hilborn house
An Architectural Masterpiece by Arthur Erickson
Hilborn House
194 Blue Heron Ridge Cambridge, Ontario
Status: Sold
Architect: Arthur Erickson
Hilborn House: A Monument to Arthur Erickson’s Modernist Vision Along the Grand River
On a quiet rise overlooking the Grand River in Cambridge, Ontario, where the forest canopy meets the water’s edge, stands a landmark of Canadian architectural history: Hilborn House. Designed in 1974 by the legendary Arthur Erickson—one of Canada’s most revered architectural minds—this residence is more than a private home. It is a living sculpture. A serene composition of light, space, and form, belonging to Erickson’s rare Signature Collection of residential works.
Commissioned by the Hilborn family as a bespoke retreat for both quiet reflection and gracious entertaining, the home reflects Erickson’s deeply held reverence for nature and his lifelong study of Japanese architecture. With a deliberate focus on horizontality, harmony, and the seamless interplay between interior and exterior, the home exemplifies Erickson’s philosophy that architecture should be “an extension of the land.”
Crafted from enduring masonry and built into the natural contours of its 1.766-acre lot (1.34-acre combined with an adjacent 0.42-acre lot), Hilborn House is not merely sited on the land—it is embedded within it. The structure embraces the surrounding forest and river with a reverence usually reserved for temples. Expanses of glass dissolve the barriers between the indoors and outdoors, while mahogany-framed windows and doors offer warm, tactile counterpoints to the stone and brickwork.
At 6,800+ square feet over two levels, the residence unfolds like a private museum of modernist ideals. Cedar-paneled ceilings with exposed beams, travertine finishes, and a mosaic-tiled sauna with dual showers speak to a tactile luxury that is timeless, not trendy. The great room, crowned with a dramatic skylight and framed by floor-to-ceiling glass, becomes a cathedral of light—perfect for both solitude and celebration. Throughout, Erickson’s masterful spatial choreography reveals itself in the rhythm of the rooms: expansive yet intimate, open yet anchored.
The heart of the home—a chef’s kitchen—features integrated Gaggenau appliances, a center island with beamed ceilings above, and views that stretch into the gardens. The primary suite on the main level opens directly to a private garden and includes a six-piece ensuite, while upper-level bedrooms open onto balconies that hover above the treetops.
Smart home technology, a Lutron lighting and blind system, and carefully zoned spaces for living, working, and entertaining ensure that the home functions as beautifully as it feels. Outside, a heated U-shaped driveway and an attached two-car garage complete the estate’s offering, while a drip irrigation system nurtures the curated grounds.
“Great buildings that move the spirit have always been rare. In every case they are unique, poetic, products of the heart.”
— Arthur Erickson
Yet the true rarity of Hilborn House lies in its authorship. Arthur Erickson—whose work includes the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver and the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.—created only a select number of private residences in his lifetime. Each is a meditation on place, material, and cultural continuity. Hilborn House is one of these few.
Offered at $3,900,000 and represented by Marco and Lamees Chiappetta at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, this is not just an opportunity to own a home—it is an invitation to steward a cultural artifact. A residence designed by Erickson is more than real estate. It is a piece of architectural poetry, crafted for those who understand that great design is not a luxury—it is a legacy.
The Video Tour
The gallery
“Dick and Laurette Hilborn, living in the Cambridge area of southern Ontario, were excited by the modern architecture they had seen at Expo in Montreal. They met with Arthur in 1969, showed him their lot sloping down to the Grand River, and were eager to proceed, but no plans materialized. In 1970, when they heard he would be passing through Toronto airport, they arranged to meet him there, hoping he would have a design ready for them to discuss. Instead, like Frank Lloyd Wright, Arthur quickly picked up an envelope and began sketching out an idea for the house.”
- An excerpt on the Hilborn House from “Arthur Erickson: An Architect’s Life” by David Stouck page 214
About Hilborn House
Architectural Design
Arthur Erickson, 1974
Type of construction
Modern - Contemporary build
Multi-Level
Concrete, Masonry and Wood
Rooms
Three Bedrooms
Four Bathrooms
In-ground Indoor Pool (Closed)
Indoor Sauna
Lot Area
Lot One: 58,513 sq ft (according to the Land Registry)
Lot Two: 18,568 sq ft (according to the Land Registry)
Special Materials
Mahogany Wood
Travertine Stone Countertops
Gaggenau Appliances
Sales Team
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