about us
Raphael Spinner
Our Work
Hunter Sturm Spinner (HSS) Design Build Ltd. was founded in 2016 by Raphael Spinner. We are located in Canmore, Alberta, serving the Bow Valley and beyond. We offer energy efficient Passive House design and sustainable construction techniques to accelerate the transition towards a net zero future.
Our Ethos
Vision - Accelerate the transition to sustainable and energy efficient design and construction practices in Western Canada
Mission - Using a collaborative design build approach that applies Passive House techniques, we aim to achieve efficient and timeless designs that blend with nature.
Values - Honest, natural, collaborative, and quality craftsmanship.
At HSS, we strive to create structures that resemble and respond to their natural surroundings and create comfortable living spaces to future efficiency standards and to highest quality for you to enjoy. We also strive to use natural, local materials wherever possible, and are always excited to use cutting edge, efficient materials with sustainable properties.
Our Team
Our team consists of experienced design and construction professionals that are passionate about building sustainably for a better tomorrow. We are well equipped for projects involving Passive House, mass-timber, prefabrication, deep energy retrofits, and more!
Our on site crew consists of experienced Certified Passivehouse Tradespeople, Red Seal Journeymen Carpenters, carpenters, and registered carpentry apprentices.
The entire HSS Team shares our mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable design and construction practices, meaning that you can trust that sustainability will be prioritized from project start to finish.
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Raphael Spinner (CPHD), Principal, is a Swiss-trained Timberframer, Project Manager, and Heavy Timber Technician with 19 years design and build experience in mass timber construction, sustainable buildings and general construction. Raphael is also a Passive House Designer trained and certified in Canada and is passionate about energy efficient and innovative design. Having spent the last eight years in Canada, he is experienced with local building techniques, authorities and is able to turn your building vision into reality.
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Rayni Kovacs (IA AAA, MRAIC, CPHD), Lead Designer, holds an M.Arch from Florida International University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture, and is a Certified Passive House Designer. Having more than 9 years of architectural and interior design experience, she has worked on numerous commercial, transportation, parks and recreation, and residential projects in Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. She is passionate about providing sustainable designs to integrate with the beautiful nature of the Bow Valley.
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Marina Martin (M.Phil), Junior Designer, holds an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University. As a design researcher, her focus has been on traditional methods of design and exploring new applications of construction materials with sustainable properties. She is excited to put her research background into practice in the Bow Valley. At HSS, Marina’s specialties include developing our case studies, deep energy retrofits, grants, and natural materials.
Engelbert Sturm
Our History
HSS Design Build’s roots stretch back to Raphael’s grandfather Engelbert Sturm (1911-2011), a Swiss wheelwright and custom woodworker. Engelbert Sturm’s attention to detail, eye for the wood and perfected craftsmanship inspired Raphael from a young age, and drove his passion to build better homes. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Raphael trained as a carpenter, timberframer and a heavy timber technician in Biel, Switzerland before embarking to Canada to seek new adventures. Now having spent most of the last decade building in Canada, Raphael blends traditional Swiss and European knowledge with Canadian techniques.