About Us - Lumareth Von Quinth Architects | Toronto Contemporary Sustainable Architecture

The Beginning

So here's how it all started – back in 2011, I was sitting in this sterile glass tower in downtown Toronto, designing cookie-cutter condos that honestly made me feel... empty.

I'd spent years at prestigious firms, checking all the boxes, winning awards that looked great on paper. But something wasn't clicking. Buildings shouldn't just exist – they gotta breathe, adapt, and yeah, actually give back to the environment instead of constantly taking from it.

One rainy November evening, I sketched what would become our first project on a coffee-stained napkin at a Queen West cafe. It was a residential renovation that incorporated passive solar design with reclaimed materials. The clients thought I was crazy. "Nobody does it this way," they said. But we did it anyway, and that building's been running at 60% less energy consumption for over a decade now.

That's when Lumareth Von Quinth Architects became real – not just another firm, but a place where sustainable design isn't some marketing gimmick. It's literally everything we do.

How We Think About Design

It's evolved over the years, through failures and breakthroughs

2011-2013

Foundation Years

Started with residential projects in Toronto's west end. Learned that sustainable doesn't mean expensive – it means smart. We made tons of mistakes, like that green roof that leaked (ugh, don't ask), but each one taught us something crucial about material behavior and climate response.

2014-2016

Commercial Expansion

Landed our first big commercial project – a warehouse conversion in Liberty Village. This's where we really pushed boundaries with adaptive reuse. The client wanted to demolish everything, but we showed 'em how preserving the structure could cut costs AND carbon footprint by half. They're still thanking us.

2017-2019

Heritage Integration

Got involved with heritage restoration work, which honestly changed my perspective completely. There's something humbling about working with 100-year-old brick and timber, figuring out how to make these spaces work for modern life without erasing their soul. It's like... having a conversation with the past.

2020-Present

Holistic Urbanism

Now we're working on urban planning projects that look at whole neighborhoods, not just individual buildings. Climate change isn't waiting around, and cities need to adapt fast. We're designing spaces that handle extreme weather, support biodiversity, and actually make people's lives better. That's the goal anyway.

Our team at the studio, probably arguing about facade details

What Drives Us

Look, I'm gonna be straight with you – the architecture industry's got some serious catching up to do when it comes to sustainability.

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. That's wild. And yet you've still got firms churning out energy-hungry glass boxes because that's what sells. We decided early on that we're not playing that game.

Every project we take on, we ask: How can this building give more than it takes? Can it harvest rainwater? Generate its own power? Create habitat for local wildlife? Support the community around it?

Sometimes clients think we're being difficult when we push back on their initial ideas. But nine times outta ten, they come back later and tell us it was worth it. The buildings perform better, cost less to operate, and people actually enjoy being in them.

That's really what it's all about – creating spaces where life happens, where people feel connected to their environment instead of isolated from it.

Our Approach

It's not rocket science, but it does require giving a damn

1

Listen First

We spend way more time listening than talking in initial meetings. Your space, your needs, your vision – that's where good design starts.

2

Site Analysis

We study sun patterns, wind flow, existing vegetation, neighborhood character. Every site's got its own personality.

3

Iterate & Test

We run energy models, daylighting simulations, material lifecycle assessments. Data backs up intuition.

4

Build Relationships

We work with local craftspeople, material suppliers who share our values, contractors who get what we're trying to do.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for interesting projects and conversations about how architecture can do better.

Let's Talk

Early concept sketches – still prefer pen and paper for initial ideas

Material library – we're kinda obsessed with textures and finishes

Late nights reviewing details – it's in these moments magic happens