Spotlight: AutoCamp Yosemite, 2021 GRAY Awards Finalist

A closer look at AutoCamp Yosemite, one of five finalists in the 2021 GRAY Awards Commercial Architecture category.

AutoCamp Yosemite

Using the iconic Airstream trailer as its starting point, Anacapa Architecture looked to a range of modernist masterpieces for inspiration as it designed AutoCamp Yosemite. Nestled on 35 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the camp's central clubhouse, with its clean, rectilinear lines, complements the surrounding landscape and sets the tone for the rest of the polished rural retreat.

Working on a site that had previously been an RV park, Anacapa paid special attention to environmental rehabilitation, as well as maintaining a connection between nature and all man-made elements (this was essential to the core mission statement of the client). Limiting sitework that would further disturb the landscape from its initial state was a big step towards achieving this goal.

For the interiors, Geremia Design took cues for the material palate from the surrounding environment, mixing contemporary lines with rough-hewn materials. Large-scale, low-slung seating areas with fire pits are situated throughout the clubhouse, showcasing striking views of the natural campus and encouraging a communal experience that honors the spirit and tradition of camping.