the 'farouche tremblant' micro cabins enliven the canadian forest

‘Farouche Tremblant’: a unique agrotourism concept in québec

Set against Mont-Tremblant National Park and nestled within the Devil’s River valley, the ‘Farouche Tremblant’ agrotourism site offers a singular and unique concept for the Laurentians region of Québec. Making the most of the natural and untamed qualities of the territory of almost one hundred acres, the project, completed by Atelier L’Abri, combines a Nordic farm, a café-bar, four-season micro-cabins, and an outdoor basecamp.

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

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

‘Farouche Tremblant’ micro cabins | all images © Raphaël Thibodeau

organizing the program around a cozy café-bar

On the riverside, to the south of the road, the café sits at the heart of activities offered on-site. One enters this welcoming building through a small market, offering visitors seasonal products from the Farouche vegetable farm and other goods such as cheeses, beers, and wines from local producers. Moreover, the dining area and its kitchen offer passing visitors and cabin guests the opportunity to taste meals from the farm’s production.

The café lounge opens towards the river, its large west-facing windows offering unique views of Mont-Tremblant and sunsets behind the Laurentian mountaintops. At its center, the wood stove fire invites patrons to gather and observe nature’s ever-changing silhouette. Nestled in the cathedral roof, a mezzanine space offers a quiet, set-back living room. More so, the structure’s materiality exudes sober tones; its charcoal-colored steel roofs and natural hemlock siding gently 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 site’s evolution, from the sunrise over the river to the nocturnal observation of the cabins illuminated by the moonlight.

four minimalist structures clad in cedar shingle