Portfolio - Ember Quintharis Architects | Where Innovation Meets Tradition

Residential / Sustainable

The Ravine House

This one was a challenge - building into a ravine slope while keeping the forest canopy intact. We worked around 14 mature oak trees and ended up with a net-zero home that feels like it grew there naturally. The clients wanted modern but not sterile, y'know?

3,200 sq ft LEED Platinum Toronto, ON

Commercial / Sustainable

Liberty Tech Hub

Converting an old printing factory into a tech workspace wasn't exactly straightforward, but man, did it turn out cool. Kept the original brick and timber structure, added a bunch of green walls and a rooftop solar array. The startup community loves it.

45,000 sq ft Adaptive Reuse Liberty Village

Residential

Junction Townhomes

Six narrow-lot townhouses that pack way more punch than you'd expect. Each unit's got its own personality but they still flow together as a streetscape.

1,850 sq ft ea

Heritage Restoration

The Sterling Estate Revival

This 1887 Victorian mansion was basically falling apart when we got the call. Spent 18 months bringing it back - every bit of the original plasterwork, all the stained glass, even tracked down period-accurate hardware. Now it's a boutique hotel and honestly, it looks better than it probably did back in the day.

1887 Build Heritage Designated Cabbagetown

Sustainable / Residential

Muskoka Passive House

Building a passive house in cottage country? Yeah, people thought we were nuts. But this place barely needs heating even in January. The views don't hurt either.

Passive House Certified

Urban Planning / Commercial

Queen West Mixed-Use Hub

Retail on the ground floor, co-working space on two and three, residential units up top. The trick was making sure everyone had proper access and privacy without compromising the street-level energy. Took some creative zoning negotiations, not gonna lie.

32 Units Mixed-Use Queen West

Commercial / Heritage

The Foundry Restaurant

This used to be an actual foundry back in the 1920s. We kept the industrial bones - exposed brick, steel beams, the works - but made it warm enough that people actually want to hang out there. The chef's pretty talented too, which helps.

6,500 sq ft Distillery District

Residential / Sustainable

Annex Courtyard House

Built around a central courtyard garden so every room gets natural light and cross-ventilation. The owners are into permaculture, so the courtyard's basically an edible landscape. Cuts their grocery bill and looks incredible year-round.

2,800 sq ft The Annex

Urban Planning

Garrison Common Revitalization

Worked with the city to redesign this underused park space into something that actually draws people in. Added a community pavilion, better pathways, native plantings that support local wildlife, and a rain garden that handles stormwater runoff. It's become the neighborhood's living room, basically.

3.2 Acre Park Community Project Fort York

Residential

Roncesvalles Family Home

The clients had three kids and two big dogs, so durability was key. We designed spaces that could handle the chaos but still feel grown-up. Lots of built-in storage, indestructible surfaces in the right places, and a mudroom that's basically command central.

2,600 sq ft Family-Focused Roncesvalles

Commercial / Sustainable

Junction Creative Office

Design studio wanted flexible space that didn't feel corporate. Moveable walls, tons of natural light, materials that age gracefully. Plus a killer kitchenette because apparently architects need good coffee.

4,200 sq ft

Heritage / Residential

Leslieville Heritage Addition

Adding onto a heritage home is tricky - you want it to complement the original but also be honest about being new. We went with a modern glass and steel addition that connects to the 1910 brick house through a glazed link. Old meets new without either trying to pretend it's something it's not.

1910 Original 1,400 sq ft Addition Leslieville

Our Work Speaks Volumes