Who We Really Are

Look, we're not your typical suit-and-tie architecture firm. Started this studio back in 2018 because honestly, the industry felt soulless. Every project looked the same - glass boxes without character, buildings that ignored their surroundings, spaces that didn't feel alive.

We blend contemporary design with something deeper - call it mystical, call it intentional energy, call it whatever makes sense to you. What matters is that our spaces feel right. They breathe with their environment, they connect people to something beyond just four walls and a roof.

Our Philosophy

"Buildings aren't just structures - they're living entities that shape how we feel, work, and connect. Every space holds energy, and our job is to make sure that energy serves the people within it."

We've spent years studying not just engineering and design, but how light moves through space, how materials hold memory, how a building can either drain you or energize you. Sustainability isn't a checkbox for us - it's fundamental. Can't create truly harmonious spaces while destroying the planet, y'know?

Our projects in Vancouver and across BC have taught us that the best architecture happens when you listen - to the land, to the client's vision, to what the space wants to become. Sounds weird maybe, but that's how we work.

The Team Behind the Vision

Elena Kwan

Principal Architect & Founder

Been drawing buildings since I was eight. Got my degree from UBC, worked at some big firms, realized they cared more about budgets than beauty. Started Jade Phantom Realm to do things differently - combining my background in sustainable design with energy principles I learned traveling through Asia. Yeah, I'm that person who measures building orientation with a compass.

Marcus Thorvald

Design Director

Originally from Norway, brought Scandinavian minimalism meets Pacific Northwest sensibility to the team. Fifteen years in the field, specialized in commercial spaces that don't feel corporate. Coffee addict, obsessed with natural light, probably spend too much time debating window placements. But hey, details matter.

Priya Sandhu

Senior Project Manager

The person who actually makes sure projects happen on time. Civil engineering background, master's in sustainable building practices. Grew up in Surrey watching farmland turn into suburbs, which made me passionate about thoughtful development. I'm the reality check when Elena wants to add "one more mystical element."

Jordan Liu

Interior Space Specialist

Trained in both interior design and environmental psychology. Basically, I figure out how to make spaces feel good, not just look good. Big on biophilic design - bringing nature indoors in ways that actually work. Also the team's plant parent; our office has like thirty plants and counting.

Kateri Blackwood

Landscape Architect

Indigenous landscape architect focusing on native plant integration and traditional land wisdom. Buildings don't exist in isolation - they're part of the land's story. I make sure our projects honor that connection and work with, not against, the natural environment. Also teach the team about Coast Salish design principles.

David Chen

Technical Lead & BIM Specialist

CAD wizard, building information modeling expert, the guy who translates creative vision into actual buildable plans.

Amara Okonkwo

Sustainability Consultant

LEED-certified, passionate about net-zero buildings, keeps us honest about our environmental commitments.

Robert Mackenzie

Heritage Restoration Specialist

Twenty years preserving historic buildings, believes old structures have stories worth saving and adapting.