Studio

All the majesty of a city landscape

All the soaring days in our lives

All the concrete dreams in my mind’s eye

All the joy i see through these architects’ eyes

~ David Bowie

At These Architects, we aspire to create architecture that transcends function and elevates the human experience. Inspired by the spirit of Bowie’s “Thru’ These Architects’ Eyes”, we approach each project as a balance of art and purpose — crafting spaces with a quiet lyricism that resonates deeply with the people who inhabit them.

Our work grows from a holistic integration of architecture and interiors, informed by our extensive backgrounds in both architecture and interior design, where thoughtful planning, refined materiality, and sustainable decisions come together to shape spaces that feel effortless, functional, and timeless.

Architecture shaped by purpose. Spaces enriched by meticulous creativity.

Team

Channing Julien of These Architects Inc.

William chief doggo at These Architects Inc.

Gina prides herself in being detailed-oriented, focused and always approachable. She is skilled at bringing the right players to the table to make each project a success. After completing her degrees in Fine Art Studio and Architecture at the University of Toronto, Gina developed her passions in a variety of venues- from furniture companies to architectural practices- eventually, specialising in residential design which lead to establishing her own design firm - Design Nine Architects.

She is a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC), the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA), the Women in Niagara council (WIN) and is on the executive of the Niagara Society of Architects (NSoA).
OAA, MRAIC, B.A., B.ARCH., ON
Colin is passionate about making a space sing its story and cares deeply in bringing out the very best in a project, encouraging a tight collaborative team effort to deliver a project that exceeds expectations. Following his completion of a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Toronto, he worked in both small and large Toronto firms building a varied portfolio of projects that spanned the globe from the Middle East to Asia, specialising in retail and hospitality design.

He is a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC) and the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) and has 3 Arido Awards of Collaborative Work for his past work in interior retail design.
OAA, MRAIC, B.A, B.ARCH
Channing is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Architectural Science, specialising in design in 4th year. He is classically trained in the alto saxophone having worked his way through the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and spent many a session in a variety of bands and ensembles. Channing is a key member of the team, valued for his keen eye to detail, working through all the stages of a project- from design to construction.
Chief Doggo

Approach

We believe architecture begins with a quiet conversation — with our clients, with the land, and with how life naturally unfolds. We listen closely, allowing each project to be shaped by the stories, values, and rhythms that matter most. Our work brings architecture and interiors into a single, fluid expression, where thoughtful planning and refined materiality create spaces that feel effortless, grounded, and deeply poetic.

We design with a sensitivity to place: the quality of light, the pull of a view, the character of the land. Sustainability is woven into these decisions, guiding spaces that not only look beautiful but live beautifully. Throughout the journey — from first sketch to final build — we remain present, engaged, and collaborative, committed to craft and the countless details that give a space or home its soul. Our goal is simple: to create environments that feel meaningful, warm, and enduring, shaped with care for the people who call them home.

Process

Our design process consists of these phases:

Listen:

Through open and honest dialogue, our primary focus is to understand our client’s vision and needs. We distill your wishes and wants into a clear understanding of the project’s specific programme as it relates to site through massing and preliminary planning. At this early stage we define the zoning requirements and begin site analysis studies. We develop a thoughtful concept that remains a guiding principle throughout the project.

Discover:

We continue to develop these ideas through modelling, plans and sectional studies, layering in material compositions and refinement of details as the project evolves, drawing out the projects’ unique qualities.

Advocate:

We work hard to successfully guide your project through the complicated and often daunting process of municipal approvals through rigour and a commitment to uphold the project’s vision through to permit drawings.

Implement:

Collaborating with a professionally assembled team, we oversee to make your vision a built reality during the construction phase. While quickly resolving on-site challenges, we ensure the design is implemented on time and on budget.

Q&A

Frequently asked Questions

As early as possible! The decisions that have the greatest impact on cost, value, and project success often happen at the very beginning. Being involved from the start allows us to align vision, strategy, and resources before time and money are invested in the details.
You can choose to engage with us to the permit drawings only, but our experience shows that most cost overruns and quality issues arise after the permit has been issued. Permit drawings are the bare minimum to start a build. Without the detailed technical documentation and on-site oversight we provide, clients are often left managing the risks themselves. Staying involved during construction helps safeguard the quality of the build and its final finish.
The timeline for designing and building a house varies based on complexity, approvals, and construction conditions, but for a custom home, you should anticipate a minimum of 12 months for design and planning (including approvals) and a year for construction.
We are very familiar with local building codes, zoning regulations, and the bureaucracy involved in getting the project approved. We guide you through the entire permitting process—researching regulations, producing compliant drawings, coordinating consultants, submitting applications, responding to city comments, and supporting inspections until approval.
Absolutely! Building a team of experts, from the contractor to consultants is an integral strategy in the early phases of a project, ensuring expert opinions inform design and helps ensure a seamless process. We like to align a contractor we know and trust to the project
During the construction phase, our role shifts from design to stewardship of the design—ensuring the project is built as intended while helping you and contractor navigate decisions, issues, and changes that arise on site, always advocating on your behalf.
We calculate our fees as a percentage of construction costs, fixed fees for clearly defined scopes, or hourly rates for flexible projects. Fees are guided by RAIC (Royal Institute of Canadian Architects) best practices to ensure fairness, often separating the architect’s net fee from engineering or specialty consulting.
Construction costs in Canada have risen significantly since early 2020. While material price volatility has moderated somewhat since the pandemic peak, construction costs remain elevated due to a shift in drivers from raw materials to high labour costs and regulatory expenses. We approach this openly, using current market data to help inform a budget grounded in present realities rather than past assumptions and always working to your budget.
We approach design as a careful balance between art, purpose and craft. Our signature style is less about a fixed aesthetic and more about a method of thinking—one that allows each project to emerge from its context, its users, and the emotional qualities of space.