We were able to design and build The Bear Stand in exactly the way we dreamed of, thanks to the incredibly talented - and multi award-winning - team at Seattle-based architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The house conveys a modern Pacific Northwest architecture style, adapted to suit Ontario climates and the unique site surroundings at Contau Lake. Over a period of three years and through many multi-timezone video conferences (Shanghai-Seattle-Haliburton), we, together with our master builder Brinkman Construction, ended up with a gorgeous home which thoughtfully fuses modern master craftsmanship with indoor-outdoor connectivity to beautifully highlight its breathtaking natural setting.
A soaring hand-crafted wood structure offers floor-to-ceiling lake and forest views, with three granite fireplaces (inside and out), a two-storey fir beamed ceiling and heated hardwood floors. Every room in the property offers a different view and sightline, seamlessly connecting this beautiful building to the land from which it rises. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered and the quality of the design and the build is second to none.
The grounds are carefully landscaped to transition from garden environs to the surrounding forest setting and include a children’s jungle gym, shallow beach area, horseshoe pit and lakeside walking path. For nature lovers, we offer an incredible network of private hiking trails, 2.5km of professionally groomed and sign-posted footpaths, marsh boardwalks, scenic overlooks and nature viewing platforms. All established by the renowned trail experts at EcoTrailbuilders. These lead to 3.4km of adjacent crown land trails. Welcome to your own private wilderness experience!