Selected cottages
Cottages on the Canadian Shield.
A few of Charles's private cottage and lakeside projects across Ontario's cottage country. Click through for the full story and photography.
Charles Gane designs private cottages across Muskoka, Georgian Bay, Haliburton and the Kawarthas — one at a time, drawn by hand, working with you from the first sketch to the finished build.
Charles Gane spent 27 years as a founding principal of CORE Architects in Toronto, designing award-winning buildings at every scale. Today he takes on a small number of private cottages himself — the principal who draws your cottage is the same one who answers your email and walks your site. No junior staff, no handoffs.
Every cottage begins as a hand drawing — the slow, considered way — before a single line is committed to a screen.
Charles designed and built his own family's cottage on Georgian Bay. He designs yours to the same standard he holds his own to.
Condo-grade rigour applied to a cottage: durable materials, honest structure, and a design tuned to the rock, the water and the light.
A few of Charles's private cottage and lakeside projects across Ontario's cottage country. Click through for the full story and photography.
We start with a call about your land, your family, and how you want to live at the lake. No commitment — just a real discussion.
Charles studies the site — rock, water, sun, trees — and draws the first concepts by hand, then shares a fee proposal and scope.
Design development and drawings, then support through construction with your builder, all the way to the finished cottage.
Architect's fees are usually structured either as a percentage of the construction budget or as a fixed fee for a defined scope. After an initial conversation about your site and goals, Charles provides a clear, written fee proposal — so you know what you're committing to before any design work begins.
Across Ontario's cottage country — Muskoka, Georgian Bay, Haliburton and the Kawarthas — as well as private homes in the Greater Toronto Area. If your site is on water or on the Canadian Shield, it's likely a fit.
Both. Charles takes on new custom cottages, renovations and additions, and tear-down-and-rebuild projects. The right approach usually becomes clear after a look at the existing structure and the site.
It varies with scope and approvals, but most cottages move from first sketches through design and permit drawings over several months, followed by construction. Remote and waterfront sites can add time for access and approvals — Charles will set realistic expectations early.
Yes. Charles works alongside your builder through construction, and can suggest builders experienced with cottage and Shield-site construction if you don't have one yet.
Tell Charles about your site and your idea — he reads and answers every enquiry himself. A fee proposal follows once the project finds its shape.
Service area: Muskoka · Georgian Bay · Haliburton · Kawarthas · Greater Toronto
Email: info@cganearchitect.com
Credentials: OAA · AAPEI · 40 years' practice
Charles will be in touch soon. If you'd rather, email info@cganearchitect.com directly.
