Cardea Homes is a bespoke home-building company focused on high-quality Roman building practices, customer service, wellness and sustainability.
Luxurious, innovative, good for your health homes that are good for your wallet too.
Using Roman design principles and practices as inspiration, it is Cardea’s mission to build homes that incorporate the most innovative health and well-being principles, science, technology, and biophilic practices to support the holistic health and financial well-being of its residents and the earth.
At Cardea, we believe…
We believe in old fashion customer service. If we say we are going to do something, we do it.If we make a promise, we keep it. It’s that simple.
We do everything with love, kindness, compassion, and intention. We believe in being loyal and value trustworthiness in others.
We believe that architecture is intrinsic to the fabric of its community. Thoughtful design tells a story and communicates the passion of the designer and builder.
Building for longevity, using sustainability and regenerative practices, is no longer optional.
We must consider the sustainability of our collective well-being, financial health and the environment when making decisions for today and the future.
We spend a significant amount of time in our homes, and it has a role in creating a healthy space for our physical and emotional well-being.
People are at the center of everything we do and the partnerships we make.
And, we fundamentally believe that a healthy home is a right, not a luxury.
Cardea Homes is an ode to the Golini legacy
Cardea Homes is an ode to the Golini legacy that began with Paul Golini Sr., whose Roman heritage inspired his construction empire in Canada. From his work as a project manager, designing and building the Gardiner Expressway and highways to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Paul Sr.’s legacy lives on in his family.
Meet the Golinis
LUCA GOLINI
Starting at Empire Communities in 2013, Luca got his start working with new homeowners through the pre/post-delivery experience, which taught him the skills that contributed to his mastery of client service.
While at the University of Toronto, Luca focused on Urban Studies and has continued to further his education with several buildAbility courses within the HCRA Licensing Certification program. Luca has also completed the Digital Marketing Certification from Brainstation, the global leader in digital skills training, empowering businesses and brands to succeed in the digital age.
A critical thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, Luca is known for his exceptional client service and ability to build strong relationships with homeowners, suppliers and trades.
When Luca isn’t working, you can find him travelling with family or enjoying a long bike ride with friends and family.
MARCO GOLINI
Marco is known for solving complex issues that relate to the planning and development of urban sprawl and community living. Learning first-hand about engineering and complex building needs of Toronto’s infrastructure from his grandfather, Paul Golini Sr., Marco knew at a young age that he, too, wanted to leave a legacy for future generations.
With a degree in Political Philosophy and Urban Planning & Geography, Marco enjoys extracting meaning from ambiguous concepts. He uses his understanding of how historical, political and economic factors have influenced policy decisions and the environmental consequences of building practices. Marco’s application of critical thinking has led him to become a leading advocate of how green, sustainable building practices and technology can create a healthier, well-built home.
When Marco isn’t enjoying time with family or taking in a Jays/Leafs/Raptors game, he oversees the day-to-day operations at Cardea that assist with successfully completing our development projects.
MATTEO GOLINI
Having worked in the home building industry since 2017, Matteo brings his passion and experience in marketing to his role at Cardea Homes as he oversees all aspects of the brand, marketing, and home buying experience.
Sustainable building practices are just as important to Matteo personally as they are to him professionally. Matteo studied the relationships between communities, cultures, economies, and their interactions with the environment, such as the impact of urban sprawl and urban redevelopment at The University of Toronto and has completed the Business Planning & Management and HCRA Customer Service & Home Warranty courses with the Home Construction Regulatory Association of Ontario.
Matteo is passionate about film and Italian Renaissance Art. He enjoys cooking and can often be found training for an upcoming triathlon.
PAUL GOLINI
Legacy meets innovation.
A deeply respected veteran and tireless champion of sustainable building practices, Paul Golini is well-known in Ontario’s home building industry and health and wellness space.
Advocating and building ethical, sustainable homes for 35 years, Paul is focused on crafting wellness standards and practices and delivering on them in his new venture, Cardea Homes.
Paul’s experience as a founding partner of Empire Communities and General Partner/Co-Developer with EDEV, Paul is deeply invested in the Canadian real estate market. A member of the Board of Directors for the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Board Chairperson of two innovation technology companies, RIOS (industry-led data and workflow platform which improves the efficiency of government, industry, and consumers in the building and development process) as well as R-Hauz (prefabricated property/building innovation company).
He has also served as Chair of the Board for Tarion Corporation, the Provincial Regulatory and Warranty Program. Paul is also an investor and cofounder of Delos Canada, a wellness real estate and technology company dedicated to elevating health and well-being as central values in the spaces where we live, work, sleep and play.
As a trusted advisor on many other boards with commercial and philanthropic interests, Paul is committed to actively leading innovation in Canadian home building.
Paul and his sons created Cardea Homes because they believe deeply that having a healthy home is a right, not a luxury.
Paul has a Bachelor of Commerce and Economic Specialist Degree from the University of Toronto and is deeply involved with the Italian business community. He has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the ICFF (Italian Contemporary Film Festival) for over 10 years, promoting multiculturalism and diversity through the film industry in Canada and Italy.
We created Cardea Homes because we believe deeply that having a healthy home is a right, not a luxury.
A legacy 70 years in the making…
Cardea Homes is an ode to the Golini legacy that began with Paul Golini Sr., whose Roman heritage inspired his construction empire in Canada. From his work as a project manager, designing and building the Gardiner Expressway and highways to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Paul Sr.’s legacy lives on in his family.
In 1993, Paul and his partners, including his son, Paul Golini Jr., founded Empire Communities, constructing more than 22,000 homes across six regions, including Southwestern Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area, and south of the border into Georgia and Texas.
The Golini’s passion, drive and love of architecture spans four generations as Paul Jr. is joined by his sons, Luca, Marco and Matteo, to bring you Cardea Homes – the next chapter in the Golini legacy.