Nest House
House of Subtle
Appearances
Lake on the Mountain
Residence
Mount Forest Mixed Use Development
House of Transcending Boundaries
Ethereal Hideaway
Each client brings their own unique story. When we follow that story, and build an architectural form around it, the result is beautiful.
More than being aesthetically satisfying though, we also feel it is our ethical responsibility to ensure our buildings are efficient in the use of space, energy, and materials.
Understanding that contemplating constructing or renovating a building can be daunting, we are here to guide people through the construction process, making it as smooth as possible for them.
We design beautiful and efficient buildings for people.
Each client brings their own unique story. When we follow that story, and build an architectural form around it, the result is beautiful.
More than being aesthetically satisfying though, we also feel it is our ethical responsibility to ensure our buildings are efficient in the use of space, energy, and materials.
Understanding that contemplating constructing or renovating a building can be daunting, we are here to guide people through the construction process, making it as smooth as possible for them.
House of Subtle Appearances
Nest House
ABOUT
dPA is a full service architecture firm based in Toronto. We take on many different types of projects, from large multi-unit residential projects to small scale interiors, but our primary focus is on custom residential builds and renovations. Our office is fully remote.
We work and live on land governed by the Dish with One Spoon treaty, that has been traditionally shared by many indigenous groups. We are grateful for the stewardship of these groups and are committed to continuing the work of sustaining this land in our endeavors.
Since Duncan and Nicholas have young families, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to us. We are fortunate to be able to be selective with which and how many projects we work on, and to focus carefully on those we do.
If you want to start a conversation with us about your project, please click here to learn more about our process.
Duncan Patterson | Architect
Duncan's unique perspective allows him to see the upside of things. Graduating with a Masters’ degree in architecture from the University of Waterloo in 2009, Duncan worked for a number of offices before founding dPA in 2017. Since then, Duncan has helped over 50 clients make new homes for themselves (and counting …). Duncan’s focus is on meeting his clients’ unique needs and desires, while also prioritising functionality and constructability in the design process. His belief that the success of a space depends on how well it supports and frames the lives of its inhabitants is underpinned by his extensive experience in construction materials and detailing. This enables him to easily integrate form and function, resulting in elegant and simple designs that enhance the lives of those who occupy them.
In addition to running dPA, Duncan has 3 children, keeps a vibrant garden in the summer, regularly bakes sourdough bread, and loves to make stuff.
Duncan Patterson | Architect
Duncan's unique perspective allows him to see the upside of things. Graduating with a Masters’ degree in architecture from the University of Waterloo in 2009, Duncan worked for a number of offices before founding dPA in 2017. Since then, Duncan has helped over 50 clients make new homes for themselves (and counting …). Duncan’s focus is on meeting his clients’ unique needs and desires, while also prioritising functionality and constructability in the design process. His belief that the success of a space depends on how well it supports and frames the lives of its inhabitants is underpinned by his extensive experience in construction materials and detailing. This enables him to easily integrate form and function, resulting in elegant and simple designs that enhance the lives of those who occupy them.
In addition to running dPA, Duncan has 3 children, keeps a vibrant garden in the summer, regularly bakes sourdough bread, and loves to make stuff.
Former Students
Odel Linetska, Matylda Schwartz, Stephanie Taban, Simone Hanna, Kinna Mistry, Brianna Brown, Todd Collis, Marisa Giammarco
Former Students
Matylda Schwartz, Stephanie Taban, Simone Hanna, Kinna Mistry, Brianna Brown, Todd Collis, Marisa Giammarco
GET IN TOUCH
To initiate a conversation about your property, please take the following steps:
Schedule an introductory phone call with Duncan.
Tell us a little about your project.
Upload pertinent documents such as, photos, wish lists, existing drawings, land survey.
Once these steps are complete, we will reach out to set up a proposal meeting, where we outline our services and fees in greater detail.
LET'S START A CONVERSATION
To initiate a conversation about your property, please take the following steps:
Schedule an introductory phone call with Duncan.
Tell us a little about your project.
Upload pertinent documents such as, photos, wish lists, existing drawings, land survey.
Once these steps are complete, we will reach out to set up a proposal meeting, where we outline our services and fees in greater detail.
GET IN TOUCH
Tina Lin| Architectural Assistant
Tina is an incoming 3rd year Architecture student at the University of Waterloo who greatly enjoys the incorporation of environmentalism, nature, and local community in projects she creates. Additionally, she enjoys acrylic painting, still life, graphic design, and open-world games. Tina looks at designing as another form of creative expression that can draw all her passions together.
Lake on the Mountain Residence
Mount Forest Mixed Use Development
House of Transcending Boundaries
Ethereal Hideaway
Katy Cao| Architectural Assistant
Katy is a passionate architectural science student at Toronto Metropolitan University, who enjoys making a positive impact in the communities she engages with. In her free time, she enjoys bullet journaling, sticker making, and playing the piano. Katy's love for music sparked her interest in the correlation between sound and architecture, making it an intriguing area of study for her.
Katy Cao | Architectural Assistant
Katy is a passionate architectural science student at Toronto Metropolitan University, who enjoys making a positive impact in the communities she engages with. In her free time, she enjoys bullet journaling, sticker making, and playing the piano. Katy's love for music sparked her interest in the correlation between sound and architecture, making it an intriguing area of study for her.
Katy Cao| Architectural Assistant
Katy is a passionate architectural science student at Toronto Metropolitan University, who enjoys making a positive impact in the communities she engages with. In her free time, she enjoys bullet journaling, sticker making, and playing the piano. Katy's love for music sparked her interest in the correlation between sound and architecture, making it an intriguing area of study for her.
Tina Lin | Architectural Assistant
Tina is an incoming 3rd year Architecture student at the University of Waterloo who greatly enjoys the incorporation of environmentalism, nature, and local community in projects she creates. Additionally, she enjoys acrylic painting, still life, graphic design, and open-world games. Tina looks at designing as another form of creative expression that can draw all her passions together.
Nicholas Discenza | Senior Designer
Nicholas Discenza is an architectural designer from Georgetown, Ontario. He creates spaces in which to live, learn, and grow. Delivering a personalized experience that responds to the specific needs of each client, he seeks to find harmony between nature and the built environment. With a degree in Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University, his practice prioritizes the use of natural materials, innovative technologies, and passive design principles to deliver elegantly detailed, high-performance architecture.
Nicholas Discenza | Senior Designer
Nicholas Discenza is an architectural designer from Georgetown, Ontario. He creates spaces in which to live, learn, and grow. Delivering a personalized experience that responds to the specific needs of each client, he seeks to find harmony between nature and the built environment. With a degree in Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University, his practice prioritizes the use of natural materials, innovative technologies, and passive design principles to deliver elegantly detailed, high-performance architecture.