We would highly recommend John to anyone in Ottawa looking for an architect. Working with him was an absolute pleasure.

Despite the complexities of our project, he was enthusiastic about problem solving and committed to making it work within our budget. His warmth as a person and his accessible and imaginative approach to providing architecture services also made us entirely at ease and excited about the possibilities for our home in all our meetings and communications.

We didn't end up completing the project, as we made plans to move countries midway through the schematic design phase - if not for our own extenuating circumstances, we would have loved to keep working with him!

– T. Straus

Our renovation project involved the complete finishing of a 2,000 square foot basement. John Donkin and his intern architect, Chris Cormier, worked closely with my wife and I in designing a basement that is functional and beautiful.

John was quick in preparing draft designs and making modifications that arose from our discussions. Chris even prepared a mock-up model of the basement that helped us visualize the final product. The final detailed design was specific in instructing our building contractor and the city building permits and all stages of approval progressed without any problems.

John is very pleasant to work with and he was professional in all aspect of his work. We highly recommend John's architectural services whether you have a small or large project.

– J. Bonta

John found a thoughtful way to add a three-piece ensuite bath to a Westboro storey and a half house while remaining within the existing building envelope. I didn't need more space; I needed the space I had to be better organized.

The result is brilliant —a jewel of an ensuite bath, excellent closet space, and improved energy efficiency. I truly enjoyed working with John and the team from an architectural standpoint and with an outstanding contractor, Tom Vtipil of Otto and Sons Construction. Fabulous.

– S. Murray

We were introduced to John Donkin by our daughter, whose new build he had designed and supervised.

After our first meeting we decided to look no further. He was extremely personable, professional and imaginative. He readily understood our vision of a 'right-sized' home for the two of us, with plenty of space to entertain and room to welcome visiting children and grandchildren. John translated this vision into a unique design while maintaining a 'traditional' exterior to match our street and neighborhood. John was always available and patient when it came to questions and decisions. He was also attentive to detail, both during the design and the building process.

We readily endorse his work and recommend him to others.

– F. Vexler

I was contracted by John Donkin Architect and RND construction (the builder) to photograph their "Urban Green" project for their portfolios, as well as award submissions (we won 2014's "Green Custom Home" BTW).

John's attention to detail and vision of the project translated from the home to the photographs, having a clear idea of what he envisioned and a drive to make it a reality. The open and interconnected spaces of the project let light flood into the home, but clever placement of walls, glass, steel, and wood gave the home an intimate elemental contentedness that was modern, yet rooted in the earth.

John showed no signs of pretense, and was incredibly kind and approachable who, undoubtedly, takes good care of his clients.

– JVL Photography

John's skills as a designer are exceptional on many levels. His strongest asset lies in building the bridge needed to translate the client's dreams into remarkable living spaces.

Our experience regarding the budget building process has always been handled with the utmost discretion to the clients interests. John's "hands on" approach to site condition issues always produces results that are complimentary to both builder and client. Never one to step back from protecting the interests of all parties involved in any project we have been engaged in. The "smart money" always puts together a good team of people when considering a custom home build.

Commissioning John Donkin Architect Inc. as your designer is a choice that starts any project in the right direction.

– H. Holmsten

Our first meeting with John had us confident that the search for our architect was over. His ability to be attentive to our vision and respect our budget was spot on. He was never short of creative solutions and progressive ideas, and kept us comfortable and motivated during the entire process. All deadlines as well as completed applications were met on time, and John made the course clear, professional and friendly.

We are in love with our new home, and enjoy watching others admire it from the very windows John designed.

– T. Vtipil

John Donkin was the architect for our new home, which was an infill in downtown Ottawa. John was responsible for the design of the entire project, including exterior and interior and selection of materials.

He worked very closely with us to ensure that the design met our needs, and supervised the project to ensure that the general contractor realized our vision.

Overall, we were very happy with the design and felt that it captured our desire for an eco-friendly home that functioned as an urban farm/garden/oasis in the city. We did have problems with some of our trades, resulting in some substantial areas of work continuing to be incomplete. John has continued to work with us to address these issues, which we appreciate.

– D. Collister

We received a preliminary estimate for the design of a second story renovation from John Donkin Architect, Inc.

The principal architect, John, visited our property—twice—and expressed a lot of interest in our stylistic preferences, which were influenced by several years spent living abroad. Importantly, he took time to listen and showed a great deal of enthusiasm and empathy.

In the end, we decided not to hire this firm because the proposal centred around a complete rebuild versus an addition to the existing structure. Nevertheless, as far as the initial meetings and proposals were concerned, JDA was thoroughly professional and I would not hesitate to recommend interested parties to contact them.

– D. R. de Rider

At the beginning of our “house building journey,” John spent hours with us in our backyard getting a feel for the light, the trees, the neighbouring buildings and the neighbourhood. He took the time necessary to understand our lifestyle (and projected lifestyle!), learning our likes and dislikes, needs and wants. There was not much discussion on “how many rooms” or “how many square feet” — yet his design captured our requirements better than we could have ever expressed them.

Thanks to John, we now live in a beautiful, voluminous, light-filled house with not one bit of wasted space. Even after one year in our amazing new home we continue to be delighted with design details that help make our lives easier, and our time with our family more relaxed and enjoyable.

– R. Inch

My wife and I interviewed several architects.

What we found interesting about John was his unique approach. We knew we would get his full attention and that was exactly what he delivered. Building an infill is tricky. Maximizing natural light and interesting sight lines was a challenge that John was up for.

In the end, our home is something that we were thrilled with. With time, the small but important design details constantly remind us of how special and talented John is. John Donkin has a unique portfolio and provides individual and focused attention to each project.

– R. Marland