Gregory Scruggs looks at the design essentials that can elevate camping to a way to connect with the natural world in comfort See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is Monocle on Design Extra.
It's a short show to accompany our weekly program, where we discuss everything from architecture and craft to furniture and fashion.
I'm Ailey Evans.
While the British are credited with inventing recreational camping, the vast landscapes of the United States were ideal for turning it into a mass hobby.
What began in the 19th century as a primitive pursuit in wilderness settings gave way by the 20th century to orderly planned campgrounds as far back as the 1930s.
Architects like Albert H.
Good were hired by the US National Park Service to design specifications for camping facilities, right down to their signage.
Visiting a national park or campground today is an experience with considerable design pedigree.
But with more on campground design essentials, we join Monocle's Gregory Scrugg, busy pitching a tent somewhere in the wilds beyond his home in Seattle.
I'm blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest, a region of outstanding natural beauty, but our strong environmental ethic often prohibits development in sensitive ecological areas, which means hotels can be few and far between.
So camping is often the best way to experience the region's most scenic landscapes.
For some rugged coastlines and mountain vistas, there simply is no alternative.
As a result, I've given considerable thought towards certain design elements that can elevate camping from mere roughing it to both a visually pleasing and even comfortable way to connect with the natural world.
Here are five essentials, then, that I've gleaned from some recent nights spent in the great outdoors.
1.
Mute the color palette Bright orange is perfectly acceptable on a mountaineering expedition.
When you need to find your tent in a blizzard, it's not necessary when you drive right up to your campsite.
The outdoor industry's penchant for garish colors, while perhaps suitable for emergencies, detracts from the natural setting of a campground.
Campers should remember that their temporary abode is visible to anyone who passes by.
Camouflage isn't necessary, but try blending into the landscape.