00.2_CAMP HISTORY

1600DUFFEL BAG Emerges. Variation on a rucksack, made from same material used to repair ship’s sails. By Spanish and Portuguese sailors. Material from Duffel, Belgium.

1850 KNAPSACK. French officials patrolled mountains and used a knapsack bag made up of sheepskin and lined with wool that could be rolled up.

1861PROTOTYPE SLEEPING BAG with blanket and waterproof rubber bottom. By Alpine explorer Francis Fox Tuckett.

1876EUKLISIA RUG INVENTED (Precursor to sleeping bag). A wool blanket that could be fastened shut around the body. Many produced for the Russian Army. By Pryce Pryce-Jones.

1885 FIRST LAND ZONED BY CANADIAN NATIONAL PARKS. 26sq.km of land alotted for Canada’s first national park. Originally Cave and Basin Hot Springs, now known as Banff National Park.

1886 CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPLETION. The Trans-Canadian Railroad is completed in 1886. The CPR develops three luxury resorts along the CPR railway line to help offsett construction debts for the railline that would connect the West to East coast of Canada. CPR general manager William Van Horne suggested capitalizing on the scenery of the Rockies, to attract tourists to journey to the West of Canada by rail. “Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists.”

1890CAMP SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. YMCA begins sponsoring camps to improve the health and character of the young. Followed in later decades by the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, churches, labour unions and local governments. The early organized youth camps might have had a few permanent buildings for dining and recreation, but campers generally slept “under canvas.”

1889FIRST AIR MATTRESS INVENTED. By Pneumatic Mattress and Cushion Company, USA. Originally used as alternative to hair-filled mattresses on Atlantic steamships. Easier to store + could be used as life raft.

1890THE CPR BUILD A LOG CABIN AT LAKE LOUISE. Soon replaced by the larger “Chateau”, one of three luxry resorts developed. Swiss mountain guides who were brought in to lead hotel guests into the peaks. While the CPR marketed the Banff Springs as a luxury hotel, Van Horne sold the Chateau Lake Louise as a destination for backcountry adventures and alpinists. Became a place frequented by arists, writers, and royaltiy.

1893 STERNO (FLAMMABLE GEL IN A CAN) INVENTED. “Canned heat” firestarter. Advertised for soldiers going off to WWI.

1904FIRST EASTERN CANADA NATIONAL PARKS ESTABLISHED, St. Lawrence Islands National Park

1908 THOMAS HIRAM HOLDING WRITES FIRST CAMPER’S HANDBOOK. Described basics of camping. Experience gained crossing prairies of America by wagon as a child.

1911WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK ADMINISTRATION. Dominion Parks Branch angency manages Canada’s national parks, emphasizing the protection of natural resources, exploring national areas to society, and the tourism of parks towards the national economy. The first country in the world to establish an agency devoted to managing its national parks.

1922EXTERNAL FRAME BACKPACK PATENTED. By Lloyd F. Nelson.

1920-30CAR CAMPING RISE. Accessibility of automobile use and expansion of highways

1930NATIONAL PARKS ACT, National Park Service develops 34 Recreation Demonstration Areas (campgrounds). Titled today as the Canada National Parks Act, first established in 1930 sets the guiding philosophy for the management of national parks, which “are hereby dedicated to the people of Canada, for their benefit, education and enjoyment... and the parks shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

1910FIRST RV, by Pierce-Arrow’s Touring Landau. Debuted at Madison Square Garden in 1910. Featured had a back seat that folded into a bed, a chamber pot toilet and a sink that folded down from the back of the seat of the chauffeur, and was connected to the passengers via telephone.

1888Banff Springs Hotel Completion. A luxury hotel opened inside a shingled log-framed structure, with rooms at $3.50 a night. Today houses: a bowling alley, world-class spa, nine restaurants, a golf course and horse stables.

1887 ROCKY MOUNTAINS PARK ACT. The act outlines the national park concept, balancing conservation and development interests. Parliament of Canada, establishes Banff National Park, then known as “Rocky Mountains Park.”

19301ST ZIPPERED BACKPACK. By Gerry Cunningham. Cunningham would serve with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division later recognizing need for sophisticated backpacking equipment. He started a business designing and manufacturing versatile , lightweight mountaineering gear after WWII.

1951 ALUMINUM FRAME BACKPACK. By Dick Kelty, USA. Transfers weight onto hips.

1960GERRY CUNNINGHAM’S “20 POUND CAMP” became a reality and by the early 1970’s the backpacking gear industry was booming.

1959 EUREKA! INTRODUCES FIRST FAST-TO-SET-UP FREESTANDING TENT.A breakthrough came in 1973 with the introduction of the Timberline®. For backpackers, the Timberline® was the first self-supporting, lightweight tent. Brass hooks were used to speed set-up, an early predecessor to clips Eureka! tents have accompanied all the North American “first ascents” of Mt. Everest, including the first Canadian woman in 1986 and the first American woman in 1988.

1935 NYLON INVENTED. By Dr. Wallace Carothers, USA. Used in parachutes and weather balloons by the US Military. Early innovators such as Alice Holubar and Gerry Cunningham used it. First applications were in sewed sleeping bags made of down and nylon. Other uses included packs and tents and changed gear from being packed and carried via horse to packed and transported via backpack. Also was introduced in clothing, entering a new era of warmth and lightness. Nylong was a key underlying material in the transition from car camping to backpacking. Gear became ever lighter, stronger, more compressible, and more resistant to mold and mildew.

1945MILITARY CAMP SUPPLY SURPLUS, Post WWII, Rise in camping popularity due to abundance of military supplies.

1960 GOVERNMENT DESIGNATION OF CAMPSITE LAND. The Canadian government designatates a national or provincial parks every 160km along Trans-Canada Highway.

WOOD TENT POLES REPLACED BY LIGHTWEIGHT METAL POLES.

CLOSED CELL FOAM PADS INTRODUCED. Followed by self-inflating and manual-inflating pads.

THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) Originally designed for military and intelligence applications at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, its inspiration came from the launch of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik in 1957. The Global Positioning System (GPS) - is a network of satellites that orbit the earth at fixed points above the planet and beam down signals to anyone on earth with a receiver.

1962KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA (KOA) is founded. The world’s largest system of privately held campgrounds with 488 locations across the U.S. and Canada, with over 15 million camper visits per year. “Many modern campers are seeking comfort camping, an experience that sits somewhere in between camping and staying at a hotel.”

1970OPEN FOR WINTER SEASON Banff Springs Hotel (Fairmont Hotel) opens year round.

1971Mountain Equipment Co-op Founded. A consumer co-operative with an unlimited number of equal membership shares with the goal to sell quality gear for rock climbing, mountaineering, ski mountaineering, and hiking. They decided to charge $5 for a membership share, and with this limited operating capital, people who wanted products would have to pay for them in advance and trust the Co-op to deliver. In 2011 the Co-op reaches its 40th year: $261 million in annual sales, and 3.3 million members.

1983REAGAN ADMINISTRATION IN THE US HAD THE INCENTIVE TO OPEN UP GPS FOR CIVILIAN APPLICATIONS. After USSR shot down a Korean passenger jet - flight 007 - aircraft, shipping, and transport the world over could fix their positions and avoid straying into restricted foreign territory.

1984 UNITED NATIONS DESIGNATES AREA OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

1985 STATISTICS CANADA estimates that 26% of Canadian households own camping equipment, 1.7 million households having tents, 371 000 having tent trailers, and 224 000 owning truck campers.

1990LEAVE NO TRACE program developed. Promoting park conservation.

20TH CMATERIAL INNOVATION. Tent poles: first wood, then steel, then plastic, then fibreglass and aluminum alloys; Zippered tent doors replaced traditional flap opening.

2012 NEMO SLEEPING BAG Nemo releases Canon -40 that weathers up to 40°C below zero. That temperature rating is not new but the bag includes arm holes, ventilation gills and a cylindrical fabric tube to breathe through.

2015PARKS CANADA BEGINS FIRST WIFI ACCESS POINTS installing in national parks and historic sites. Up to 75 locations over next three years .

1965NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL ACT. Proposed by President Lyndon Johnson. Encouraged people to rediscover outdoors and appreciate natural beauty by making trails more accessible.

1967INTERNAL FRAME BACKPACK. By Greg Lowe.

1967WINNEBAGO BEGAN MASS-PRODUCING RVS. Increased popularity of RVs. Advertised as “America’s first family of motor homes,” five models from 16 to 27 feet long, which sold for a minimum of $5,000. Refrigeration was a staple feature in the motor home.

00.1_CONCEPT A foundational myth of North America is our collective relationship to our expansive, often rugged, and remote national landscapes. From Thoreau’s cabin in the woods, to 19th century cottages offering urbanites respite from the city in the summer seasons, the notion of retreat and the restorative role of immersive landscape experiences has formed part of the North American conscience. Camping in North America did not develop on a large scale until after World War II, when increased leisure time, car access, and the possibility of camping with motorized vehicles greatly expanded the activity. This growth was served by public and commercial campsites which offered a range of camping experiences. Modern day camping is the product of multiple, simultaneous evolutions over the past century: legislation that created national parks; the evolution of camping gear which shadowed the advent of new materials and technologies; and transformations in the actual configuration and layout of campsites. Private campgrounds catered to recreational vehicles by offering paved parking areas in picturesque locations. Public camp grounds, often in national or provincial parks offered remote campsites and more accessible car camping. The layout of most campsites embrace a suburban plan, even with cul-de-sacs. A distribution of camping plots are sheltered by trees but within viewing and hearing distance of each other. The car pulling into each lot serves as the first act of setting up camp. The enduring appeal of camping over the past century is driven by the desire to escape modernity, and a primal interest in the “primitive hut.” The desire for immersive experiences by reducing the envelopes and infrastructures that traditionally separate us from our environment. Yet, we are increasingly far from this experience, embracing a suburban relationship to wilderness. Is there a possibility for other forms of collectivity in the remote? The Making Camp series of proposals consider new possibilities of collective camping. It questions the role of the campsite, the experiences enabled by it, and the environments created by camping infrastructures.

The Making Camp series was developed by LATERAL OFFICE for the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2015. Printed in Canada.

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CAMPHISTORYA PUBLICATION BY LATERAL OFFICE

00.2_CAMP GROUND00.21 GRID

00.23 CUL DE SAC

00.22 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CAMPSITE

00.24 PADDLE IN INDIVIDUAL CAMPSITE

00.3_TENT

00.4_TENT TRAILER

00.5_TARPS 00.7_SLEEPING BAG

00.8_CAMP UTILITIES

00.9_FOOD UTILITIES00.6_BACKPACK

Lightweight, 1-piece pole setCapacity: 2-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 2.1 kg (4.5lb)Floor Area: 2.8 sq.m (30sf)

No Hook-UpPower & WaterFull Hook Up

Tunnel Mountain Village 11, Banff National Park, Alberta, CanadaCamp Sites: 188Amenities: Electricity, Water, Showers, Sewer, Sanitary Dump

The Canyon, RV Resort on Sinclair Creek, Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, CanadaCamp Sites: 111Amenities: Electricity, Water, Sewer, Concrete Patio, Cable TV

Whistler Campground, Jasper National Park, Alberta, CanadaCamp Sites: 400+Amenities: Electricity, Water, Showers, Sewer, Sanitary Dump, Playgrounds, Telephone

Canisbay Lake Campground, Algonquin Park, Ontario, CanadaCamp Sites: 242Amenities: Electricity, Water, Showers, Laundry

Family, Compact packing, interior room divisionCapacity: 6-PersonSeasons: 4-SeasonWeight: 9kg (20lb)Floor Area: 8.4 sq.m (90sf)

Ultralight, single-wall construction, limits interior condensationCapacity: 4-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 2.55kg (5.6lb)Floor Area: 5.2q.m (27sf)

Large vestibule, with trekking poles to rig vestibule door Capacity: 2-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 4.26kg (9.4lb)Floor Area: 2.9q.m (31sf)

Single wall construction, quick set-up, standing room, ideal basecampCapacity: 4-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 7.03 (15lb)Floor Area: 6.9q.m (74sf)

Pop Up Tent TrailerFeatures: Canvas encolsure, 2-sleeping areas, Kitchenette, Colapsable Tabel

Fifth Wheel TrailerFeatures: Kitchen, Bed, Shower, Toilet, Table

Recreational Vehicle Features: Kitchen, Bed, Shower, Toilet, Table, Seating Area

Lightweight, featherlight fabric, trekking pole support Capacity: 2-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 907g (1.9lb)Floor Area: 3.2q.m (34sf)

Extra room and length Capacity: 2-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 1.33kg (2.9lb)Floor Area: 3.2q.m (37sf)

Vestibule and two separate sleeping areas, basecamp living Capacity: 4-PersonSeasons: 3-SeasonWeight: 7.4kg (16lb)Floor Area: 6.4q.m (69sf)

Low wind-cleaving corner to weather, convertible single-wall tent Capacity: 6-PersonWeight: 3.05kg (6.7lb)Fabric: 75 denier polyester ripstop

Large coverage, lightweight to carry, hydrolysis resistant Capacity: 6 to 12-PersonWeight: 2.94kg (6.5lb)Fabric: 40-denier nylon ripstop

Ultra-light, small shelter for two people, compact, tear-resistantCapacity: 6 to 12-PersonWeight: 515g (1.1lb)Fabric: 30-denier nylon ripstop

BarrelSeasons: Summer (0°C to +15°C)Insulation: 575 fill-power duck downWeight: 1.2kg (2.6lb)Packed Volume: 6.7L

MummySeasons: 3-season (-2°C to -12°C)Insulation: 575 fill-power duck downWeight: 1.22kg (2.7lb)Packed Volume: 6.7L

Semi-rectangularSeasons: 3-season (-2°C to -12°C)Insulation: SyntheticWeight: 2.41kg (5.3lb)Packed Volume: 16.7L

SpoonSeasons: 4-season (-40°C to +15°C)Insulation: 850 Fill Power DownWeight: 2.2kg (4lb)Packed Volume: 18L

BarrelSeasons: Summer (0°C to +15°C)Insulation: Hyperloft EcoWeight: 900g(2lb)Packed Volume: 6.1L

RopeDiameter: 10mm (.4inch) Typ

Swiss Army KnifeStainless SteelFeatures: blades, can opener, bottle opener, wood saw

Butane LighterFor: Stoves, lanterns, barbecues, pilot lights and fireplacesFeatures: Refillable , Adjustable flame, On/Off switch

DaypackIdeal For: Climbing, Hiking, TravelAccess: TopWeight: 360g (0.8lb)Volume: 11L

Climbing BackpackIdeal For: Backpacking, Overnight TripsAccess: Top, Front, BottomWeight: 2.24kg (5.0lb)Volume: 65L

CargoIdeal For: Extra capacity storageAccess: Top and sidesWeight: 170g (8.0lb)Volume: 7.5L

Haul BagIdeal For: TravelAccess: TopWeight: 3.66kg (8.0lb)Volume: 157L

Hydration System Ideal For: Active SportAccess: TopWeight: 253g (.55lb)Volume: 2L

LanternTypes: Propane; Fuel; BatteryLumens: 1610; 895; 190Life: 8hr; 14hr; 25hr

StoveTypes: Propane; Butane, FuelFeatures: One-Two Burner, Grill Plate, Wind ShieldsLife: 1hr

Pot SetWeight: 600g (1.3lb)Volume: 1.5L, 2L Features: Pot handle, pot lid also used as a plate

CoolerSize: 1.5L, 2L potVolume: 5L-60LTemperature: 10°C for 16 hours and below 12°C for 24 hours, Typical

Water TreatmentWeight: 275g (0.6lb)Cartridge Life: 100LEffective against: Bacteria, Particulate, Protozoa, Viruses

Food BarrelUse: Food protection, dry storageWeight: 2kg (4.4lb)Volume: 30L, 60L Typical

FlashlightTypes: Battery; LEDLumens: 160-700Life: 40hr on low, 2hr on high

AirmattressSize: All standard mattress sizesMaterial: Rubber, Polyester Top

Global Positioning DeviceAccuracy: HighCoverage: Under overhanging rocks, bottom of steep valleyFeatures: Compass, Route highlight, Geo-tagged photos, Waypoint sharing

First Aid KitContents: First Aid Guide, Sterile gauze, Sterile butterfly closures, Fabric bandages, Antiseptic towelettes, Combine dressing, Safety pins, Tape, Latex gloves

The form and services offered by both private campgrounds and government-run parks has evolved significantly over the past century. Many visitors today expect a range of modern services at campsites, from electrical hook-ups, water, showers, and bathrooms to Wi-Fi access and even small-scale food retail. There have been many technical advances in camping materials and equipment, from tents and inflatable mattresses to portable stoves and lighting devices, all striving towards lighter-weight, enhancing performance, ease of use and greater comfort. While these technological evolutions of camping gear offer greater comfort at the bodily scale, little thought has been given to the larger experience of camping--the architecture of the campsite. If anything, new shifts in the camping experience are bringing visitors ever closer to the more familiar, comfortable domestic experience. Landscape experiences are kept at distance, and the ranges of landscapes experienced are less than the full range of landscapes types that make up national and provincial parks. The explosion of gear and equipment to satisfy the widening range of camping sub-cultures, has produced an exhaustive array of choices for the camper. The dilemma in selecting a tent alone reveals the incredible diversity of options for size, thermal properties, materials, and siting. When this is also considered for camping rituals such as cooking, water collection, or trekking, the explosion of gear reveals technological innovation and personal customization. Yet, the architecture of site and the planning of campsites remains nostalgic and singular. The Making Camp series of proposals combines innovations in camping gear with alternative site strategies, to imagine new experiences mediating architecture and environment. Existing technologies and innovations are amplified, aggregated, or integrated into more ambitious structures. These proposals also consider the hybridization of camping-related equipment with site-based structures. If equipment and gear is more akin to temporary environment furniture, how might it inspire new architectures for camping culture?

00.1_CONCEPT

The Making Camp series was developed by LATERAL OFFICE for the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2015. Printed in Canada.

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CAMPGEARA PUBLICATION BY LATERAL OFFICE