Prairie time: a Manitoban retreat embracing slow tourism and authentic travel

Abstract

A travel retreat offers more than rejuvination - it becomes a space for rediscovering identity and reconnecting with the slower, more intentional pace of life. It lives in the textures of landscape, the rhythms of place, and the stories embedded within regional experiences. This practicum responds to the growing detachment between modern hospitality typologies and the sites they occupy, spaces that often favour uniformity over identity. At the same time, it addresses the reality that Manitoba is frequently overlooked as a travel destination, both by locals and international visitors. Guided by the slow tourism movement and influenced by authenticity and regionalism, this project re imagines the design of a local travel retreat at Pineridge Hollow, located just outside of Birds Hill Provincial Park in Manitoba, as an invitation to rediscover the province’s cultural richness and natural beauty.

Informed by a literature review and supplementary information, this practicum proposes a hospitality typology that is grounded in integrity. Through regional material choices and layered storytelling, the retreat creates a meaningful experience that is visually engaging, emotionally resonant, and deeply connected to Manitoba’s landscape and culture.