‘farouche tremblant’ micro-cabins enliven canadian forest

‘Farouche Tremblant’: a unique agritourism concept in Quebec

Facing the Mont-Tremblant National Park and nestled in the valley of the Devil River, the ‘Farouche Tremblant’ agritourism site offers a singular and unique concept for the Laurentians region of Quebec. Making the most of the natural and untamed qualities of the territory of almost one hundred hectares, the project, carried out by Atelier L’Abri, combines a Nordic farm, a café-bar, four seasons micro-cabinsand an outdoor base camp.

Emerging from the forest with its striking A-frame, south of the café, the cedar shingles the micro-shelters are organically organized and connected by a winding path. Each haven contains a king bed, sofa, and gas stove within its compact plan. Minimalist in essence, the buildings recede into the landscape, allowing guests to fully absorb the wild beauty of the Devil’s River.

On the north side of the Chemin du Lac-Supérieur, a barn serves as the headquarters for agricultural activities. The route leading to the small organic vegetable farm passes through the tunnel of greenhouses, flower fields and fallow land. Hiking trails start behind the farm building and allow visitors to the Farouche site to explore the Devil’s Valley mountains.

On the banks of the river, south of the road, the cafe is at the heart of the activities on offer on site. This cozy building is accessed through a small market, which offers visitors seasonal products from the Farouche orchard and other products such as cheeses, beers and wines from local producers. In addition, the dining room and its kitchen offer passing visitors and guests of the cabin the opportunity to taste meals from the farm’s production.

The café’s lounge opens onto the river, its large west-facing windows offering unique views of Mont-Tremblant and sunsets behind the Laurentian mountaintops. In its center, the fire of the wood stove invites customers to gather and observe the ever-changing silhouette of nature. Perched on the cathedral ceiling, a mezzanine space offers a quiet and secluded sitting area. Furthermore, the materiality of the structure exudes sober tones; its charcoal-colored steel roofs and natural hemlock siding give a slight nod to vernacular farm buildings.

The ‘Farouche Tremblant’ project by Atelier L’Abri (see more here) was documented by photographer Raphaël Thibodeau over a twenty-four hour period to capture the evolution of the site, from sunrise over the river to nighttime observation of the moonlit cabins.