About Us - Mythos Valquindor Architecture

Our Story Isn't Your Typical Origin Tale

Look, we're not gonna pretend we started in someone's garage with a dream and a ruler. Mythos Valquindor came together back in 2012 when three of us were sitting in a Vancouver coffee shop, frustrated as hell with how architecture had become this soulless exercise in checking boxes.

The industry kept talking about sustainability like it was some optional add-on you could slap onto a building at the end. We thought that was backwards. So we decided to build something different - a practice where environmental responsibility and stunning design weren't competing interests but the same damn thing.

Turns out, plenty of folks felt the same way. What started as a scrappy three-person studio has grown into a team of sixteen passionate designers, engineers, and project managers who genuinely believe buildings can make the world better without looking like sterile boxes.

We've worked on everything from heritage restorations in Gastown to modern commercial towers in Surrey. Each project taught us something new, kept us humble, and reminded us why we do this work.

What Drives Us Every Morning

It's not about awards or being featured in fancy magazines. We're here because buildings outlive us, and that responsibility keeps us sharp.

Honest Sustainability

We're tired of greenwashing. When we say sustainable, we mean actual energy modeling, lifecycle analysis, and material sourcing that doesn't trash the planet. It's harder, costs more upfront sometimes, but it's the only way forward that makes sense.

Design That Lives

Buildings aren't sculptures you look at - they're spaces you inhabit, work in, come home to. We obsess over how light moves through a room, how hallways feel, where your eyes naturally go. The technical stuff matters, but so does the human experience.

Transparency Always

Construction's complicated and expensive. We don't hide behind jargon or surprise invoices. You'll know what's happening, why it costs what it costs, and what your options are. Architecture shouldn't feel like a mystery you're paying someone to solve.

Context Matters

Vancouver's got history, climate quirks, neighborhood character. We're not dropping the same design everywhere and calling it a day. Each project gets researched, understood, and designed for exactly where it is and who'll use it.

The People Behind the Projects

We're architects, engineers, and designers who actually like each other. That chemistry shows up in how we work together and how we collaborate with clients.

Elena Kovac

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Elena spent seven years at a big corporate firm before realizing she cared more about passive solar orientation than profit margins. She's the one who'll challenge your assumptions and then show you something better than what you originally imagined. Master's from UBC, but honestly she learned more renovating her own 1920s Craftsman in East Van.

Marcus Chen

Technical Director & Sustainability Lead

If there's a building code, Marcus has read it. Twice. He's our detail guy who makes sure gorgeous designs actually stand up and don't leak. Used to work in structural engineering, which gives him this uncanny ability to know when something won't work before we even model it. Also makes a mean pour-over coffee.

Priya Sandhu

Design Lead & Interior Specialist

Priya joined us in 2015 and immediately changed how we think about interior flow. She's got this gift for understanding how people actually move through and use spaces. Before architecture, she studied psychology, and it shows. She's the reason our projects feel intuitive even when they're doing something unexpected.

James Okafor

Senior Project Manager

Keeps everything on track and on budget. Former contractor who knows what's actually possible in the field.

Sophie Bergeron

Heritage Restoration Specialist

The person you want when working with historic buildings. Knows every heritage bylaw and loves old materials.

Alex Tanaka

3D Visualization & Modeling

Makes our ideas visible before they're built. His renders have saved countless client meetings.

How We Actually Work

Forget the architect-as-genius myth. Our best projects happen through collaboration - with you, with engineers, with the people who'll actually build the thing.

We start every project by listening more than talking. What do you actually need? What's your budget really look like? What keeps you up at night about this project?

Then we dig into the site, the context, the regulations. We sketch, model, test ideas against real constraints. You're involved the whole way because surprises at the end help nobody.

When we get to construction, we don't vanish. Site visits, contractor coordination, problem-solving on the fly - that's all part of seeing a project through properly.

See What We Offer

Why Clients Stick With Us

About 70% of our work comes from repeat clients or referrals. That tells us we're doing something right.

"Working with Mythos wasn't like hiring architects - it felt like gaining partners who actually cared about our vision. Elena pushed back on some of our ideas, but she was always right, and the final design exceeded what we thought was possible."

- Sarah Mitchell, Residential Client

"We've worked with several architectural firms over the years. Mythos stands out for their transparency and follow-through. No surprises, no excuses, just solid work from concept to completion."

- David Park, Commercial Developer

Let's Talk About Your Project

Whether you've got detailed plans or just a napkin sketch, we'd love to hear what you're thinking. First conversation's always free and pressure-free.

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Who We Are