A lake, a forest and a small wooden cottage nestled in the woods. Halfway between a mökki from Finland and a Japanese minka, immersed in the lush nature of Quebec, stands a minimal retreat. We are talking about the Interhouse Retreat, a place of extraordinary charm, designed by the Montreal studio Ménard Dworkind for Hintercompany, the hotel chain that takes its guests to wild scenarios, in close contact with nature.
A refuge to get back in touch with nature
The cottage, if you can call it that, is nothing more than a simple one parallelepiped of 86 square meters, in which the clean and geometric lines typical of Scandinavian architecture. The white cedar cladding creates an invisible and silent connection between the house and the surrounding nature. The protagonist of this place, which seems immune to the passage of time, is the wood, which also dominates inside, with walls in light pine and fir plywood for a warm and enveloping environment.
Photo Menarddworkind
An eco-sustainable project
The wood, used for the construction of the refuge, comes entirely from sustainably managed forests: a cause very dear also to the hotel company that is personally committed, planting ten trees for each booking received.
Photo Menarddworkind
A versatile space
The house, which stands near a ski resort, offers all the comfort of a versatile space, halfway between a refuge and a window on the wild universe of nature that surrounds it. For those who want to retire in the shade and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace, cedar shutters can be closed, otherwise open wide to contemplate the majestic panorama that awaits guests less than a step from the house.
Photo Menarddworkind
The interior of the house
The interior of the house was designed in the name of fluidity and essentiality, with a nucleus inside which a bedroom, a bathroom and a laundry are distributed. In the center of the living area, a large stove dominates, around which it is possible to gather on colder evenings.
Photo Menarddworkind
But the real touch of style is there sauna, lined in cedar wood, perfect for regenerating body and spirit and for a rediscovery of the precarious balance between our well-being and the nature that surrounds us.
Photo Menarddworkind