Specialized in creating distinctive homes on Howe Sound islands, we bring together generations of building expertise and deep knowledge of coastal construction challenges.
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Growing up on the West Coast inspired a deep-rooted desire to build spaces that integrate harmoniously into the natural environment. Over 20 years of running a construction company in Howe Sound has allowed me to develop specialized expertise in remote coastal projects. Creating structures that are timeless, transformative, and bring positive change to one's life is my pursuit, my passion.
Building on islands or in remote areas presents unique challenges, but I understand the motivation behind choosing to do so. Whether it's seeking connection to nature, privacy, lifestyle fit, or creating a legacy property—these challenges, when properly managed, become opportunities for extraordinary places. So much of one's resources go into finding a 'place'; it is our responsibility at High Bar to honour that connection by creating structures and spaces that connect to and accentuate these places.
Throughout my career, I've developed a distinct approach that blends practical construction, science, and technology with artistic vision. I've had the unique opportunity to build West Coast homes starting in the era of 'craftsmanship'—with no attention to energy efficiency or building performance—through to today's passive and net-zero houses. This has equipped me with a firsthand understanding of the progression housing has taken in pursuit of energy performance while not losing touch with the design qualities that make a good home a 'great home'. I am very proud of our energy performance track record over the last 4-5 years, with many of our homes achieving sub-0.5 ACH scores as well as many other net-zero and passive standard performance achievements.
This technical expertise, however, is only valuable when applied to the unique vision of each homeowner. I recognize each client relationship is unique, and experience has taught me to truly listen to what people want, then integrate my expertise and assemble the best team to support their project—from design and budget, to the first dinner party at the kitchen island.
While I've gained significant knowledge on my own, I'm also fortunate to draw from a strong family lineage of builders and artists. The Bentall heritage is well documented throughout Vancouver; my great-grandfather Charles Bentall, who built up Dominion Construction, was credited as being "responsible for the skyline of downtown Vancouver." And my father, Barney Bentall, is a well-known singer-songwriter.
On my mother's side of the family, the Wolvertons, my grandmother, who had her master's in art history, lived downstairs and constantly exposed me to art and architecture, encouraging me to engage with different mediums. My grandfather Harold "Wolf" Wolverton (or Bubba, as I called him) was a dental surgeon after the war. He had a cottage on Keats Island (where my parents met) and maintained a guest house for the camp. Being the eldest of four, and with Dad on the road for long stints, from an early age I found myself spending a lot of time with Bubba building and working on Keats. Through him, I learned the complexity of island building—coordinating marine transport, adapting to coastal conditions, sourcing materials—demands both technical and creative problem-solving.
Now as a father of four, I don't only want to create meaningful spaces for the people I build for, I also want to create a body of work my kids would be proud to say their dad did. I envision families happily occupying these spaces 30, 50, or 70 years from now. When I am long gone, perhaps my children will stand in those places, hold my old tools, and I'll be there a little bit, somehow…
If you are thinking of building or renovating in the Howe Sound, I welcome a conversation about how together we can create an extraordinary space of your own.
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