About Us - Dark Storm Haven Architecture

Our Story

Started this whole thing back in 2011 after watching too many coastal homes get absolutely hammered by storms. Figured there had to be a better way, y'know? We're not your typical suits-and-blueprints firm - we're more about getting our boots muddy, understanding how the ocean actually behaves, and designing structures that don't just survive but kinda embrace what nature throws at 'em. p>

Vancouver's coast isn't exactly gentle. We've seen 150 km/h winds, king tides that rewrite shorelines, and storms that make you question your career choices. But that's exactly why we do this - every project's a puzzle where physics, beauty, and real human lives intersect. Can't phone that in.

These days we're working with some incredible clients who get it - folks who want homes that'll last decades, not just look pretty on Instagram for a season. Heritage restoration's become a big thing for us too, 'cause there's something special about breathing new life into old coastal structures while making sure they'll stand strong for another century.

The Team

Marcus Chen

Principal Architect & Founder

Spent my twenties doing conventional architecture in downtown Vancouver - glass towers, condos, the usual stuff. Paid the bills but didn't exactly get the heart racing. Then my uncle's beach house got wrecked in that 2010 storm and something clicked. Started obsessing over structural engineering, marine environments, wind dynamics... my friends thought I'd lost it.

Now I get to design homes that actually matter to people. There's nothing quite like visiting a client five years later after a major storm and seeing their place still standing solid while others nearby needed serious repairs. That's the job right there.

M.Arch from UBC, Licensed Architect (AIBC), way too much time spent staring at ocean patterns

Sarah Kowalski

Senior Structural Engineer

I'm the one who has to make Marcus's wild ideas actually stand up, which is... an interesting challenge. Came from a background in bridge engineering - figured buildings would be easier. Turns out designing for hurricane-force coastal winds is basically its own sport.

Love the problem-solving aspect though. Every site's different - soil composition, wind exposure, proximity to water, existing terrain. You can't just copy-paste solutions. We run computer simulations, sure, but I'm also that person climbing around coastal rocks with an anemometer looking like a complete nerd.

B.Eng Structural, P.Eng, certified in coastal engineering, coffee enthusiast

James Okafor

Sustainability & Design Lead

Joined the team three years back 'cause I was tired of "green architecture" being all talk and no substance. Storm-resistant design and sustainability actually go hand-in-hand if you're not lazy about it - durable materials mean less replacement, smart orientation reduces energy needs, native landscaping handles drainage naturally.

I handle the environmental impact assessments and make sure we're not just building tough structures but responsible ones. Also do most of the interior space optimization - there's an art to making a fortified home still feel open and livable, not like a bunker.

M.Arch Sustainable Design, LEED AP, grew up on Vancouver Island so I get the coastal life

Elena Marquez

Heritage Restoration Specialist

My whole thing is taking beautiful old coastal structures and making sure they survive the next hundred years. It's detective work half the time - understanding how builders worked in the 1920s or 1950s, finding materials that match, reinforcing without destroying the character.

People assume heritage and storm-resistance are opposites, but they're not. Those old buildings survived this long for reasons - we just gotta respect what worked while upgrading what didn't. Plus there's something deeply satisfying about preserving history while making it functional for modern families.

B.A. Architectural History, Heritage Conservation certification, slight obsession with old building techniques

Who We Are