Studio North

Studio North Studio North is a design + build practice based in Calgary, Canada, established by Matthew Kennedy an

Studio North is a design + build practice based in Calgary, Canada, established by Matthew Kennedy and Mark Erickson. Studio North is recognized nationally and internationally as an emerging Canadian design practice. Their work has been profiled in numerous publications, such as Canadian Architect Magazine and ArchDaily. Studio North connects design with building and craft, where a relationship is

maintained between the architectural idea and the act of making. In working directly with materials, Matthew and Mark are able to respond to the unique qualities they encounter. This ability enhances their projects and their clients’ experiences. By acting as both the designers and the builders, they are able to creatively and meaningfully engage with the client, the site, and the community. Studio North views architecture as a mode of place-making where the regional characteristics of culture and landscape are supported and enhanced through sensitive and well-integrated design interventions. Their strength as designers is founded upon a shared optimism for architecture’s ability to create better living environments that enrich communities and emphasize the beauty of the landscape. Matthew and Mark have been collaborating for the past eight years on architectural projects of a variety of scales, from furniture and art installations to a children's camp and laneway housing. From their time studying architecture
together at Dalhousie University in Halifax, they maintain a strong working partnership and a shared philosophy of making that includes a commitment to quality and resourcefulness, united through exceptional design and careful
detailing. They believe that small scale and well crafted built interventions can stimulate big changes in thought and ways of being.

05/28/2026

At Studio North, collaboration with clients sits at the centre of how we design custom homes. Each project begins by understanding how people live and how they aspire to live. Each individual or family carries a different story, and we believe their home should reflect that.

As a result, there is no fixed architectural style guiding our work. Each project is uniquely tailored and tells a different story. Spaces are specifically created around the relationships, rhythms and rituals of daily life. Each custom home has its own atmosphere, its own spirit. As Partner + Principal Mark Erickson puts it, every home should hold its own welcome.

Find out more about our custom homes on our website, studionorth.ca!

Featured Projects:
Elbow House
Sr / Jr House + Laneway
Founder’s House Restoration + Addition
Valley Cabin
Boho Reno
Slope Reno
Jam Rock Reno
Luthier’s Laneway

Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture, .audra,
Video: .audra

05/07/2026

Four River Lots.

Riverdale & Rideau Park.

Coming Soon.

Listed in collaboration by and .

By .

04/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Tuesday to celebrate the official premiere of The Space We Create, graciously hosted by Alberta Real Estate Foundation.

While the film has already travelled both nationally and internationally with selections at the 2025 Santiago Mountain Films Festival, the 2026 Stratford Winter Film Festival, and the 2026 International Festival of Winter Cinema, this screening marked something different. As the city we call home, and a short drive away from Banff, Calgary felt like the right place to gather and share this story more intentionally, surrounded by the community that shaped it.

At its core, The Space We Create remains a reflection on care, persistence, and what it takes to realize housing in places where it matters most. The discussions that emerged that evening reinforced just how urgent and shared these questions are.

Many thanks to Alberta Real Estate Foundation. Their support made both this documentary and the event possible. By investing in housing and community projects across Alberta, the Foundation helps shape a more thoughtful and inclusive built environment. Learn more at aref.ab.ca.

Next stop: Fernie, BC, on April 10th.

Join us for a screening hosted by Fernie Chamber of Commerce with support from the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies. Free tickets can be found in our bio, Studio North!

Many thanks to our collaborators at LOLA Architecture, as well as Town of Banff, the Banff Housing Corporation, Parks Canada, the residents of the Aster, and everyone involved in bringing both The Aster and The Space We Create to life.

Film Credits:
Field Direction: Brendan Kane, Brendan Stephen Kane
Editorial Direction: Bryce Baker, clasual
Creative Production: Damon Hayes Couture
Executive Production: Matthew Kennedy
Principal Cinematography: Bryce Baker
Construction Cinematography: Brendan Kane
Assistant Camera and Grip: Joshua Lebrun, Joshua Lebrun
Editing: Bryce Baker
Colour: Blayre Ellestad, Chromaneer Color
Original Score: Tyler Tea
Re-recording Mix: Dary Barclay
Titles and Graphics: Public Eye
Wardrobe Support: Arc'teryx Alberta
Archival Material Provided by: The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Whyte Museum, and Town of Banff

“The palette is this kind of dappled foliage, series of greens.” -Damon Hayes CoutureFrom the tiles that carry through ...
03/17/2026

“The palette is this kind of dappled foliage, series of greens.” -Damon Hayes Couture

From the tiles that carry through from the kitchen to the fireplace, to the structural beams that made the renovation possible, greens are a central element of the Slope Reno palette. A green front door greets visitors upon arrival, while a totem in the rear mudroom welcomes the family home time and time again. On a sunny afternoon, sunlight filters through the green perforated screen and into the stairwell, casting shifting patterns that give the space a truly canopy-like quality.

Together, the greens feel layered yet cohesive, bringing a sense of calm to the interior and grounding the home in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Design: Damon Hayes Couture, ,
Construction:
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture, .audra
Video Edits: .audra

Framing is up, and the views are already doing their work.Last week, part of the team visited the Sibling Houses as cons...
03/02/2026

Framing is up, and the views are already doing their work.

Last week, part of the team visited the Sibling Houses as construction is well underway. From lines on a page to stud walls and window openings, this is always a truly special moment.

Design: Mark Erickson, Matthew Kennedy, Damon Hayes Couture, ,
Photography:

One of our best. A 1960s split-level, rebuilt with light in mind. Thoughtfully designed.Properly built. Made to last.Lis...
02/27/2026

One of our best. A 1960s split-level, rebuilt with light in mind.

Thoughtfully designed.
Properly built.
Made to last.

Listing coming soon.

Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Design: Mark Erickson, Damon Hayes Couture,
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture

02/25/2026

As suggested by its name, the Slope Reno brings the beauty and rawness of the mountains back to the city.

The clients love spending their weekends on various adventures in the mountains, whether that’s hiking, biking, or skiing down the slopes. We brought that home. From spatial experiences to material qualities, the essence of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is imbued throughout the project. Curving geometry references trails, rock edges, and worn paths, rather than ornament. We also took inspiration from the forest understories and alpine landscapes in choosing the material palette, settling on muted greens that harmonize the warmth of wood with the coolness of stone. At the heart of the home, the kitchen millwork is conceived to read as a tree, guiding movement towards the more private quarters.

Through the renovation, the house has become a continuation of the landscapes this family returns to again and again.

Design: Damon Hayes Couture, ,
Construction:
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture, .audra
Representation: Damon Hayes Couture
Video: .audra

On snowy days like today, there’s nothing better than settling in somewhere warm, whether that’s curling up with a book ...
02/17/2026

On snowy days like today, there’s nothing better than settling in somewhere warm, whether that’s curling up with a book or finding a quiet corner to practice those guitar skills. This home was designed with those moments in mind.

It feels especially fitting to revisit the Sr / Jr House today, considering yesterday was Family Day. The project pairs a main residence with a laneway home for one family, bringing multiple generations closer together. It offers a variety of spaces to support daily life, from sun-filled corners to quiet nooks. Where would you cozy up on this cold day?

Design: Matthew Kennedy, Damon Hayes Couture, , Erika Burgsma, Breana Chabot, Brighton Parks
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture

For the clients, the question at the start of this renovation was simple. Do you introduce something entirely new, or do...
02/12/2026

For the clients, the question at the start of this renovation was simple. Do you introduce something entirely new, or do you turn towards the original design?

The answer was to work with the house’s mid-century character and let it guide every design decision. We retained the original sloped roofline and clarified the form rather than compete with it.

New elements, like the circular breeze block wall, extend the home’s mid-century language, introducing privacy to the front façade while still welcoming light and air. The screen adds depth and rhythm to the street, softening the transition between porch and sidewalk. The porch was re-established as a daily gathering place, a spot to pause, connect, and engage with the neighborhood. Wood siding and muted green ground the house in its foothills setting. Behind the refreshed exterior, a deep energy retrofit upgrades insulation and air sealing, ensuring the home performs for decades to come.

A renovation shaped by longevity. By place. By choosing to stay.

Design: Damon Hayes Couture, ,
Construction:
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture, .audra

For the clients, the question at the start of this renovation was simple. Do you introduce something entirely new, or do...
02/12/2026

For the clients, the question at the start of this renovation was simple. Do you introduce something entirely new, or do you turn towards the original design?

The answer was to work with the house’s mid-century character and let it guide every design decision. We retained the original sloped roofline and clarified the form rather than compete with it.

New elements, like the circular breeze block wall, extend the home’s mid-century language, introducing privacy to the front façade while still welcoming light and air. The screen adds depth and rhythm to the street, softening the transition between porch and sidewalk. The porch was re-established as a daily gathering place, a spot to pause, connect, and engage with the neighborhood. Wood siding and muted green ground the house in its foothills setting. Behind the refreshed exterior, a deep energy retrofit upgrades insulation and air sealing, ensuring the home performs for decades to come.

A renovation shaped by longevity. By place. By choosing to stay.

Design: Damon Hayes Couture, ,
Construction:
Photography: , Damon Hayes Couture, .audra
Video: .audra

Address

915 9 Avenue SE
Calgary, AB
T2G0S5

Telephone

4034781193

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Studio North posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category