Real Estate

This self-sufficient retreat mixes city style with woodsy charm

Charles Gane, a Toronto architect and founding principal of CORE Architects, created this 2000-square-foot space as a family haven away from the big city. Although it may resemble a downtown condo, the Georgian Bay retreat is completely self-sufficient. An impressive mix of off-grid functionality and urban style, the home is powered by solar panels, uses its own water filtration system, and has on-site sewage treatment.