Cloud Camp: Refuge Above Paradise

Abstract

Due to the heavy use during peak climbing months and extreme climatic conditions of Camp Muir's Historic District this thesis proposal seeks to rejuvenate, re-design and provide an innovative and appropriate pre-fabricated deployable architecture of self-sufficiency, while taking into consideration high season volumes, climatic responsibilities, accommodation of new program elements, and protecting natural resources. Through user assessment, historical, environmental and climatic research, precedent site visits; pre-fabrication techniques and self-sufficiency in energy, water and waste, the design tests current methods of deployable architecture in extreme alpine conditions, building technology, materiality, rapid assembly strategies, as well as social connectivity among mountaineers on this pristine landscape.