Panora in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts: high-end lodges on a coastal backdrop

Posted on Aug 28

By pierre perreault

As you turn onto the steep road at the top of the hill and descend toward a row of white forms set along the shore a few kilometres east of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in Haute-Gaspésie, the almost magical landscape is striking.

One founder acquired the land more than 15 years ago. In 2022, the first seven factory-built units, made in Lévis, were transported to the property for installation, interior fitting and finishing. Three more followed in 2024, completing a year-round group of lodges beside the Saint-Laurent estuary.
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Panora – Loges fluviales grew from the vision of entrepreneur Ghislain Rousseau; his son, Marc-André; his nephew, Cédric Andrews; and marketing director and co-founder Hubert Parent. The four founders chose the location in part for its natural beauty and share the values at Panora’s core: comfort, innovation, quality and simplicity.

Behind the project is Biome Canada, a Lévis company with more than 15 years’ experience manufacturing and selling yurts and ready-to-camp accommodation, which decided to create a lodging destination of its own. With the land already secured, the team designed a chalet model aligned with those values. The result, it must be said, is most astonishing.

Why call the units ‘loges’? ‘The word refers to an opera or theatre box, where we have a view of the stage, in this case the Saint-Laurent estuary,’ explains Hubert Parent. ‘The panorama is what guests mention again and again. A photograph cannot convey the feeling: the calm and the privacy. “Loge” was simply more appropriate than cabin or chalet,’ he adds.

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Panora – Loges fluviales therefore offers discreet, minimalist accommodation ideally placed for immersion in nature and easy access to an array of activities offering sensory experiences in abundance. The 10 units, seven with two bedrooms, are fully equipped with everything needed for a stay. Guests can feel comfortable, removed from everyday bustle and immersed in the natural setting. Although the lodges stand just beside the main road, they remain out of sight until visitors take the steep access road down the cliff. ‘You cannot see them from the road, and most of the time you hear waves, seabirds and wind rather than traffic,’ says Parent.

The first striking feature on site is the white vinyl membrane, an unusual cladding for this kind of building. More commonly used on urban ‘white roofs,’ including heat-island mitigation projects, it gives the rounded structures a unique, slightly futuristic character.

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The material’s manufacturer was somewhat sceptical at first but was satisfied with the result after visiting the site. In addition to its appearance, the membrane reflects sunlight and contributes to the building’s insulation. The vinyl-fabric shell is durable, requires no maintenance even in a saltwater environment and can be replaced easily, ensuring durability and efficiency.

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From an Adirondack chair on the long balcony, with a hot tub at one end, guests look out over a multitude of wild grasses, seaweed, large rocks and tide pools. Herons and other waterbirds are frequent visitors, as are the fascinating seals basking on rocks offshore. The shoreline can be walked for roughly 800 metres in either direction. Each lodge has a fire pit and two metal benches that can be converted into a table. Then there are the celebrated sunsets over the water.

Panora Panora

The fragile ecosystem surrounding the site must be protected. The layout was designed to prevent erosion between the lodges and the shoreline, and the highly responsible construction incorporates certain recycled materials. Because the structure uses no conventional boards or framing members, its walls, floors and ceilings contain no thermal bridges and reduce annual operating costs for heating, cleaning and cooling by 40–60% compared with traditional prefabricated buildings. There are also no foundations to disrupt the soil. Beside the majestic waterway, where a breeze always blows, floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors create natural cross-ventilation in every room, eliminating the need for mechanical air conditioning.

To round off the many features that set the loges fluviales apart, two electric-vehicle charging stations are already available, with two more planned for 2025.

Does Panora plan further development here or elsewhere? Hubert Parent mentions the possibility of adding a few more units on a second tier. A new waterfront site somewhere between Lévis and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is also possible if a suitable location and affordable land can be found.