Arvids Griva was a Latvian born carpenter and builder who migrated to Australia after WW2. He later trained as a cabinetmaker and draftsman. He was employed by Margo Lewers as a builder on her Sydney Ancher-designed house at Emu Plains, first commissioned around 1960 and completed around 1964. Griva built all the custom designed cabinetry in the house to designs by Lewers and Ancher.