"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins."
Benjamin Franklin
We focus on creating unique custom homes, duplexes, and renovations on individual building sites. Our projects are usually situated in areas like Vancouver's North Shore, the Sea to Sky corridor, and BC's Sunshine Coast. We use advanced CAD technology for designing and crafting Construction Drawings. Our approach is not only professional but also distinct, and we aim to make the process enjoyable for everyone participating.
AScT, CRD, Dipl T
Having designed houses on the North Shore of Vancouver, BC for the last 30 years, Joe is a registered building designer with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)
Born in Baden-Baden and raised in Gaggenau near Germany’s Black Forest, Joe Rommel developed an early appreciation for craftsmanship and the natural harmony of built form and landscape. Moving to British Columbia’s West Coast as a teenager, he found a landscape that echoed his European roots—rugged, refined, and deeply inspiring.
A graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where he earned a Diploma in Building Technology in 1982, Joe contributed to the early transformation of Vancouver’s Yaletown, helping shape its evolution from an industrial warehouse district into a vibrant community of offices, residences, and restaurants. During the 1985 recession, he refined his skills abroad—working in Giessen, Germany, and later collaborating under the mentorship of the late Prof. Karl Dittert on the design and construction of a 5,000-square-foot showroom for one of Europe’s largest office furniture manufacturers at the Innova Design Center in Houston, Texas.
His extensive travels through Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—from Rome’s Colosseum to Guangzhou’s Canton Tower — broadened his design perspective and deepened his respect for architecture’s cultural language. Upon returning to Canada, Joe established Rommel Design Ltd., now regarded as one of the most respected firms in the Vancouver area for custom residential design, celebrated for its fusion of West Coast modernism and timeless craftsmanship.
While not a registered architect with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), Joe is a certified and registered building designer with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC). His award-winning work—including West Vancouver’s and North Vancouver’s Heritage Design Awards and multiple Georgie Awards — reflects his enduring commitment to excellence, integrity, and the artistry of thoughtful home design.