Elevated Camp

Honor Award // Excellence in Architecture Design

Architect // Murdough Design

GC // Denali Construction

Structural Engineer // RSE Associates

Surveyor Engineer // T. F. Bernier, Inc.

Description

The Elevated Camp is a four-season lakeside retreat for a family of five. Itis conceived asan arrangement of private / semi-private spaces grouped as solid blocks. These blocks arearranged to frame and hold the common open family room, which is the nexus of the house,organized as part of the exterior, with southern panoramic views of the lake. Onapproaching the entry, the building dynamically wraps around the glacial erratic, framing theopen family room and creating an aperture with views beyond towards the lake, inviting oneinto the house. The camp is navigated via a circulation network of elevated boardwalks,stairs, decks, and a bridge. As one circulates, a choreographed experience progressivelyreveals landscape features and strategic views. Exterior materials carry through to theinterior at critical transitions, blurringinterior and exterior boundaries. The building strikes adynamic gesture in dialogue with the landscape

Jury Comments

Jurors felt the project name to be most apropos.

Occupying the foundations of a past structure, the footprint’s light touch on site nestled amongst the trees, creates drama in a simple way. Exemplifying the notion of seamlessly connecting indoors and outdoors, the design’s effortless framing of its bucolic surroundings is quite impressive. The thoughtful boardwalk and bridge connections between the main house and guest quarters felt in harmony with their surroundings. As a contemporary building, jurors felt the exterior materials will age well with the patina of time. Strong passive strategies, sensitive siting, an understated, reserved material palette, the roof top experience, and green roofs were all quite notable. From the project description:

“the building strikes a dynamic gesture in dialogue with the landscape, touching the land lightly, and embracing intimate interiors where the family can convene and enjoy the landscape beyond.”

The jury recognizes Elevated Camp with an Honor Award.

Photo credit: Chuck Choi