Josh Kjenner Architect is an architectural practice based in Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 2022, our practice is focused on small- and medium-scale residential and commercial projects.
Our expertise is in delivering modern houses, but we are not ideological about form. We think beauty is a critical component of successful architecture, but we embrace the practical aspects of building with equal enthusiasm. In addition to ensuring functionality and construction quality, we view this as a means of responding to the context in which the building is situated. A good building, in our opinion, embraces context in all forms, and uses it as a source of inspiration for its aesthetic expression.
Finally, we believe that a strong team with a collaborative working relationship is a necessary precondition for successful projects. On every project we strive to integrate the knowledge and expertise of the owner, the builder, and our network of consultants, trades, and suppliers, to deliver the best result.
We serve people looking for an expert collaborator to accompany them through the entire design process, from the first pre-design meeting until occupancy. Our clients value quality over quantity, and believe in investing in the long-term. They believe that thoughtful design creates value, by ensuring quality of outcome and creating a comfortable and efficient setting for everyday life.
Services
We pride ourselves on delivering a high level of service to our clients. We start every project by gaining a comprehensive understanding of their needs and desires, and then work closely with them to develop a shared vision and a design concept in which it is embodied. We then thoroughly develop and document this design, and translate it into reality by helping to procure permits and a contractor, and working with the contractor through the construction. Our process is intensive and rigourous, which we believe is crucial for achieving the best results.
From start to finish, we are our clients’ expert advocate and collaborator, making the design process approachable, exciting, and rewarding.
We work on:
Custom new houses: city, country, lake, and mountain;
Renovations, alterations, and additions;
Small to mid-scale commercial projects;
Small multi-family projectsInterior design.
We work throughout Western Canada.
Download our client guide to learn more about the process we use to design custom houses and renovations.
If you want to build a house and you’re not quite sure where to start, or want to try working with us before committing to full design services, check out our project strategy session.
We are so grateful to JKA for the work they’ve done to create our house, and can feel the intentional design in our space. From the onset of the project, they were on site to see our land and help us with a vision. Their process was good and thorough, answering questions about what's important to us living now and in future years, and figuring out what we wanted. Throughout construction, we found a lot of value in having JKA on site verifying the design and ensuring it was being built as planned. We would certainly recommend JKA.
—Claire Graff
Josh Kjenner
Josh studied engineering at the University of Alberta and Dartmouth College before joining Reimagine Architects, where he worked on energy, daylight, and building envelope analysis. He then attended architecture school at UBC, after which he worked at Reimagine and BattersbyHowat as an associate before starting JKA in 2022. He is a registered architect and engineer in Alberta.
Josh’s work is distinguished by the genuine appreciation he brings for the perspectives and talents of the vast number of people involved in even small construction projects. His strong technical background is accompanied by an appreciation and sensitivity to the less quantifiable qualities of buildings. He believes in the value of architecture as an expression of place, time, and people, and approaches every project from this perspective.
