Casa Spinone

Glass Getaway in the Woods

Inspired by the modernist glass house typology and establishing an almost transparent connection with the surrounding forest, this cabin designed by Jerome Lapierre is seamless integrated into its environs.

With its walls of glass and its flat roof tucked into the trees in a Quebec forest, the ebonized, rectilinear retreat reads like a cozy nature observatory. The cabin’s warm, tightly designed plywood interiors punctuate the space with an undeniably warm, chalet atmosphere. The compact, modular-styled home’s dominating walls of glass blur the boundary between man and nature, allowing guests to reclaim their wild, natural origins, albeit from the comfort and ease of the indoors.

Two bedrooms and baths (one with queen-sized bunks), a galley kitchen and an open-plan living/dining/library combination, with an adjacent twin-bed-sized niche for reading, napping, or cuddling up in front of the scenery are warmed by a contemporary wood stove/fireplace. Furnishings are inviting, and simple, set for unobstructed sight lines into the forest. A hot tub occupies the small outdoor deck.

Around

Located a seven-minute drive from Owl’s Head Ski Resort and some 20 minutes from the Vermont state line, the cabin feels remote given its forested location in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, but offers access to goods, recreation, and services. With some 50 trails spread across 163 skiable acres, Owl's Head is known for its spectacular views, family-friendly snow sports school, and five chairlifts. The ski mountain offers views across Lake Memphremagog, the scenic resort set outside the town of Mansonville. A stop on the Township Trail Mansionville also offers snowshoeing and hiking, kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding, mountain biking, and even a beach and wharf area.

The nearby Réserve Naturelle des Montagnes-Vertes, one of Quebec’s last remaining private forest expanses, is partially open to the public for walking and hiking. The Missisquoi River joins the lake as a recreational waterway nearby, with outfitters operating rentals and guiding services. And, there’s a designated fee-based mountain biking park nearby, The Wolf Bike Park, with maintained trails for intermediate and expert riders. The town of Mansonville is itself a sweet spot to take in heritage buildings, visit a turn-of-the-20th-century round barn, and peruse the offerings at its public market. With a handful of charming coffee shops and cafes, galleries and shops, the town also features a microbrewery and several farm stands and tasting rooms plus berry picking locations on its outskirts.

Location

Nearest airport: Montréal (3.5 hours); Burlington, VT, USA (4.5-5 hours)

Best time to visit

Year-round, depending on activity