For modernization California State Park cabins architecture students from California State Polytechnic University were invited. The Parks Forward Commission wanted young architects to dream up new camping places all around California, where people can stay overnight. The result of student’s work was shown at summer’s state fairs. An outcome of challenge was judge by commission, an independent initiative, the task of which is to solve the operational, financial, and cultural challenges at California State Parks.
The head of the design challenge, Juintow Lin, associate professor of architecture at Cal Poly, told the students to make their works easy for transportation and building, but at the same time safe and appropriate. The structures should be prefabricated, can be relocated with ease, construction technologies and materials for cabin should be simple. The cabins also should be low maintenance, fire resistant, and ADA compliant. Lin is sure the Wedge, the design of a slope-roofed wood building, is a modern take on a traditional cabin. He also told that the cabins should not have a long building time, and the result was impressive - only four days are needed to build that modern and cozy prefab cabin. Lin mentioned it can be used various materials for building.
A lot of State Parks, like McArthur-Burney Falls, Bothe-Napa, Samuel P. Taylor, Mount Tamalpais, Cuyamaca Rancho, Crystal Cove and Anza-Borrego, has already placed the Wedge cabins for visitors. The prototype from the State Fair also will be provided in park for enjoyment of the visitors. The cabins are placed in different locations in the parks, and they are situated in groups of 10 to 15.
