About Us - Wyrm Shroud Edge Architecture

Born from Obsession

Look, I'll be honest - most folks think we're a bit mad. And maybe they're right. But when you've spent half your life sketching gargoyles in the margins of engineering textbooks and dreaming about flying buttresses, you kinda lean into it.

How It Started

Founded back in 2012, Wyrm Shroud Edge wasn't your typical architecture firm launch. No fancy investors or corporate backing - just three architects who couldn't stop arguing about the perfect arch proportions at a pub in Gastown. We figured if we were gonna obsess over medieval stonework anyway, might as well get paid for it.

Started in a converted warehouse space (ironic, given our specialization), we took on projects nobody else wanted to touch. That crumbling heritage church? Yeah, we'll do it. Want turrets on your Kitsilano home? Hell yes. Folks called us crazy, but here's the thing - we delivered.

What Drives Us

There's something about Gothic architecture that just hits different, y'know? It's not about copying the past - that's museum work. We're after something else entirely. Taking those centuries-old principles about weight distribution, natural light manipulation, and creating spaces that make you feel something... then twisting them into structures that belong in 2025.

Every pointed arch we design, every stone we specify - it's gotta serve a purpose beyond looking cool. Though looking cool definitely helps. We've learned that modern engineering lets us push these old forms further than medieval masons ever dreamed. Cantilevers that would've been impossible, glass where stone once stood, thermal performance that actually works for Canadian winters.

Our clients aren't looking for cookie-cutter modernism or sterile glass boxes. They want character, history, weight. Something that'll still look intentional in two hundred years.

Philosophy That Actually Works

Forget the pretentious manifestos. Here's what we actually believe in, tested through thirteen years of getting our hands dirty.

Materials Matter

We're kinda snobby about this. Stone's not just stone - limestone behaves different than granite, sandstone weathers uniquely. Same with timber species, metal patinas, glass coatings. You can't fake authenticity with cheap substitutes. Clients come to us 'cause they know we'll spec the real deal, even if it means arguing with contractors who want the easy route.

Function Over Fantasy

Yeah, we love dramatic vaulted ceilings and imposing facades. But if your heating bills are gonna be insane or the acoustics turn every room into an echo chamber, we've failed. Medieval builders were practical as hell - every design choice had engineering logic behind it. We keep that mindset. Pretty is easy. Pretty AND functional? That's the craft.

Context Is Everything

Dropping a Gothic Revival structure in the wrong setting is like wearing a tux to the beach. We spend stupid amounts of time studying site history, neighborhood character, local heritage. Sometimes that means going full medieval. Sometimes it means subtle nods - a pointed arch here, some stonework there. Reading the context right separates good design from eyesores.

Craftsmanship Isn't Dead

Finding skilled stonemasons and timber framers in 2025? Not gonna lie, it's tough. But they're out there, and they're worth every penny. We've built relationships with artisans across BC who still know these old techniques. CNC machines and 3D modeling are great tools, but some things still need human hands and decades of experience.

The Team

We're a weird bunch - traditional stonemasons working alongside computational designers, heritage specialists collaborating with sustainability engineers. That tension between old and new? That's where the magic happens.

Currently fifteen people strong, ranging from fresh grads who grew up playing video games set in Gothic castles (seriously, that's a thing now) to veterans who've restored actual medieval structures across Europe. Average tenure? Seven years. People don't leave - turns out specializing in something this niche creates a pretty tight community.

We're based in Vancouver 'cause honestly, where else could you work on heritage restorations, contemporary castle builds, and cutting-edge sustainable design all in the same week? Plus the city gets our vibe - appreciation for history, willingness to push boundaries, tolerance for the slightly eccentric.

How We Work

First meeting usually involves coffee and sketches. Lots of sketches. We need to understand what you're actually after - sometimes clients think they want one thing but really need another. That castle tower might look cool but maybe what you really want is that sense of enclosure and protection.

Then comes the deep dive. Historical research, site analysis, material studies. We'll literally spend weeks poring over medieval construction texts and modern engineering specs. This phase frustrates some clients who want quick renders, but it's where good projects become great ones.

Design development is collaborative as hell. We're not the type to disappear for months then present some untouchable vision. You'll see everything evolve, give feedback, watch us iterate. Architecture's too personal to treat it like we're doing you a favor.

Construction phase? We're on site. Weekly at minimum, usually more. Details matter - a poorly executed stone joint or incorrectly proportioned arch can tank the whole aesthetic. Plus contractors appreciate having us around to solve problems in real-time rather than through endless email chains.

Recognition & Reality

We've picked up some awards over the years - Heritage BC citations, RAIC recognition, couple international Gothic Revival society honors. They look nice in the office and definitely help with credibility.

But honestly? The real wins are walking past a building we designed five years ago and seeing it aging beautifully. Getting calls from satisfied clients whose friends want "something like that." Finding young architects who specifically seek us out 'cause they want to learn this specialized craft.

That's the stuff that keeps us coming back every Monday morning, ready to argue about arch proportions all over again.

Want to Work Together?

If you're looking for safe, conventional architecture, we're probably not your firm. But if you want something with character, history, and presence - something that makes people stop and actually look - then yeah, let's talk.

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Our Story