Hidden House in Canada

As if the Canadian woodlands don’t seem like a bit of paradise on their own; a new collection of cabins in Canada are ones that you won’t ever see unless you know they are there. Called Arcana, these cabins opened this past fall and are a perfect escape from the stressors of everyday life.

Located two hours northwest of Toronto, the Arcana mirrored cabins are meant to give visitors a fully immersive Canadian outdoor experience. The entirety of the grounds is blended into the surrounds; and to make the experience even more exciting is that the location is kept a secret until guests book their stay.

Arcana was designed by Vancouver-based Leckie Studio and the design agency, Aruliden. The reflective outer walls make it so the structures blend completely into the landscape. In actuality, the cabins are built with wooden frames and cladding covered in sheets of polished stainless steel to give off a mirrored effect.

One side of the cabin, the bedroom area, has an enormous floor-to-ceiling window; natural light floods the interior. The insides are lined with pine and the small, contemporary kitchen has a custom-built fire pit with a grill placed on the private deck for outdoor cooking no matter the weather.

Arcana was born after the co-founders exited from their last business venture. Looking for something new and exciting, Felicia Snyder and Alan Gertner wanted to pursue something with a deeper purpose. Nature was the obvious secret ingredient; courtesy of Departures, “After reflecting on the way that being in nature can nourish us and shift our perspective — (says Snyder), “you start to feel small, but not insignificant.”

The Ontario site is the company’s “pilot location;” here two 275-square-foot cabins are situated in a spot that will house as many as fifty cabins in the near future. Being indoors and outdoors at the same time; the concept is meant to apply to those who what to fully integrate in nature while still have every modern comfort.

The neutral palette was implemented to assist with complete relaxation… the promise is that you will not see another human for the entirety of the stay. As for modern conveniences, the bathroom has state-of-the-art fixtures including rainfall showers; and a custom vinyl turntable waits to be used… already loaded with a “sounds of Arcana” playlist.

WiFi is available for those who can’t do without internet (although it isn’t highly spoken of). The property offers guided forest bathing and foraging excursions. An on-site sauna is open to visitors also. Courtesy of the company’s website, “We offer science-based experiences that maximize the calming and restorative benefits of nature. Research shows interacting with the wild is a critical component of our mental and emotional wellbeing.”

Each cabin has a reflective, yet slightly distorted appearance… mainly to prevent birds from flying into the structures. This is all part of Arcana’s sustainability and environmentally-conscious philosophy. The architects took a lot of effort to ensure that they did not interrupt the landscape. In addition, they hoped to help the local economy by providing employment opportunities and working with local artisans. For example, the tablescapes in the miniature kitchens were made by a local ceramicist. Local experts in foraging, native flora and fauna, and forest bathing developed the audio guides to assist guests without actually being present. Courtesy of Departures, Snyder says, “Our footprint is most diminished when we do everything we can to blend into the surroundings.”

We can’t wait to see what else this duo has up their sleeves because this is sensational in every sense of the word!