Cindy Rendely’s journey into architecture was never a straight line. It began with a science degree in physiology and zoology from the University of Toronto, followed by an unexpected turn into jewelry design and metal arts. After moving to New York City, she immersed herself in its creative energy, eventually returning to Toronto to study goldsmithing at George Brown College. Her early career was spent crafting and selling one-of-a-kind pieces through the Art Gallery of Ontario and luxury fashion retailers. She built a respected name for herself as a metal artist before deciding to pursue architecture more formally.

She earned her architecture degree from the University of Toronto’s School of Architecture, and later studied abroad in Florence, where the academic rigour and cultural richness of the Renaissance deepened her commitment to holistic design. Before launching her own studio, she worked at two architecture firms in Toronto—one grounded in technical excellence, the other in artistic exploration. From these opposite ends of the practice spectrum, she developed a distinctive understanding of how precision and creativity can coexist.

In 2003, Cindy founded her own practice, Cindy Rendely Architexture. The name, coined before she was officially licensed, emerged from her love of materials and detail, and has remained a talking point ever since. Her projects reflect that philosophy: each one begins with a tactile impulse, often a single material, and evolves into a highly crafted environment where architecture, interiors, and landscape are considered as one. She is known for her minimalist material palettes, insistence on thoughtful alignment, and spaces that evoke calm through clarity.

Cindy has taught in the Interior Design program at George Brown College for more than a decade and is currently completing a master’s degree at Parsons School of Design in New York City. She brings the same intellectual curiosity and rigor to the classroom that she brings to her projects.

An avid traveler, she has explored cities across the world—Florence, Vienna, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and more—often solo, with a sketchbook in hand and an eye for the small moments that shape a place. Her design sensibility is shaped as much by these immersive experiences as by formal education or client work.

Cindy Rendely Architexture is the product of all these influences: craft and composition, reflection and resolve, movement and stillness. Her work is not about spectacle but substance. It invites people to inhabit space with a sense of quiet recognition.

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Judah Mulalu is the founding architect of Ten-2-Four Architecture, a Toronto-based studio guided by a commitment to empathetic and inclusive design. Born in Botswana and initially pursuing a path in science, Judah’s journey shifted dramatically when a Bulgarian architect recognized his innate drafting talent and introduced him to architecture. That serendipitous encounter led him to Canada, where he studied architectural technology at Ryerson University and later completed his Master of Architecture at Dalhousie University. His education brought a rich contextual and anthropological perspective to his work.

Judah’s early career developed through roles in transit infrastructure and public design, including contributions at Strassman Architects and PBK, where he worked on major projects such as Sheppard West Station. In 2012, he founded Ten-2-Four Architecture, naming it after the working hours he once envisioned for a healthier life balance. His practice is rooted in creative collaboration, intentional space-making, and the cultivation of strong professional relationships.

Ten-2-Four Architecture engages a wide range of work, from heritage residential homes to hospitality projects and affordable housing initiatives. This includes the design of residences for seniors living with dementia and, most notably, the new cultural centre at 756 Bathurst Street. This project, born from the legacy of Toronto’s Different Booklist, represents a deeply civic and community-driven effort. Judah spent three years contributing pro bono to move the project forward, eventually helping to secure close to $14 million in city and federal funding.

Throughout his career, Judah has upheld the belief that good design must be rooted in empathy. His approach blends technical excellence with a sensitivity to how architecture affects daily life. With a mix of discipline, humility, and thoughtful optimism, Judah continues to shape spaces that honor community, culture, and connection.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Limor Benmor-Mizrahi’s path to architecture was anything but linear—and that’s what makes her story so compelling. Trained initially in the sciences with aspirations of entering medicine, Limor’s journey took a sharp turn during a revelatory trip through Europe, where she fell in love with the built world. Since then, she’s crossed continents, studied at Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus-inspired Sadna School of Architecture and Pratt Institute in New York, and built a multifaceted career that spans master planning, institutional work, and custom residential design.

Born into a family of Israeli immigrants who built their lives—and homes—in Toronto, Limor credits her late father, Avi Benmor, a builder and entrepreneur, as her subliminal inspiration. Her career began in Israel, where she worked under Holocaust survivor and architectural mentor Rita Dunsky-Feuerstein, gaining experience in both architecture and urban planning. She later moved to New York to complete her formal training and eventually returned to Canada, where she became a licensed architect and launched her own practice at the onset of the pandemic.

In this candid and richly textured conversation, Limor reflects on the personal and professional forces that have shaped her work: from tiling her own kitchen in her first apartment to designing community infrastructure in Israel, and now to crafting elegant, light-filled homes across Toronto. She speaks about the differences in construction methodology between continents, the nuance of working with trades, the vital role of interiors in architectural vision, and her deep appreciation for materiality and light.

Whether she’s designing a city block or a family home, Limor brings to every project a quiet intensity, thoughtful sensitivity, and an architect’s X-ray vision that sees not just what is, but what could be.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Anne‑Marie Armstrong is an architect, educator and co‑founding principal of AAmp Studio, the cross‑border practice she leads with partner Andrew Ashey from twin studios in Toronto, Ontario, and Portland, Maine.

Raised in Don Mills, Toronto, Armstrong spent childhood afternoons sketching with her painter‑grandmother and solving logic riddles with her mathematician father—an art‑and‑math pairing that still drives her design thinking. She earned an Honours BAS from the University of Waterloo and, as a Fulbright Scholar, a Master of Architecture from Yale University. Before launching AAmp she sharpened her skills in three markedly different contexts: facade detailing at Diamond Schmitt (Toronto), competition work with former Foster + Partners staff at Aedas (London), and physical model making in the Frank Gehry Partners shop (Los Angeles), with formative stints in Berlin and New Haven along the way.

Today she holds architecture licences in Ontario, California and Maine and brings 15 years of professional experience to AAmp’s portfolio, which spans bespoke Toronto residences, award‑winning Death & Co cocktail bars, the Ramble Hotel brand, and a 100‑room boutique hotel in Savannah. The studio’s “no‑weekend‑grind” ethos and BIPOC leadership shape a culture of collaboration and wellbeing for its bi‑national nine‑person team.

Armstrong is also an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto, where her courses foreground diversity, equitable practice and the everyday city. Whether crafting a neighbourhood café, orchestrating a hospitality flagship or mentoring emerging architects, she champions the idea that thoughtful, inclusive design can transform experience at every scale.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Nadeen Rajani, is the newly minted principal of Drawing Room Architect, the Toronto studio known for marrying rigorous detailing with lived in warmth across custom homes and cottages.

Born in Abu Dhabi, raised in Saskatoon, and seasoned by solo backpacking through Europe, she brings a cosmopolitan lens to every project. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan she completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto, a program that blended design theory with big city experimentation. Early work in residential architecture and later in luxury hospitality interiors sharpened both halves of her craft, giving her the structural problem solving of an architect and the material choreography of an interior designer.

Rajani joined Drawing Room in 2012, became partner in 2022 and stepped into full leadership when cofounder Stewart Watson retired in 2024. Today she guides a three person studio through every phase of work from zoning strategy to the last cabinet pull on projects that range from heritage renovations in Rosedale to glass skinned additions in Palm Beach and lakefront retreats on Bigwin Island. Clients and builders value her calm command on site, her exacting wall section sketches and a collaborative style that turns construction meetings into collective problem solving sessions.

Committed to mentorship and equitable practice, Rajani credits veteran technologists Bud Hart and Hector Romero for modelling the craft plus care ethos she now passes on.

Beyond the studio she recharges with family art outings, quiet weekends with her husband and two daughters, and the occasional late night sketch that still keeps her up at two a.m., proof that architecture remains equal parts vocation and adventure.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Todd Saunders grew up on Newfoundland’s rugged coast, carving cabins and learning early that good buildings start with good stories. That hands-on childhood nudged him through a planning degree at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada; a semester at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, United States; and an M.Arch. at McGill University, Montréal, Canada. Stints with landscape architect Maria Auböck, Vienna, Austria; urbanist Rob Krier, Berlin, Germany; and designer Jane Durante, Vancouver, Canada sharpened his craft, while a hitch-and-rail trek that began in Paris, France, boarded the Trans-Siberian in Moscow, Russia, and rattled east for days proved that place matters more than style.

In 1996 he settled in Bergen, Norway, and two years later opened Saunders Architecture, small on purpose, restless by nature. First came the timber Aurland Lookout, Aurland, Norway; then the Hardanger Cabin, Ullensvang, Norway; and a ring of stark-white artist studios that helped remote Fogo Island, Canada step onto the world stage. Those one-offs opened bigger canvases: Villa G on Lake Nordås near Bergen; Roxanne Quimby’s museum, Maine, United States; and community plans for Carraig Ridge, Alberta, Canada and Cypress Village, British Columbia, Canada. Today the studio counts 35-plus commissions in eleven countries, yet Todd still begins every project the old way with a pencil in hand, boots on the ground, chasing the right view line before the first stroke on paper.

When he isn’t sketching on a mountain trail, you’ll find him teaching at Bergen Arkitekthøgskole, Bergen, Norway; guest-critiquing at Cornell University, Ithaca, United States; or fly-fishing with the rod his dad gifted at graduation, a reminder to stay true to home, craft, and the long game.

After three decades he still believes: build lightly, frame the horizon, and let quality shout louder than size.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Lutron Electronics: https://www.lutron.com/us/en

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/

Kfir Gluzberg is the founder and principal of Kilogram Studio, a Toronto-based architecture practice recognized for its inventive approach to residential, retail, and commercial interiors. Kfir’s path into architecture has been anything but linear—rooted in early artistic exploration, shaped by international education, and driven by a commitment to both cultural nuance and pragmatic design.

A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s architecture program, Kfir later earned advanced degrees from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Barcelona and McGill University in Montreal. These experiences provided a foundation in both digital fabrication and architectural theory, which continue to influence Kilogram’s work today.

Kfir began his professional career at RAW Design and Levitt Goodman Architects (now LGA), and also spent time at Efrat Kowalsky in Tel Aviv, contributing to high-profile cultural projects such as the Israel Museum. In 2015–2016, he launched Kilogram Studio, with early momentum driven by a prolific collaboration with Greenhouse Juice Co.—a partnership that has since yielded more than 20 retail and production projects across Canada.

Under Kfir’s leadership, Kilogram has grown into a nimble studio that blends conceptual design with technical execution. The practice is currently engaged in ReHousing, a Neptis Foundation–funded research initiative with U of T and LGA focused on enabling small-scale apartment buildings through zoning reform.

Outside of practice, Kfir is active in professional advocacy. He has taught at the University of Toronto and currently co-leads the TSA Forums with the Toronto Society of Architects, curating public discourse around labour, practice models, and industry transformation. He also previously served on the board of a Toronto-based LGBTQ+ water polo team, and remains an advocate for inclusive design and community-building.

Kfir’s work spans the detailed and the systemic—from rethinking how two materials meet to how entire neighbourhoods could evolve—always guided by curiosity, culture, and care.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Andrés Muñoz Alarcón is the founder and creative force behind EStudio AMA, a thriving design practice based in Mexico City. A graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana, Andrés built his early foundation with summers spent abroad interning and studying in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Chicago—experiences that shaped his global design sensibility and deepened his appreciation for architectural diversity.

Before launching EStudio AMA, Andrés spent nearly a decade with renowned Mexican firm Sordo Madaleno, where he rapidly rose through the ranks to lead major hospitality, residential, and commercial projects across Mexico, South America, and Europe. In 2022, he founded EStudio AMA with a vision to merge conceptual clarity with organizational precision—launching with high-profile commissions that speak to that ambition.

Today, EStudio AMA is a 25-person multidisciplinary team with projects ranging from private residences and mixed-use towers to large-scale international collaborations. A standout among these is the Legend Tower in Guadalajara—designed in partnership with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)—currently the largest SOM-led project in Latin America. The studio also collaborates on major developments in Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and South America.

Operating with a hybrid team structure, EStudio AMA emphasizes strong conceptual narratives, in-house branding, and coordinated execution. Andrés's vision for growth is rooted in human-centered leadership, offering his team benefits like wellness programs and profit-sharing, while cultivating a collaborative culture that transcends borders. With continued conversations underway with firms in Europe and North America, EStudio AMA is poised to become a global design voice—anchored by Mexican roots and international outlook.

Sponsors:

Lutron: https://www.lutron.com/us/en

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/