer who switched careers because she wanted to work on whole buildings, not just systems. Knows every green certification inside out and isn't afraid to challenge them.

David Kowalski

Project Manager

The guy who actually makes sure things get built. Background in construction means he can smell unrealistic timelines from a mile away. Keeps us honest.

Priya Sharma

Interior Design Specialist

Believes that what happens inside matters just as much as the facade. Can talk about lighting temperatures for hours. Somehow makes budget constraints feel like creative opportunities.

Thomas Leblanc

Heritage Restoration

History nerd who found a career in it. Spent years working with heritage buildings across Quebec before joining us. Gets genuinely emotional about original woodwork.

Emma Rodriguez

Junior Architect

Fresh out of UBC but already pushing us to try new software and materials. Grew up in Victoria, brings that island sensibility to everything she designs.

How We Actually Work

Every project's different, but here's the general flow - no BS version:

📋 Discovery: We meet, you tell us what you need, we listen and ask probably too many questions. Site visits happen. Coffee gets consumed.
✏️ Concept: We sketch out ideas, create some initial designs. You tell us what works and what doesn't. We iterate until something clicks.
📐 Design Development: Things get technical. We work out all the details, run numbers on energy performance, make sure everything's actually buildable.
📋 Documentation: We create the plans contractors need. Permits get filed. Red tape gets navigated.
🏗️ Construction: We don't just hand off drawings and disappear. Site visits, contractor coordination, problem-solving when things inevitably come up.

Timeline? Depends on scope, but figure 3-6 months for design phase, then however long construction takes. We'll give you realistic estimates upfront.

Why Vancouver?

Could we have set up shop anywhere? Sure. But there's something about this city that made sense for what we're trying to do.

BC's building codes are some of the most progressive in the country. The climate lets us experiment with passive design strategies that wouldn't fly in Calgary or Halifax. And honestly? The landscape here demands that you think carefully about how buildings sit in space.

Plus, Vancouver's weird mix of old and new, urban density and natural beauty - it keeps us on our toes. Can't get complacent when every project has its own set of challenges and opportunities.

We've done projects across BC and occasionally beyond, but this city's home base for good reason.

Want to Work Together?

We take on a limited number of projects each year so we can give each one proper attention. If you've got something in mind, let's talk.

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