About Us - RuneShadow Architecture

Our Beginning

Where It All Started

I'll be honest - I didn't grow up dreaming about buildings. It was more of a happy accident during a backpacking trip through Scandinavia back in 2010. Stumbled into this tiny wooden church in Norway, barely visible from the road, and something just clicked.

The way light moved through those old timber frames, how the structure seemed to breathe with the landscape around it... it felt alive in ways that most modern buildings don't. That's when I realized architecture could be more than steel and glass trying to dominate a skyline.

After finishing my degree at UBC and spending a few years at larger firms (which taught me plenty about what I didn't want to do), I started RuneShadow in 2018. The name came from that Norwegian church trip - runes representing ancient knowledge, shadow representing the quiet spaces we often overlook.

We've grown from just me and a drafting table in a shared office to a team of twelve talented folks who actually get what we're trying to do here. We're not chasing awards or trying to create Instagram-famous buildings. We just want to make spaces that feel right - for the people using them and the environment they sit in.

- Astrid Kavanagh, Founder & Principal Architect

How We Think About Design

Not rules, just principles we've learned the hard way

01

Listen First, Draw Later

We spend way more time talking and walking sites than most firms. Can't design something meaningful if you don't understand how people actually live and work. Plus, every piece of land has its own personality - ignoring that is just lazy.

02

Work With Nature, Not Against It

Vancouver's climate gives us rain, lots of it. So we design for it instead of fighting it. Same goes for sun angles, prevailing winds, existing trees. Nature's been doing this longer than we have - might as well learn from it.

03

Materials Have Stories

We're picky about what goes into our buildings. Local wood, reclaimed materials, stuff that ages well instead of just falling apart. There's something honest about materials that show their wear rather than trying to look eternally new.

04

Simplicity Takes More Work

Anyone can make something complicated. The real challenge is creating spaces that feel effortless. We iterate like crazy, stripping away everything that doesn't serve a purpose until we're left with just what matters.

05

Build for Generations

Fast fashion in architecture drives me crazy. We design buildings meant to last decades, not just until the next trend hits. That means thinking about adaptability, durability, and how a space might evolve with the people in it.

The People Making It Happen

No egos, just folks who care about doing good work

Astrid Kavanagh

Founder & Principal Architect

Still figuring things out after 15 years. Loves hiking, hates rendering software.

Marcus Chen

Senior Architect

Seven years with us. Makes the most detailed models you've ever seen.

Priya Malhotra

Sustainability Lead

Keeps us honest about our environmental impact. Also grows tomatoes on the office balcony.

James O'Connor

Project Architect

Former contractor who knows how things actually get built. Saves us from ourselves regularly.

Sofia Rodriguez

Interior Architect

Has opinions about every light fixture. Usually right, which is annoying.

Liam Foster

Architectural Designer

Three years in. Does magic with parametric design tools the rest of us don't understand.

Emma Wu

Junior Architect

David Park

Technical Architect

Rachel Thompson

Landscape Architect

Alex Martinez

Architectural Intern

What Actually Matters to Us

Honesty

We'll tell you when something won't work, even if it's your favorite idea. Better now than during construction.

Craft

Details matter. The way a corner meets, how a door handle feels - these things add up to something meaningful.

Respect

For clients, for builders, for the environment, for the neighborhood. Everyone's input makes the project better.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for grabbing coffee and talking about your project. No pressure, just conversation.

Let's Talk

Who We Are