About Us - Kingdom Rift Forge Architecture

It Started with a Castle Book

Look, I'll be honest - most architects will tell you some polished story about inspiration and vision. Mine's a bit different. When I was eight, my dad brought home this beat-up library book about medieval castles, and I was absolutely hooked. Drew nothing but castles for years. My teachers thought I was nuts.

Fast forward through architecture school where everyone was doing glass boxes and minimalist cubes, and there I was pitching stone towers and Gothic arches. Got some weird looks, sure, but a few professors actually got it. They saw what I was trying to do - pulling the permanence and soul of medieval design into spaces people actually live in today.

Started Kingdom Rift Forge back in 2011 with basically just a laptop and way too much confidence. First client wanted a "castle-ish" house in Whistler. We went all in - local stone, timber framing techniques that masons thought were crazy, hand-forged hardware. That project changed everything.

"Building like they did 800 years ago, just with better insulation"

Our Journey Through Stone & Time

From that first Whistler project to heritage restorations across Canada, here's how we've been forging our path

2011

The Whistler Keep

Our first real project. Client wanted something "medieval but livable" - ended up designing a 4,200 sq ft residence with a three-story turret that actually serves as the master suite. Used locally sourced granite and timber framing that took six months just to source properly. The stone supplier thought we were building an actual castle.

Whistler, BC - 4,200 sq ft residential

2013

St. Michael's Heritage Chapel Restoration

This one was humbling. A 1890s Gothic Revival chapel in Victoria that'd been neglected for decades. Spent months just documenting the original stonework before we touched anything. Ended up training with a 70-year-old mason who'd worked on European cathedrals. He taught me more in three months than I learned in four years of school.

Victoria, BC - Heritage restoration

2015

Dragon's Gate Brewery & Tavern

First commercial gig. Guy wanted a medieval-themed brewery in Kelowna that didn't feel like a cheesy theme park. We pulled off vaulted ceilings with exposed timber trusses, a walk-in stone fireplace you could roast a pig in, and wrought-iron details that were all custom forged. Place seats 200 and still feels intimate. They're slammed every weekend.

Kelowna, BC - 6,800 sq ft commercial

2017

The Banff Stronghold Estate

Probably our most ambitious residential project to date. 9,000 sq ft mountain estate that looks like it's been standing for centuries. Three-story great hall, working portcullis at the entry (yes, really), and a wine cellar carved into bedrock. Client had the budget and the vision - we just had to make it structurally sound and up to code. Took 28 months from groundbreaking to move-in.

Banff, AB - 9,000 sq ft residential estate

2019

Old Montreal Fortification Adaptive Reuse

Got called in to consult on converting an 18th-century stone fortification into luxury condos. This wasn't just preservation - it was about respecting what was there while making it livable for modern families. Kept all the original stone walls, integrated modern systems without compromising the structure. Walking that line between old and new is what we do best.

Montreal, QC - Heritage adaptive reuse

2021

The Fortress Okanagan Winery

Winery owner wanted something that'd make tourists stop their cars. We gave them a tasting room that looks like a medieval watchtower rising from the vineyards. Stone exterior, timber-framed interior, 360-degree views from the top floor. It's become one of the most photographed wineries in BC. They've had to expand their parking lot twice.

Okanagan Valley, BC - 4,500 sq ft commercial winery

2023

Gulf Islands Coastal Castle Residence

Challenging site on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. Client wanted that castle feeling but needed it to withstand coastal weather and seismic requirements. Used contemporary engineering hidden behind medieval aesthetics - steel reinforcement you can't see, geothermal heating, triple-pane arched windows that look period-appropriate but perform like modern tech. That's the sweet spot.

Gulf Islands, BC - 7,200 sq ft coastal residence

2024-Present

Quebec City Heritage District Master Plan

Currently working on the biggest project we've ever tackled - a multi-building heritage restoration and new construction project in Quebec City's old district. It's not just one building, it's a whole block that needs to feel cohesive while respecting what's already there. This'll keep us busy through 2027 at least. Sometimes I still can't believe they trusted us with this.

Quebec City, QC - Multi-phase heritage district project

What Actually Drives Us

Here's the thing - we're not trying to recreate the Middle Ages. That'd be ridiculous and honestly pretty uncomfortable. No one wants to live without plumbing or central heating, right?

What we're after is that feeling. That sense of permanence and craftsmanship that old buildings have. Modern architecture can feel temporary - like it's designed to be torn down in 30 years. We build things that should last centuries, using techniques and materials that've already proven themselves over time.

Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about working with stone and timber and iron. Materials that have weight and texture and character. Every project teaches us something new about working with these elements, and yeah, sometimes we mess up and have to figure it out. That's part of it.

The Team Behind the Forge

We've grown from just me and a drafting table to a crew of 12 architects, designers, and heritage specialists who all share this weird passion for old-school building methods

Design Team

Five architects who actually know the difference between Romanesque and Gothic (and care about it)

Heritage Specialists

Three preservation experts who've probably forgotten more about historical building methods than most people know

Project Coordinators

Two people who somehow keep all our crazy timelines and budgets from going off the rails

Craftsman Network

A roster of stonemasons, blacksmiths, and timber framers across Canada we've worked with for years

How We Actually Work

Every project starts with a conversation, usually over coffee or on-site. We need to understand not just what you want, but why you want it. What draws you to this aesthetic? What's the feeling you're after?

Then comes the research phase - we dig into historical precedents, study regional building traditions, figure out what materials make sense for your location. There's always a ton of sketching. Our office looks like a medieval scriptorium sometimes.

Construction phase is where it gets real. We're on-site constantly because this kind of work doesn't follow standard building practices. We're problem-solving in real-time, working closely with craftspeople who bring specialized skills. It's collaborative and honestly, it's messy sometimes. But that's how you get something unique.

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