Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Outdoor man cave boasts three-metre walls and can accommodate 40 revellers

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 02/28/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The architecture graduate's snow house features an outdoor patio. When it melts, the runoff will drain into the Red River.

Enlarge Image

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Evan Jameson, 26, and 20 of his buddies and cousins built a massive three room 'quinzloo' (quinzee/igloo) in the backyard of his parents' St. Vital home. As many as 40 people can party inside.

If you live near Evan Jameson, you probably won't have to shovel your walk -- or your front yard for that matter.

Jameson -- quite possibly the only person in the city who felt he didn't get enough snow on his own lawn this year -- enlisted the help of almost two dozen friends and cousins to cart the white stuff from the lawns of neighbours to the backyard of his parents' home in south St. Vital.

For the last few weeks, the 26-year-old and his friends and relatives have been able to enjoy a large igloo -- he calls it a "quinzloo" because it's a cross between a quinzhee and an igloo -- featuring three-metre-high ceilings, two rooms, carpet, chairs, a candle-lit ice bar and an outdoor deck with firepit.

"It's the largest one I've ever done," Jameson said. "It even has a hallway going to an outside patio area. Then there's another room. It's so large it can accommodate 40 people."

Jameson said he has loved working with snow since he was a child, and he's built a couple of other structures in his parents' backyard. But this is the largest.

"Every year I learn new tricks," he said. "This year I wanted to try ice columns. I wanted it to be of professional stature."

Jameson's igloo is also more than three metres high on the outside, so he could have three-metre high ceilings when it was first completed, because he knows as the snow settles the ceiling gets lower.

"We had about 20 people work on it and we got a lot of the snow from my neighbours' yards. We knocked on a few doors and asked to get their snow. No one said no," he said.

Evan's mom, Rachelle, said when the igloo melts, all of the runoff will go into the nearby Red River.

"All the neighbours are so happy to have their snow in our backyard," she said, laughing.

The proud mother said her son's snow-building prowess at a young age not only has resulted in this year's igloo, but also his graduation last year from the University of Manitoba's architecture program.

"He always was amazing as a child, because he could see in three dimensions and he would build puzzles like that. He certainly has gone into the right career."

Stan Lesk said his nephew has held several parties in the igloo.

"His passion was to build a place for outdoor parties," Lesk said.

"It's so wonderful -- and it has a roof, too. It's a full-fledged quinzloo with a roof and everything.

"It's a house. It's actually better than a house."

Jameson said despite this year's success, with a new job in architecture he will probably take a hiatus from building snow structures.

"It takes a lot of time. I was out there every day for a few weeks. But I'll do it again someday."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 28, 2013 B5

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.