Kariouk Architects

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Ottawa, ON
Kariouk Architects

Design office from Ottawa, Canada. With clients as far away as Malta and Manhattan, our work is by no means geographically-bound.

At Kariouk Architects, we’re driven by a curiosity to uncover the distinctive subtleties, needs and nuances that reflect each of our unique clients. This intimate familiarity and awareness leads to wonderfully inventive outcomes – or as we like to call it – architecture with soul. In the same vein, it cannot be pegged as any one type or style of architecture. While many architecture firms pride th

emselves on having a trademark style that distinguishes them from their competition, Kariouk proudly stands behind the fact that we do not have any one look that identifies us as distinctly Kariouk. If anything, our trademark is that no two of our projects look the same. Because we tackle each creative undertaking with a new lens, our final results are always informed by an entirely different set of criteria and inspiration. It is deeply important to us that we fully understand the lives and needs of the people we work with. Whether it is a commercial or residential project – a new build or major renovation – it is an immersive and personalized approach that leads us to our best work – work that is intelligent, beautiful, meaningful and enduring.

05/26/2026

Cottages hold a special place in Canadian architecture — spaces where families spend their most relaxed moments, surrounded by water, forest, and the rhythm of the seasons. This 2,000-sf off-grid home in Québec embodies that spirit. Perched on a natural rock outcrop and surrounded by old-growth spruce, it keeps the landscape at the center of every experience while supporting quiet, year-round energy through a full solar system.

Inside and out, Québec slate and local cedar create a seamless connection to the outdoors, and the home is entirely on one level — no drywall in sight. Designed for comfort, durability, and the joy of shared moments, Chalet G&T will host decades of memories: morning light across the lake, long summer evenings on the deck, and serene winter views through the trees. In projects like this, architecture is not about square footage but experience. Every element will support the family’s life on the site rather than competing with it.

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for new projects, and Chalet G&T is leading the way. Stay tuned for more photos of this project-in-progress. In the meantime, you can view our completed projects in our portfolio: https://kariouk.com/projects/

05/19/2026

Set deep in a 200-acre forested and wetland site in eastern Ontario, ABC Home was designed for a young couple seeking a quiet refuge from urban life — a place to reconnect with nature and the rhythms of the seasons.

Rather than dominating the landscape, the home unfolds as three low-profile pavilions, linked by glazed observatories that frame shifting skies, wildlife, and vegetation. Moose, waterfowl, amphibians — even bears — are constant companions in this carefully considered setting, and the architecture allows occupants to observe and engage with their surroundings without intrusion.

Variegated wood siding and local slate help the home blend into the forest, while sculptural roof scuppers amplify the soft music of rain. Carefully oriented to the cardinal points, the living spaces are filled with natural light year-round, ensuring warmth and connection even in the depths of winter.

At just over 3,000 square feet, the design prioritizes experience over scale. Every space is thoughtful, accessible, and durable — a home that can grow with its occupants while remaining deeply attuned to its environment.

ABC Home is architecture that recedes, observes, and endures, offering distinction not through presence, but through restraint and care.

Explore more photos here: https://kariouk.com/project/abc-house-smiths-falls/

05/12/2026

A well-designed home should support its owners not only today, but decades into the future.

We incorporate strategies that allow our homes to adapt gracefully as people age. This includes carefully planned circulation, level transitions that are kind to the body, generous natural light, and spaces that can evolve as needs change over time. For example, in our DASH home, not only is most of the living space on one level, but space has been left to allow for construction of an elevator if the owners' mobility needs ever require it.

When done well, the effect is never clinical or institutional. Instead, thoughtful planning allows accessibility and comfort to be integrated quietly into the architecture from the beginning, to preserve the dignity and independance of the homeowner.

Designing for ageing in place is ultimately about longevity — creating homes that remain welcoming, functional, and beautiful for many years.

Learn more about our approach to designing for ageing in place: https://kariouk.com/blog/ageing-in-place-is-easier-with-a-home-designed-for-accessibility/

05/11/2026

COMING SOON: a video tour of one of our latest projects! Paul Kariouk and Adam Paquette paid a visit last week to Hidden Hills, Los Angeles, to shoot the video and enjoy a reunion with Chris Davis, who has been working there for the last few years. We should be ready to share the video in a few weeks, but in the meantime, here are a few images of the gang on location and in the surrounding areas. (Naturally, Adam the cat lover becomes immediate friends with Gizmo, the clients' cat!)

05/05/2026

Designing a home is not only about drawings — it is about guiding a complex process from the earliest ideas to the final details of construction.

Our approach at Kariouk Architects is deliberately comprehensive. We work closely with clients from the first conversations about site and program through design development, permitting, and construction administration. This continuity helps ensure that the intentions behind the design are carried through every stage of the project.

The goal is not simply to deliver a building, but to guide the process in a way that produces a home that is thoughtful, enduring, and deeply connected to its place.

Find out more about all the services we include in a home design: https://kariouk.com/services/

04/28/2026

Over the past few months, we’ve been sharing a few glimpses of projects in our 2026 pipeline. Here is another — this one from Los Angeles.

Located in the Hidden Hills community, the project combines a new pool house and guest house with a significant renovation of the main residence. Renovation work of this scale is something we undertake selectively, typically for clients we already know well. The complexity involved — particularly when working with existing structures — often makes this kind of work more demanding than a new build. But when the collaboration is right, it can allow a home to evolve in thoughtful and lasting ways.

Hidden Hills sits within one of California’s most carefully protected landscapes. The community’s forward-looking approach to topography, vegetation, and water management — shaped in part by the growing threat of wildfires — requires an exacting review process. The standards are rigorous, and we value the local board’s commitment to the long-term stewardship of the area.

To keep the residence visually modest within its setting, we designed a series of distinct volumes that settle naturally within the surrounding greenery. This approach allows a large family home to remain grounded and finely scaled within the landscape. Construction progress is now beginning to reveal that intent.

The image here offers a look at the living room renovation, where natural materials and carefully placed openings bring light deep into the home while maintaining a strong connection to the landscape beyond.

More photos — and a short video — will follow over the coming months. In the meantime, you can explore other projects on our website: https://kariouk.com/projects/

04/21/2026

It’s 2026. The way we build our homes deserves another look.

While many custom homes continue to grow larger and more complex, a quieter shift is underway — toward homes that are carefully scaled, energy conscious, and designed to last for generations.

Thoughtful architecture can achieve more with less: less wasted space, fewer resources, and a lighter environmental footprint. The result is a home that is comfortable, efficient, and deeply connected to its surroundings.

Sustainability begins with good design. Explore the many possibilities: https://kariouk.com/sustainable-home-design/

04/14/2026

Small cottages offer an opportunity to explore architecture at its most distilled. Thoughtful siting, careful material choices, and compact planning create spaces that feel both intimate and expansive within their landscape.

We've designed a number of cottages that take their cue from their surroundings to stimulate a more meaningful experience:

🔹The m.o.r.e. CLT Cabin: https://kariouk.com/project/m-o-r-e-clt-cabin/
🔹The Hill-Maheux Cottage: https://kariouk.com/project/hill-maheux-cottage/
🔹The Cross-Laminated Timber Cottage: https://kariouk.com/project/cross-laminated-timber-cottage/

Why leave the city behind just to visit a cottage that is exactly like your urban home? After all, you're there to get away from it all.

04/07/2026

it's so gratifying to see our work published on Wallpaper — one of the world's preeminent art, design, architecture, and fashion magazines! Thanks to Wallpaper for this article, and to Philip Jodidio for including us in the third volume of his book, "Homes for Our Time: Contemporary Houses around the World".

If you haven't seen the book, this article gives you a sneak peek at what you'll find inside, namely, dozens of innovative homes from around the world. Naturally, there are beautiful photographs and thoughtful profiles. All have something to offer in terms of moving the problem solving aspect of architecture forward: either they're more environmentally friendly than typical homes, or lower cost, or a new construction method. In all cases, the results are beautiful and inspiring.

Take a look: https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/residential/contemporary-houses-pushing-the-boundaries-of-architecture

03/31/2026

For some of our custom home projects, choosing a site is a vital part of the design process because the landscape informs the design.

Before the first sketch or material choice, the location of your home sets the stage for everything else. At Kariouk Architects, we help clients select and evaluate sites that align with their goals, lifestyle, and vision — whether it’s a gently sloping lot in the city or a dramatic, steeply wooded property in the country.

Challenging sites often bring the most rewarding results: unique views, natural privacy, and a sense of place that flat or “perfect” lots can’t match. Our team conducts thorough feasibility studies and analyses — reviewing zoning restrictions, environmental considerations, and technical constraints — so we understand exactly what’s possible before the design even begins.

By integrating site selection into our full suite of architectural services, we help uncover hidden opportunities that turn your property into a home that’s both beautiful and perfectly suited to its surroundings.

Learn more about our approach to thoughtful, site-conscious design: https://kariouk.com/services/

Address

179 George Street Suite 1204
Ottawa, ON
K1N1J8

Telephone

+16135622211

Website

http://kariouk.com/

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