WEDGE HOUSE

The quarter-mile approach winds through a towering stand of century pines to a shoreline that was once the winter campsite of French explorer Samuel de Champlain, some 400 years ago. Today, a tent-like, metal-clad wedge appears, hovering above the forest floor on tiny wooden legs. This 4000-square-foot vacation home on the mighty Ottawa River embraces a comfortable balance between shelter and exposure.