We're not your typical architecture firm - we're kinda obsessed with how light plays through crystals and wanted to bring that magic into buildings
Look, it's 2015, and I'm staring at this quartz crystal on my desk - the way afternoon sun hit it just created this wild light show on my drafting table. That's when it clicked. Why aren't we designing spaces that do this naturally?
Started tinkering with angles, playing with glass, basically driving my partner nuts with "what if we tried THIS?" every five minutes. Fast forward to today, and we've got a team of folks who get just as excited about refraction indexes as they do about load-bearing walls.
We're based up here in Toronto, where honestly the winters make you really appreciate good light. Our studio's on University Avenue, and yeah, we practice what we preach - the place is basically a prism when the sun's right.
We're a mix of dreamers and detail-freaks, which somehow works perfectly
Not the corporate mission statement BS - this is what gets us out of bed
Every design starts with how natural light moves through the day. Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many places ignore this.
We're not hiding concrete behind fake finishes. If it's steel, let it be steel. If it's glass, let it shine.
Not just slapping solar panels on stuff. We're talking passive cooling, smart orientation, materials that'll outlast the mortgage.
You're not just hiring us to draw what you dreamed up. We're gonna push back, suggest wild ideas, and hopefully make something neither of us expected.
The scenic route through architecture
Started experimenting with crystal-inspired designs in a cramped studio apartment. The neighbors thought we were weird.
Landed a residential renovation that let us try out our light refraction theories. Client took a chance on us - still grateful for that.
Moved to University Avenue. Hired Sarah and Raj. Started taking on commercial projects. Things got real pretty fast.
Won some awards we didn't expect. More importantly, got to work on a heritage restoration that taught us a ton about respecting what came before.
Seven-person team, projects across Canada, and still getting excited about how light hits a wall at 3pm on a Tuesday.
We're always up for coffee and talking about your project - or honestly just nerding out about architecture.
Find us at:
425 University Avenue, Suite 1200
Toronto, ON M5G 1T6, Canada
Call: (416) 555-0147
Email: info@crystalforgequint.info
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