BASE CAMP 01

Design Study (2004)

Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Base lodge for hikers

Base Camp 01 is a site specific configuration of built components. The building design however may be adapted to most wilderness site conditions and is an "off the grid" facility. The components are the bunkhouse, the head house, the service nodes, and the staff house. These components are connected and lifted off of the ground to limit the building’s impact on the site and to give the visitor a fuller experience of the landscape. Inverted roof slopes allow for sun, water, and snow to penetrate into the building’s inner courts to enhance the visitor’s experience of the building’s interior while reminding the inhabitant of his/her dependence on the site. Power is supplied by photovoltaic roof panels, which can be integrated with alternate systems such as wind, hydro, or grid available power. A geothermal heat pump heats the facility. Proper sitting, shading, and operable windows allow for natural ventilation. All building components are prefabricated off site while foundations and thermal walls are constructed with materials from the site.