Cabanes de l’Orvanne: Design Among the Trees Near Fontainebleau
Iker
Less than an hour from Paris, the landscape changes surprisingly quickly. Buildings give way to woodland, water and open meadows. Near Moret-sur-Loing and Fontainebleau, the newly opened Cabanes de l’Orvanne invite guests to slow down within a remarkable 95-hectare estate shaped by ponds, marshland and the gentle course of the Orvanne River.
Created by Coucoo Cabanes with architecture and interiors by Paris-based studio AW², the project offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional forest cabin. The structures resemble small wooden capsules, with slightly inclined walls that evoke branches settling naturally into the landscape. Positioned at different heights, either among the trees, above the marshes or along the hillside, they remain discreetly below the canopy.
Twenty cabins welcome guests for the estate’s first season, with thirty planned in total. Each one features generous glazing, a private terrace and uninterrupted views of the surroundings. Heated Nordic baths, bathrooms, electricity and minibars bring a welcome level of comfort without disturbing the feeling of immersion. Five cabins overlook the water, six rise above the marsh and nine occupy the wooded slope.
Inside, AW² looked to Moret-sur-Loing’s artistic history. The village once attracted Impressionist painters, most notably Alfred Sisley, and the interiors subtly echo that legacy. Colours shift between the tones of woodland, meadow and water, while natural light filters through the foliage and moves across the rooms throughout the day. The references remain understated, creating atmospheric spaces rather than themed interiors.
The real luxury here is not excess, but distance from everyday noise. Large windows blur the separation between inside and outside, while the terraces become quiet observation points for birds and wildlife. Breakfast can arrive in a basket filled with local products, followed by a walk through the estate, a massage or an unhurried moment in the warm water of a Nordic bath.
Environmental thinking shaped the project from the beginning. Ecologists studied the estate across all four seasons to identify its most sensitive areas. Construction was limited to the northern part of the property, leaving a biologically important section of marshland untouched. French timber was prefabricated off-site, reducing construction time, transport and disturbance after the nesting season.
An existing building has also been transformed into a welcoming shared house with a reception area, local products, two treatment rooms and seminar spaces overlooking the lake.
Opened in July 2026, Cabanes de l’Orvanne offers an appealing escape for couples, families and anyone craving nature without travelling far. It is reachable from Paris Gare de Lyon by Transilien line R, followed by a short taxi ride or fifteen minutes by bicycle. A gentle reminder that changing pace does not always require going very far.
Address: 1 TER Chemin de l’Étang, Écuelles, 77250 Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, France
www.cabanesdelorvanne.com
