Meet the Minds Behind Toronto’s Most Thoughtful Architecture

Toronto’s skyline isn’t just a collection of towers. It’s a story told in glass, brick, and light. Every curve, courtyard, and laneway home carries the imprint of architects who read the city’s rhythm and translate it into spaces people can live, work, and breathe in. From mirrored towers on the waterfront to quiet infill homes tucked between century façades, these designers shape how Torontonians experience the city every day.

Meet the Minds Behind Toronto’s Most Thoughtful Architecture
Jason Fung Architects

Their work goes far beyond aesthetics. They balance density with daylight, sustainability with heritage, and the constant pressure of growth with the human need for community. In Toronto, good architecture doesn’t just build upward, it builds smarter, fitting new ideas into old neighbourhoods and rethinking how materials, energy, and public space work together.

In a city evolving as fast as Toronto, the following architects are both storytellers and problem-solvers, helping shape not just the skyline but the future identity of the city itself.

Wanda Ely Architect

Wanda Ely Architect Inc. is a Toronto-based design practice founded in 2011. Rather than following a set style, Wanda Ely and her team focus on telling the unique story of each homeowner and house, creating spaces that are both poetic and practical. Their portfolio ranges from heritage reinterpretations to innovative modern residences, always rich in texture, light, and detail. Every project is crafted to be deeply responsive to the lifestyle and needs of the people who live there.

Website: wandaelyarchitect.com
Contact: 647-889-3984

Jason Fung Architect

Founded in 2019, Jason Fung Architect is a Toronto-based practice with a portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and institutional work. The firm’s strength lies in its diversity—of projects, clients, and staff—bringing unique perspectives that fuel creativity and innovation. Guided by a client-centred approach, the studio balances functionality and design excellence, while also giving back through student mentorship, assisting non-profit organizations, and supporting initiatives that align with the firm’s goals in diversity. The result is thoughtful, meaningful architecture that contributes lasting value to Toronto’s built environment.

Website: jasonfung.ca
Contact: 647-948-9176

Studio Z

Studio Z is a Toronto architecture studio led by Zuzanna Krykorka, dedicated to designing warm, livable spaces for modern families. Their work ranges from laneway houses to adaptive loft conversions, blending heritage character with contemporary details like expansive windows, sustainable features, and custom millwork. Projects such as the Banana Loft and Laneway House highlight a focus on natural light, openness, and everyday functionality. Studio Z helps you create a home that feels welcoming, practical, and uniquely yours.

Website: studiozdesign.ca
Contact: 416-522-4362

Snyder Architects

Snyder Architects is a Toronto-based design practice with a strong focus on education, long-term care, and affordable housing. Their work is guided by principles of collaboration, sustainability, and innovation, creating supportive environments that promote health, well-being, and connection. From modern schools to care settings, Snyder Architects blends thoughtful planning with a sensitivity to context and community needs. With decades of experience shaping Ontario’s architecture, the firm contributes lasting value to Toronto’s architectural landscape.

Website: snyderarchitects.ca
Contact: 416-966-5444

Craig Race Architecture

Craig Race Architecture is a Toronto-based practice known for pioneering innovative housing solutions that respond to the city’s urgent need for density. The studio has played a notable role in advancing multiplex housing, designing projects that are sustainable, community-oriented, and adaptable to urban living. With a focus on thoughtful infill, environmental performance, and livable design, Craig Race Architecture helps you create a home that makes the most of every square foot while enriching the neighbourhood around it.

Website: craigrace.com
Contact: 647-985-9700

While Craig Race Architecture has been instrumental in advancing multiplex housing, its sister company Lanescape focuses on helping homeowners unlock the potential of their own lots through laneway and garden suites.

Lanescape

Lanescape specializes in the design and construction of laneway and garden suites, working within Toronto’s by-laws to make secondary housing a reality. Their free property review helps you understand what’s possible on your lot, and their design-build service carries projects from planning through to construction. By streamlining the process, Lanescape makes it easier for you to add a compact, functional secondary home that expands living space and adds long-term value to your property.

Website: lanescape.ca
Contact: 416-414-9944

Gow Hastings Architects

Gow Hastings Architects is a Toronto-based studio established in 2002 by Valerie
Gow and Philip Hastings. They specialize in educational, institutional, and public
building projects, including post-secondary teaching spaces, community hubs, and public interiors. Their work integrates architecture, interior design, spatial planning, and user engagement to create vibrant, useful places for learning, research, and public life. With over 350 projects and deep experience in architecture, sustainable design and environmental graphics, they aim to make a difference locally and beyond.

Website: gowhastings.com
Contact: 416-920-0031

In Tech House Design

In Tech House Design is a Toronto-based practice specializing in custom residential projects and innovative building solutions. Their work integrates contemporary design with practical planning, producing homes that reflect each client’s lifestyle and vision. With expertise in architectural drawings, building permits, and full project design, the firm guides clients from concept through completion. Tech House Design’s portfolio showcases thoughtful, functional spaces that bring long-term value and distinctive character to Toronto’s evolving residential landscape.

Website: ithd.ca
Contact: 647-478-5055

Dubbeldam

Dubbeldam Architecture + Design is a multidisciplinary Toronto studio founded by Heather Dubbeldam. Their work spans sustainable residential, commercial, and interior projects, always with close attention to context, detail, and materiality. Notable builds include Flow House and Skygarden House, which showcase a strong commitment to light, texture, and blending old and new sensibilities. Flow House, one of their more recent projects, has won numerous awards and received widespread publication, underscoring Dubbeldam’s reputation for expressive, functional, and sustainable design.

Website: dubbeldam.ca
Contact: 416-913-6757

Toronto’s architectural story is one of balance between scale and intimacy, tradition and innovation, density and delight. The architects shaping this city remind us that design isn’t just about what we build, but how we live, learn, and connect within it. Each studio, whether crafting a laneway suite or a landmark tower, contributes to a shared vision of Toronto as a city that grows thoughtfully, beautifully, and with purpose.

 

 

About Joel Levy 2726 Articles
Publisher at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography