Akb Architects

05/15/2026

We are honoured to have Whistling Wind Island featured among fifty exceptional residential retreats in “Summer Houses: A Change in Perspective,” newly released by Phaidon Press.

Located on one of the outermost islands in Pointe au Baril, Ontario, the buildings on Whistling Wind Island have become a quiet and enduring presence within the dramatic landscape of Georgian Bay. Modestly scaled and lightly pinned to the Precambrian bedrock, the structures offer refuge amidst the bay’s mercurial weather. A balance between expansive, deeply recessed openings and the solidity of thickened walls creates both a direct connection to the landscape and a safe sense of shelter from the unpredictable storms that sweep across the rock with winds that quite literally whistle through the site.

In the book’s introduction, writer and curator Izabela Anna Moren reflects on the enduring appeal of summer houses as places not simply of escape, but of renewal:

“Often, when we look for a summer house, what we are searching for is not – or at least, not only – a change in location. What the summer dwelling must offer is a change in perspective. … They are not symbols of luxury but necessary resets of who we are—architectural dreamscapes where we can reflect in solitude or spend precious time with others, recharge, and test out different personas.”

We are grateful to see Whistling Wind Island included in this provocative collection exploring the relationship between architecture, landscape, and retreat.

Now available online and in bookstores.

Online:
https://www.phaidon.com/en-ca/products/summer-houses -description-accordion

Bookstores:
https://www.indigo.ca/products/summer-houses?variant=46641263444178

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Bruce Kuwabara on receiving the Sakura Award. Presented at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, the award recognizes Bruce’s extraordinary contributions to Japanese Canadian culture and community life. It is a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of both his heritage and his enduring impact through architecture, leadership, and cultural advocacy.

Rob and I are incredibly grateful to have been mentored by such a thoughtful, talented, and community-minded architect.

Pictured here with Bruce are David Tsubouchi, Chair of the Sakura Gala, and Chris Hope, President of the JCCC.

05/04/2026

Copenhagen & Aarhus with colleagues and collaborators from Denmark, the United States and Canada.

A wonderful week exploring Arne Jacobsen's commitment to integrated design, where architecture, furniture, and fixtures are created with exceptional respect for quality, craftsmanship and materials.

What stayed with me . . .

The process of design and innovation is engrained in Danish culture from a young age, where kids are taught “design thinking” in school. Encouraged to perform tasks and solve problems without reliance on conventional tools - celebrating exploration and out-of-the-box thinking.

Thank you to VOLA A/S, Hastings Bath Collection and our fantastic partners at Ginger's for the generous invitation to experience Denmark’s design philosophy in person.
denmark

04/08/2026

Ahead of International Parkinson’s Day (April 11), the Akb team stepped into the ring to experience Rock Steady Boxing, a program Principal Robert Kastelic credits for helping manage his Parkinson’s.

Diagnosed in 2017, Rob uses movement to combat symptoms like stiffness and balance issues. Joined by Parkinson Canada CEO Karen Lee, the team trained at Cabbagetown Boxing Club, discovering a demanding workout focused on coordination and strength. “It’s not just exercise,” says Rob, “it also restores confidence.”

The experience is enriching Akb’s overall approach to design, with a deeper understanding of how safer, more accessible homes can improve life for those living with Parkinson’s, as well as for those seeking homes that can last for an entire lifetime.

To bring more awareness to how strength training can help combat Parkinson’s symptoms, Akb has donated to Rock Steady Boxing. Our deep gratitude to the coaches at Cabbagetown Boxing Club for their commitment and generosity.

03/13/2026

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is collaborating with artists and artisans. Their ability to express conceptual ideas through material and form closely parallels our own approach to architecture, and that alignment is continually inspiring.

Recently, we invited floral artist Hayley O’Brien to create a new installation for our studio, transforming our 18-foot space into an aerial gallery that explores nature through form. Last fall, she and a small group of florists gathered bark peels from felled birch trees in her father’s northern woodland. The bark was then woven into a 29-foot tapestry, now suspended from the studio’s open-web steel ceiling. The installation evokes a forest canopy translated into volume, texture, light, and shadow.

Inspired by the work, one of our clients commissioned Hayley to create an iterative piece for their Toronto home, a renovation and addition we completed in 2023. Together, we determined the tapestry’s proportions and placement on a feature wall behind a custom dining table designed by our studio and fabricated by local woodworker Mary Radcliffe. The result is a site-specific work precisely integrated with the architectural vision for the interior.

Collaborations like these are particularly rewarding. Working alongside artists who approach material with poetry and discipline reinforces our architectural values. Our belief in the quality of care, craft and beauty and how our focused intent is able to elevate and enhance the quality of our lived environments. The intricacy of detailing and the skill of the hand speak to our shared commitment to art and the process of making.

Birch installation by
Home renovation by
Table designed by
Table fabrication by
Photography by

03/10/2026

Last week, Akb’s Katie Krolak joined lighting experts Lutron Electronics at their Ketra headquarters in Austin, Texas, for an inspiring tour of their engineering facility and BEAM factory. The visit showcased Lutron's groundbreaking Ketra technology that harmonizes with the human circadian rhythm, mimicking the natural progression of daylight.

Katie joined a distinguished group of designers and builders for this immersive experience. The visit also provided a chance to explore Austin, including a tour of the Blanton Museum of Art, designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta, which is also home to artist Ellsworth Kelly’s chapel of colour and light. The experience overall offered a glimpse into the future of lighting design and its profound impact on human well-being.

Our sincere gratitude to Joy Manapul and the entire Lutron team for sharing with us innovations that are transforming how we experience light in our built environments.

02/27/2026

Welcome, Intermediate Intern Architect Christopher Cleland, to our growing team. The son of a carpenter, Christopher had an early introduction to the craft of construction and the art of architecture. This foundation provided him with a deep consideration for detail design and constructability; qualities that continue to fuel his curiosity about the architectural process and its complex workflows.

From construction through finish and occupancy, he is interested in how trades build, how designers interpret space, and how users ultimately experience space. Christopher completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is currently working toward his OAA licensure.

BArchSc, MArch, OAA Intern Architect

02/20/2026

We are pleased to welcome Junior Intern Architect Laura Vilbiks to the Akb Team.

Laura brings a strong interest in the relationship between built heritage, cultural identity, and residential design. She holds a Master of Science in Architecture from the Estonian Academy of Arts in Tallinn, where she studied Architecture and Urban Planning with minors in Planning, Heritage and Conservation. Her master’s thesis received a Special Award from the National Heritage Board of Estonia in 2024.

Laura’s design approach is in shaping everyday routines and choreographing movement through space. She is particularly inspired by cinematography and the way atmosphere is carefully constructed through sequences and moments. Before joining Akb, she gained experience in architecture, interior design and academia while living in Estonia. She is also drawn to furniture design, appreciating the craft of creating objects that are delicate, precise, and quietly impactful.

B ArchSc, M Arch

02/17/2026

Welcome, Kim! We are thrilled to announce Intermediate Intern Architect Kim Grovu as Akb’s newest team member.

Kim’s work is shaped by care, craft, and an enduring interest in the human experience. She holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science (Honours) from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Architectural Science from TU Delft in the Netherlands. Her graduate thesis was pre-selected for the 2025 BK Archiprix and exhibited at TU Delft’s Faculty of Architecture.

Her design practice centers on residential spaces as intimate and evolving reflections of those who inhabit them, and on the reciprocal exchange through which space absorbs identity, memory, and meaning. Beyond the studio, Kim is an avid maker, with a growing focus on photography, textile arts and graphic design. Her artistic pursuits inform her architectural work through sensitivity to materiality, composition, and narrative. She is currently advancing her technical proficiency in 3D modelling and preparing to pursue OAA licensure.

B ArchSc, MSc Arch

02/11/2026